The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-04-21


viously bad. died entirely away, and the
vessel. rising and falling on the heavy
swell fell OF in spite Of the tagging o
tho boats, and she now pointed head on
to the reef, which BY this tune, va;
not more than hundred yards distant
The laundering Of the surf was almost
deafening. WAS stationed ST the wheel
and IS watched the compressed lips and
stern bearing o. the captain, and the pAlhd
countenaace Of the mate as he stood on
the heel Of the howsprit, and ever and
anon glanced aaxiously up at the sails
nv sentiments as to the desirableness Of
having the old GsE5iG go ashore, under
went considerable change. began to
take in realization Of the fsct that if we
once straek among those terrible breakers,
al must inevitably be lost My thoughts
went back TO the home l had left, far Of.
msoy thousand miles away. doubt wheth-
er didn't feel worse than when. at Mali,
was IN danger Of being killed and eaten.
Suddenly. the mste, from the bows,
shouted in stentorian tones Here it
comes. Hurrah All Attack. forward -
Ii Was the wind coming of from the lan6.
first in gentle airs and then gradually in
erezsing TO good. f0ur-knoi breeze. We
were saved, Tie brig slowly swung round
with her head seawari, and as the wind
freshenei. We soon got s good ofhng.
Hosting in the boats. We steered away to
the eastward. under all ssll. for the open
sea, running through the channel between
the Islands Of Mbenga and Kaniavu. At
sundown, We were opposite the latter isl
and, with spanking breeze right aft. The
high blue mountains of Viii Levu. under
the shadow Of which lay Rews. with all
its charms-as well as its abominstions-
were diuly diseeruible il the distance. far
sstern, while the sharp peaks Of kantavu.
on our left, were gilded with the rays Of
the setting sun. We had on board 8
Tonga man. who hAd lived many years st
Evouks aud Mbau. among the chief fami-
lies Shortly before our departure from
the islands. his favorite wife had died. and
be became discontented with the people
and the country. Expressing bis desire to
see foreign countries. the captain received
him on board for the home voysge, with
the understanding that be was to make
himself generally use'uL He was tall and
stout-over six feet high-aDd could make
himself sensibly felt on s rope. He was
good humored. but ST times, appeared to
be lost in melancholy reverie. On the
evening when the islands were slowly
fading from our sight amidst the waves,
Tonga. as We called him. leaned his brawny
arms over the vessels rail. sHd with eyes
fixed on the fast Disappearing land, be
chauted in low tones, and with 8 musical
voice. mournful farewell to Viii, while
the tears ran down his cheeks Although
I did not shed tesrs myself. yet felt sad
enough, and sympathized with TOnga, self
exiled though he was.
During the evening, when my turn had
come to take the wheel again, the captain
came on deck. putting his invarisble cigar
he always kept stock Of Manila che
roots on hsnd-and, after taking two or
three turns up and down the weather side
of the euzrter-deck. exchanging now and
then 8 word with the mate, leaned over
the rail for moment. and turning his head
partially round to where stood. asked. in
rather gruf tOne--How does she head ?
Course. sir. replied Don't let her fall
of from that AYE, aye, sir Then
taking turn or two more up and down
the Quarterback he came and looked into
the binnscle where the compass was. and.
seeing that had got the brig just ou the
exact point which had been ordered. be
turned. and standing just alongside Of me,
szid--What an internal fool you must be,
to have thought that yOu could run away
from ne at these islands And wouldn't
have had nice yarn 10 spin to your re-
lations when / got home, If had left you
ont there among those savsges- should
never have beard the last of it. But l
want to know what were your reasons for
running away from me! Didn't l always
treat you well, and Try to learn you uavi-
CATION and seamanship?~ This was the
longest speech had ever heard from our
captain, who WAS generally man Of very
few words, and what with ny perturbation
in trying to fad words with which to an
swer bin, and NY attempts to revolTe the
wheel 50 Is 70 keep the brig on her course,
she naturally got TO yaEing about His
seamanis eye detected this in an instant,
and ssFiag 10 NE sternlF. Mind your
course there he went below. Just as four
bells struck. and / was about to be reIiev-
ed. be came on deck again. and stood in
the waist ss / went forward on the lee
side. He called NE to hun. and gave me,
=, . E. -zr-.5- - fa.IarIv . 1.<.,.-- - -.