The semi-weekly mountain Democrat., 1860-09-05
The NeRroe,s Revenge.

The shark had followed us for week.
Night and day, day and night, the black
fin glistened in our wake-fifty fathom
astcrn, it was always there. We had
none sick on board but we had been too
long cruising in the tropics not to know
that at least one of us. would lose the
number Of his mess ere creature parted
company with the ship.
The weather being very sultry the sal
lors became irritable, until If man but
chanced to look at another it gave offence,
as if each thought his neighbor wished
him to glut the monsters ravening nav,
and so solve the doom which threotcncd
all alike. At length, on the seventh day,
the third mate, scowling POrtingallo,
quarrcled with the black cook, Zanga,
who, he sworc, put cockroaches purpose
ly in the dishes that underwent the sable
preparation of his most greasy hands.
Now this Zanga was tall Ashantcc, who
had been king in his native land-a
laughing. merry-hearted fellow, but proud
as the Prince Of Darkness after his own
fashion. did not hear all that was said
between them but the negro turned the
laugh against the Portingallo, who was
jcered at for his unsavory complaint. That
evening, Zanga's son, a hoy about twelve
years old, child in arms when his father
was taken captive, was seen on the iTe-
castle, playing, as was hi wont, with the
captains favorite bloodhound, which it
was his sole charge to feed. 1t had fallen
a dead calm, and the shark had come some
twenty fathoms nearer, and its huge sides
cleaned ghastly with phosphoric light.
We had some thought of shooting at it
with falconet; but the captain was in a
surly mood, and would brook no waste OF
powder to crafty our desire. The next
day the boy was missing, and when we
looked astern for the shark, it was no
longer there.
During the morning the dog became
furious, and twice flew at the Portugal
los throat, SO that VIC were forced to chan
the animal to the capstain, being alarmed
at his sudden frenzy. Had the Portin-
gallo dared to brave the captains wrath,
he would have slain the hound with a
boarding-pike as he lay there securely
fastened, by turns growing and whining,
his head crouched motionless between his
paws, his tail ever and anon beating the
deck with quick impatient knocks, and
the fiery glitter of his sunkcn, blood-shot
eyes following every movement of him
wh9n he had so strangely assailed. Du.
ring the evening there was hot and noisy
alteration forward as to whether or moi
the dog had capsized the boy overheard
in anger or in boisterous sport. Some,
among whom the Portingallo was most
vehement, swore with oaths and curses
that it was so. Two or three declared
that the dog had been shut up aft in the
sail-room a full hour before they last saw
the lad busy with his fishing lines close
to the open portfolio of a-culverin. AS
for Zangn, he spoke to none, and none
cared to question his grieE. Have any Of
you ever chanced to see negrO's face
turn ashen pale-all the villainOus ink ol
his complexion precipitated from the dry
parchment of his skin by the deep inward
chemistry Of an agOnizing breast ? That
night about eight bells, being toward the
end Of POrtingallO's watch on deck, cry