The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-07-06
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SNAKES VERSUS ALLIGATORS,
A FoRECAsTLE YARN.

1t was the middle watch on board the
good ship Catharides bound from Bos.
ton to Calcutta. A fine northeast trade
wind was blowing, topmast and topgal.
liant studding sails were set, aud the
ship was running smoothly and steadily
along at the rate of nearly eight knots
Keep good lookout there ahead p
exclaimed the first officer in a peremp.
tory tone.
Aye, aye, sir-aye, ave." lazily re-
sponded the man.
"if l catch any of you asleep in your
watch on deck" continued the mate,
"Ill find work for you until the watch
is called, and an hour afterward, that
will keep your limbs in motion like a
jumping jack, and your eyes as wide
open as Mount Desart lobsters."
The sailors, some Of them seated
comfortably on the heel of the bowsprit,
and others on the windlass end, opened
their eyes at this burst of eloauence,
,yawned aud uttered something, which
fortunately for the men, the mate did
not hear, and which was far from being
complimentary, and more remarkable for
profanity than piety.
Come, this won't do" said Jonas
Hartshorn. "The mate will be as good
as his word if he catches Us mapping
again, and get up regular siserara.
We must have something to open our
Peepcrs-a song, skylark, or a story.
Jack Brindle, spin US a yarn"
I" don't know about that" replied
Jack Brindle, a shrewd, quizrical look.
-ns little fellow, but a veteran sailor
who had seen good deal of the world,
had picked up lots of intelligence 10 his
travels, and had tongue which was
swung 10 the middle, aud when one end
was tired Of wagging it took a resting
spell while the other entered on duty.
"Oh, yes, give US yarn, Jack-give
us yarn y shouted his shipmates 10
full chorus.
THE fact is" said Jack, "my stories
are all true, and it is time you should
know it. l never describe any event or
make a statement that | cannot youch
ior' never exaggerate or enlarge or
deal IN poetry or fiction, or rubbish of
that kind. l confne myself to plain
matter and fact. Aud yet, when | told
my story the other night in the dog
watch, about Silas Limpet, who rode a
porPoise half milf a wager, without
saddle, bride, crupper or martingale,
aud kept the fish's head above water by
holding on to his gills with a boat hook
Jonas, there, told me to my face that
dc did not believe word Of H."
"oh r said Jonas, shat was all in
aun. Although somewhat strange, and
as some would say, incredible, have no
doubt it was true. l really think YOU
would not stretch the truth to be made
boatswain ofan Indiaman. Come, heaye
ahead Jack. Give us good rousiug
yarn, aud | promise beforehand to be,
,icve every word of it and what is more,
viii never again question the truth Of
any OF your yarns, however wild aud
improbable they may seem.o
Jack was Modified by this liberal
concession, aud, telling Jonas that he
would be careful and not put his cred.
Sl,tyito too severe a test, shot ahead as
follows:
! once made voyage in little BRIG
called the Nutmeg, to Para. You ali
know, or ought to know if you don't
shat Para is town in Brazil, situated
On one Of the mouths Of the Amazon. /
river more than thousand leagues in
length, which has its source in lake
nve hundred miles broad, on the peak
'of one ofthe highest mountains in South
America. ''''
We found Para rather queer place
AZ hrst we thought the fogs were very
Frequent, and that the climate must be
unhealthy. But we soon found to ou,
sorrow that what we took to bc fops
were neither more nor less than thick