Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-11-07

lips and | hardly liked the expression OF
his half-shut eyes, which had lazy cunning
in their dark glance. Still, though dressed
in black suit of shore going clothes, and
Il swalow-tailcd coat of antiquated cut,
there was something about Mr.. Zack Foster
that bespoke the thoroughbred seaman. He
took no share in the proceedings, for his
duty did not begin till we were clear of
Nassau roadstead but yet he seemed i'm
patient for the start, gnawing viciously at
! his qud, and drumming on the tatirail with
finger that seemed as hard and brown as
bronze.
THE BONNYBE1L SLirs sEAWARD.
''It was an anxious time when the Bonny-
I bell, under full head of steam went dart
ing out of the bay her look-outs straining
their eyes to pierce the mist, and give warn
/ ing to the hclmsman of vessels ahead while
Pritchard walked to and fro, too tidgettv
and eager to endure conversation, listening
every instant for some sound that was to
indicate that the federal cruiser had taken
the alarm. But on we went, without check
I or hindrancc and we all drew our breath
more freely as the lights of the town began
one by one to vanish, us if the sea had swal-
lowed them. and the dark headlands faded
away into obscurity. The American gun
boat was neither seen nor felt, II circumstance
which ! did not the less regret because !!
perceived, not only by the display of the
cannon alluded to, but by the rc,olutc de
meanor of several Of the crew, who stood
, grouped about Il couple of uncovered arm
chests .hat our pigmy foe would not have
found an entirely unresioting prize.
HAIL.
"Onc slight circumstance. hardly, as
thought, worth mentioning, did occur before
we had run half u mile to scaward. There
came u long, faint hail, from 50 great a dis
tancc as to be hardly dstinguishahIe even
10y sailors practiscd ear, but which was
announced to be addressed to us.
Some boat. with message perhaps for
IL passenger. The lubbcrS deserve ropes
ending for being so late. Can lie to safely.
do you think : saiG PritclIard to the pilot,
incSolutcly. and giving the word 'Slackcn
speed ! What the pilot answered know
not. only caught the concluding phrase
I Yankee tricks 50, cap, you'd best look
sharp about YOU
so prtchard thought. He gave the
word to 90 on at full speed and VIC heard
no more about the matter.
TIE run.
THE run WAS speedy and pleasant, over
dimplng summer. sea, with no boistcrous
behaviour on Ncptunc's part to make even
the lady passengers uneasy. We saw several
vessels but none of hostile character and
the voyage was as agreeable and safe hith-
erto aS any yatchting excursion in holiday
waters. We were ali disposed to be pleased
and the pilot, although saturnlhe and
morosc parsonage, viewed through this rose
colorcd haze of satisfaction and hope, be-
came a popular man on board. Captain
Ilp;t I.
in gold; for if there were no gales or rough
seas to thwart our purpose, togs were rather
frequent, and here the pilots intimate ac-
quaintancc with the rocks, shoals and iSlcts
many of which were not noted down in
the chart more than once saved the Bonnv-
bell from an ugly thump upon some hidden
obstacle. For an American, Zack Foster
was singuarly silent ; yet there was some
thing elcphantine about his high forehead
and narrow dark eyes which suggested
ShrcwdncSS rather than vacuity. lie did his
work, answered when spoken to, but seldom
addressed any one.
LAND no" sung out the look out man
at the masthead, and nritchard and the
pilot, who were poring together over the
map close to the pinnacle, looked up, while
the passengers edged nearer TO hear the
news. prtchar,l lifted his telescope, while
Foster went aIoit for better view.
"LANp 10. :"
"'EdiSto Island, as | said, cap" hailed
the pilot; and byond the Carolina coast.
Wc'cr close to home, gentlemen and la
dies
There was u cheer from the little group
gathered near the helm, but directly after
wards came two shrill cries of Sail ho =
"'Uncle Sans harkcrs. We must pnt
! ont few miles yet, cap said the pilot Us
he lcsurcly descended the rope ladder.-
There were many good glasses on board,
and we all gazed eagerly through them,
and with beating hearts we recognized the
portfolios, the grinningj cannon, the star
Spanglcd flags, and warlikc display of the
federal blockading squadron. The steamer
was put about, and we stood Further out,
until shore and ships were alike lost to view
The disappointment Of the passengers, who
had been granted Il mere glimpse of the
land that to them was home, was consider
able; but none could doubt the prudence
| of delaying our entrance into Charleston
harbor until night should assist Us in clud-
| ing the hostile war-yesscls. There was no
| going to ben ON board the Bunnybcll that
night We all kept to the deck, eagerly
gazing out over the sparkling and phos-
! phoresccnt sea, glimmcring and glancing
with st. Elmo's fires. There was Il pale
young moon--a mere sickle of silver in the
| sky and objects were 50 family disconhle
| that the utmost caution was necessary. The
second mate took the helm. while the first
mate supcrintcndcd the almost constant
hcaving of the lead, and the captain ana
pilot stood on the iOTccastlc noting the re-
plies of the sailor, chantcd rs they were in
u slrll monotone in accordance with Old
custom.
"'Tcn iathoms shccrl BY the deep, nine
by the mark, seven = called out the leads
man, from the chains.
"'Watcr alters does shoal here, cap.
know the channel, though, as well rs |
know my paror ashore, at Nantuckct-at
savannah mean said the pilot, with some
confusion.
"'By the marks, five = was the next call
captain pritchard here grew uneasy, lie
did not pretend to equal the pilot in local
know ledge, but he was too good seaman
not TO take alarm at the abrupt lcssoning of
the depth of water. lie gave orders Ia re-
duce the speed, and We moved but slowly
on, the lead going as before,
"'Are you sure, Mr.. Foster, you are not
mistaken II seems Ia me the water shoals
at the rate of fathom for every hundred
ga ds traycrscd We may have missed lhc
SNash, leit Moultrie to leeward and got into
the network of sand banks near. llilloa
what's that aheaG OF us Boats, rs I'm u
| .tnngr