The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-05-09


In short, MT plucked from the
burning Now, look here, Clarke l
must speak to you seriously. In the
first place, must ask you to drop that
jargon of yours, which is all very well
in its way and on shore, but here you
KNOWN short, it don't fit British
seaman.'
d" should have thought, sir, with
the dangers of the seas, and the heavens,
and the 'empests overhead, that sea-
man had more need of it than any one.
Why who knows how much we shall
want of prayer befor the night is done,
and this frail plank"
90, come | said, Il don't pay my
sailors to preach to me, OF course,
I don't object to prayer and piety. 1t
depends on the sincerity my, friend
You see hate cant. Now, I have
observed that your heart is full of ami
mostly to that young man there. I see
it in your really ferociOus looks"
'Issdare say, sir he said, humbly
&" and it is what I do feel at moments
when the Lord withdraws his strength.
| have naturally vile, wicked temper
tull of the most frighttul passions, But,
l wrestle with it, thank the Lord. /
forgive him that is, [ try to forgive
him. And l struggled with my own
vile nature. In day shall have all
subdued, and look on him as brother
in sin, though he has done me a cruel
injury,-ah, yes, sir, a cruel injury.
Do you see that cloud there, sir 3? There
is something coming. We had better
get all tight
1 walked away and went to tell
Fanny, who was reading N the little
cabin by swinging lamp. A regular
Heep,' | said, A Uriah Of the first
water He has been 'swaddlipg' on
tub there for the last quarter Of an hour
Fanny said, gravely, Il wish we
were rid of him. l am sure be is a
dangerous man, and may do some mis-
chief
I tell you what, FAM 1 said ser
iously, l think so too and when we
get to Cherbourgh, 1 shall just speak
quietly to him, and look out for an
other hand, and send him home, Fam
But, now, almost as we were speak
ing, gale had arisen, and our little
bark, without notice Of any kind, had
given a sort Of vindictive 'shy,' as if
she wanted to throw her riders.
For second the sea had become like a
mass OF black molten iron, and was rol.
ling in huge waves. In another mo-
ment we we're rushing through the wa
ters with a stiff Kissing sound, and
every spar and sail cracked and clat-
tered The sky had grown black also
1t seemed as if a thunderbolt was on
us.
Clarke came to me, We can stand
under but little canvass he said.
The worst has not come as yet. We
shall have the hand of the Almighty
strong npon us tonight
1t grew darker and darker, and the
storm increased Our boat was reel
ing and tumbling, lurching violently,
as if she wanted to 60 down headfo re-
most, then rocking and rolling from
side to side, as if she wished to dash
our sides in. Fanny's face appeared
above the companion.ladder little an
xious ; but still perhaps enjoying the
gale, She recollected her own native
| coast
This is not the worst said Clarke,
coming to me again 'not for an hour
yet There will be sad work tonight
on the ocean. All the better for men
who have clear consciences, and have
done no wrong TO their fellows and
by flash Of lightning | saw one of his
vindictive glances flash also towards
Dan, That young fellow had been
doing. wonders,-climbing to set free
the sail which had got fixed, hanging
on like cat being here, there, every
where, making everything tight
He gives us no jargon,' I said to
Fanny, who, like brave girl, was up
on deck, but considers doing his duty
the best way Of praying
But Heep was right, The worst
had not come. Crack There went
spar and sail, blown through as if it had
been so much paper. Great seas came
pouring in upon deck, yet Fanny
would not go below, though it was next
to impossible to keep ones feet securely.
At times our bows were half under
Sater 1t was an awful night Sud,
denly we saw, through the darkness, a
faint red light and two other lights
A steamer said Clarke. I'VE
must only keep by her. 1t will be
something and, unless this is strong
boat
was very near getting out some
Of my Shakespeare in : most indignant
burst, aud saying to him, Out upon
ye, ye owls F! Nothing but songs Of
death ! but restrained myself. At
that moment snap went our jib, with
an explosion like tLat-of a small cannon
The two men ran forward to clear
away There was great lurch, a
half cry from Fanny. who was staudiIp