The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-06-13
Inc spoke very caImIy, yot decidedl,

Major in few moments came from the
statc-room naughty and pale, with a dark
circle around his eye. He did not ven
ture to interfere with the Captain. He
sat in scat at one side, and was very 81
lent. fhe Captain said but little. He
looked anxiously up once or twice, to see
the weather through the sky-light, but lit
tic was said by him.
After dinner, We sat down, and the Cap
tain stood looking at the barometer. The
Major approached and handed him note.
The Captain took it, and reading it with a
smile, he carelessly tossed it aside.
"Poohr said he, II don't fight duels. l
have something more important to attend
to"
WHAT cried the Major, in scorn and
indignation.
81 do not fight duels," again replied
the Captain.
DO you mean TO say that you will not
Gght me after these gross insults ?"
"I dc"
Then sir, you are coward and a
scoundrel = cried the exasperated Major,
"and as such / now proclaim you before
all these passengers. You must give me
satisfaction. will have your life blood,
coward u
Captain valmy did not appear in the
least moved.
~ will not fight"
Coward |"
Bravery does not consist in readiness
to fight duels"
If your bravery was as ready as your
tongue seems just now to be, it would be
more in accordance with your claims to
manhood
Il am sorry you differ from me so
greatly in opinion, sir"
I" Sir, you arc coward and scoun-
drel T.
I" Sir, this language is not fit to be used
before ladies'
al appeal to them, they saw my brutal
treatment, when attacked. You wantonly
beat defenceless man. insist, in their
presence, on satisfaction
A loud peal of thunder broke on the
scene.
captain Captain shouted the mate. -
Instantly the Captain bounded upon the
deck. We heard louder roar without.
1t was the ocean rising in its fury. The
Major turned pale, and looked around in
great agitation,
II was now four o'clock yet it was very
dark, for the sky was covered with a pail
Of thick black clouds, from which the
lightning began to fash in binding sheets.
We heard the Captains voice calling in
tones of thunder so loud that we wondered
as We listened. Order after order followed
in quick succession. We rushed up. The
well-trained crew followed every command.
The Captain spoke-it was done. His
voice rang out necessarily.
The storm came fiercely, furiously up.
In an hour it had burst upon us. The
waves were soon white with foam, and
rolled their vast forms with awful fury
against the laboripg vessel. They rose up
in mountains all around us. Crash crash!
one after the other these appalling surges
came down with thunder fury. They rose
on every side, clevating their heads above
us in scorn, tossing their snow white sum-
mits proudly aloft. The sky grew intense
ly black every hour, and across its surface
VIC could see the big clouds floating fast
and wide. At intervals the lightning
flashed across in binding sheets, and thun-
der followed in deafening roars. And the
wind how it howled It come down upon
us with such incredible fury, that we were
obliged to turn away our heads, unable to
take breath
1t came, and brought with it showers
of fine watery vapor, in storm which
none could face, with an occasional cur
rent of very heavy drops.
The hour of midnight come on, and still
the storm grew more terrific. The wind
seemed to have grown to hurricane. Its
fury was such as We had never dreamed
Of The lightning flashes came on with
such quick succession that the sky was lit
up with one continual glare, the thunder
rolled so fast, peal after peal, that one in
cessant roar filed the ears, the ship lay on
her beam ends, and the huge waves dash
ed over her in wild aud furious career
In the midst of this tremendous strife
Of the elements Captain valmy rose into
hero, Amid the deepest and loudest
thunder peals his voice rang out above the
tumult. In tones of incredible strength
he shouted out his loud commands; as he
stood there with flashing eyes, erect form,
and strained muscle, he seemed master Of
the storm.
We who were before doubtful Of him,
now thought We had never seen so god-like
human being.
Is 1t Nelson at Trafllsar2' said Ida
to her mother, their admiration making
itself known even amid the fears which
the surrounding danger inspired.
Suddenly a tremendous wave struck tho
vessel She yielded to the blow and roll
ed far over Fiercely, loudly, rang out
the Captains orders; swiftly aud promptly
they we're obeyed and nobly, too, did the
ship bear her part. Struggling, shaking,
and quivering beneath the shock, she re-
mained trembling, but at length righted