The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1870-07-01

| which could now hear roaring again
in the distance.
1t was so dark that I had to keep
hold of Hernand's hand and as none
of US seemed inclined to talk, was
left to my own thoughts.
These were by no means pleasant !;
for l could not conceive that the simple
landing of cargo could require all this
! secrecy and mystery, and 1 grew as
nervous as if l were engaged in plot
to commit a burglary. Ny orders were
plain and explicit-directing me sim
| ply to inspect the cargo and see that it
| tailed with the manifest, q COPY of
which was among my papers; and
then on delivery of a note to the
captain of the bark; and another to
the cOnsignee, whom I was to meet on
the ground, to receive drafts on Hava-
na for q certain sum in payment Of the
charter of the bark, which belonged to
our firm. In this [ could see nothing
but q straight forward business-trans-
action, by no means requiring the mid
night expedition, with its dark Ian
terms, by-rOads and mysterious meet
ings. However, there was nothing for
me to do but wait the progress of events,
so waited with what patience I might
while we wound through the inteTmina-
ble jungle that separated us from our.
destination.
The sounding of the sea came again
to our ears more loudly, and at length,
after walking full hour, we emerged
from the forest. nd found ourselves at
once on the bea !. Directing our steps
toward light which seemed to come
from a house near by, I was surprised
to see, by the dull glare of a lamp on
approaching it, a long row of low
wooden Shanties, surrounded by high
board fence. Our DL& h guide knock
ed at door, and Immediately it was
opened and we entered.
IGOund N.Y. f in a Sarge, square
room, unfurnisAtd; and whose rough
timbered roof ofstained black with smoke, |
rude furniture, and general makeshift
appearance, were far from inviting.
A large pine table was drawn up to |
one side, under the light of dull oil |
lamp hung from the ceiling, and at it |
were seated two men; on the table |
were pens, ink, and paper, and a bottle |
and glasses. In n far corner of the |
room a figure sat cTOuched in q heap, /
and from a casual glance as I entered, /
I judged it to be an old dWOman.-There |
were several doors leading in different |
and a staircase on one side, |
without railing or other support, led to |
the floor above.
was at once introduced to the two |
me One of whom proved to be SenOr /
MOratin, the cOnsignee, anG the other /
Captain Blair, an American; and mas
ter of the bark. .Albatross.
After we In sseated ourselves, L de-
liVered my two letters. Sepor MOTatin /
simply acknowledged his, Bat the cap
tain remarl1ed,n - % You have all the
papers, 1 suppose, Mr.. Can
field" Ireplied that | had, and offer
ed to produce them; but he stopped
me with a motion of his hand and a
laugh, and saying: e
"NO, have done business enOugh
for to-day; we will eXami l.isa to-
lII errOW-mOrning when W on board /
if ou please"
helped himself fro bottle,
Ia 5ed me to do the samS b / de-
clIhed. But in a few m is the
whole party was drinking ling,
and talking together I'd
that I might as well 50
Osity until the mOrnin
was tired and 'sleeI
5ation disRnOt Sstrike me as
and at length I hinTel
that | would like to rel
ITnnn that, he stepped over to
crouching figure in the corner, and
E2ugh kick, aroused what turn
as had surmiSed, an old Spa1
gro woman, who reused up With
Oaths, and being at length in /
Ssflned of my desire, lighted a small /
lamp, ana openingI, one of the doors,
fusned mSsintO a small room, where I
found a y and one or two chairs,-
compris he only furniture.-Bid-
ding my 2paniOns goodnight, I
closed the doc nd prepared for rest.
The room TO. ssed but one window;
but that, as ! saY5On opening the heavy
wood shutters which protected it,
looked out upon the water.
Sitting down beside it, partially un-
dressed, L put out my lamp, and, by
the brilliant starlight, could presently
see the waves dashing upon the beach,
and even made out the long, dark
form of the bark, as she lay at anchor
with a light burning in her chains. I
finished my cigar, and was preparing
to throw myself on the bed, when, by
the noise in the Outer-rOOm, I conject-
uTed that the party were about break
ing up ;1aHd, in fact, in a few moments
the outer-door was opened and closed,
and l made out the figures of the Cap
tain, our Dutch guide, and his COM
Danion, all evidently worse for liquor,
took boat, and pulled out to the bark.
" aited until they had boarded her
and then threw myself as l was upon
the bed, and in a few moments were
fast asleep.
1 had Slept for several hours when
suddenly, with the inspiration of an
horror, [ sprang from the
bed, broad awake, and in cold perspir-
alton.
A bright glare filled the room until
every corner was visible. At first, L
lo11f /
glance through the window told the
story. 1t was the bark, and she had
evidently just caught; for every mast
and yard was standing, and each rope
was lined out against the sky, as with
the fidelity of a mirror. She had
caught aft, and [ could plainly see her
men getting the boats out; while the
captain stood by the wheel giving his
orders, and separated from the forward
part of the vessel by Il broad sheet of
flame that poured up the companion
way, and now began to lick the cord
age, and twine around the spars like
/ dressed myself as quickly as pOssi-
BILE, and with one hand on the sill,
5prang out of the window to the ground
below. Here was Joined by Herman
deZ, VasqueZ, the cOnsignee, and the
old negress, who was bowling and +
in Spanish with such extraor-
dinary fervor, as to surprise me-. We
hurried down to the beech, and saw the
boats pulling rapidly to the shore.
81 hope the men are all safe, - said l;
but just as Hernandez opened his mouth
to reply to me, there arose a yell from
the bark, so perfectly horrible and un-
earthly, that my blood curdled in my
veins; and now it was caught up by
another, until the shrieks and cries, as
in seemed, of hundreds rent the air;
and covered my ears to shut out the
dreadful sound. Great God /
to Hernandez, who stood next
to me, what is thai? ,"