The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-06-15

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peal of awful thunder. The sea, when
it was rendered visible by the lightning,
was seen to be dashed into an angry
foam, while the same glaring flash
would show the tall masts of the ship
up to the trucks bending with the fierce
wind, which drove US through the wa
ter with irresistible fury, and again and
again lay the ship almost broadside up-
on it.
1t was we'll for US that the gale had
not taken US quite unawares. Helpless
as we were, we were tolerably secure
amidst the war of elements, although
the oldest and bravest among us were
awe-stricken as they held on BY shronds
and ropes, looking aloft at intervals to
see, BY the lightnings glare, the yards
swinging madly, and the top masts dip
ping, now to starboard anG now to lar
board, as the wind whirled the ship
round, regardless of wheel aad rudder.
Occasionally in this conflict there was
a temporary lull, and in such calm it
was that hand was laid on my tremb-
ling arm.
"Richard ?"
eyes, Ned; what do you want p"'
"You ought to be below along with
the other passengers"
"Ought l ?"
"Didn't you hear the orders ?"
"No."
"Bad luck to you, then. The matches
are all nailed down; and so you'll have
TO stand out and face the worst of it -
How do you feel?
"a little queer; I don't mind it how.
ever"
"Not afeared ?"
didn't like TO say eyes," and dared
not say "no." In sea-storm it's the
hardest thing in the world to speak 9
| lie
"You amt afeard, did you say, Rich
ard ?"
mot much, Ned; only we'll stick to-
gether-that's all
$50 you shall, and if you 60 over.
board, God bless you, Richard, I'll &c
with you" And he gave me a grasp
such as only friend can give.
"Say, Ned; won't you tell me abou,
my father now2"
"Husb, boy! Did you hear that wall
as it came out of the sea2 Did you
hear it ?"
| "Yes; what was it p
| "You don't know what it means: buI
I've heard such sounds afore now.-
Hush again..
The vail was heard again. I cannot
describe it, and I do not wish to re-
member it. Sailors are superstitious
you know, and Ned was sailor
"There's more of it to come
| Ned said no more, for the squal
freshened, and the blackness grew
blacker.
sAy! there goes the mizzen-top mast,
shouted Ned, at length, who had not re
leased his hold of me. There was /.
flash of lightning just then, and thu
mizzen-top mast was hanging among
the rigging.
! At sea, in tornado, an hour is long
The scene changed after while. Th'
sea was agitated, and that was all.
Above was cloudless sky pierced
with stars, the moon was slowly gliding
upward and smiling on the shadow be
meath her, the wind had sunk into {
soft whisper, and the ship rocked lik,
a cradle on the bosom cf the motion
less deep.
All was activity now. Some of tn,
men were clearing the wreck at tn,
mizzen-top, others were at the pumps
for, in spite of closed matches. the wa
ter had been shipped and it was though
that slight leak had been sprung
Several Of the passengers, too, hat
come on deck, glad to be released from
their enforced confinement.
| The order was given to call over th'
ships muster. The circle was formed
and every heart throbbed, as one afte
another the names were spoken. Onl,
two were missing-Doubles and enid
dy."
"AhoY-ahoy, on deck, tnere!' !
| was the same cry that had arisen mys
lteriously out Of the darkness, and whic
had been set down by all who heard
then as portentous warning of coming
doom.
81 say" said one to another, "that'
mo ghost" @
"It's the ghost of Doubles, rather,
, was the solemn answer.
| The cry came again, and the crel
rushed to the ships sides, and, leanin,
. over the bulkwarks, looked over th
waters. But nothing could be seen.
! Again, the cry. Those who listene
T declared that it proceeded from th
ships stern. There was rush in ths
direction, and several of the officer
and few of the passengers were a
ready there, but the voice seemed t
q have no substance.
Once more the cry-fainter than bt
: fore. "Ahoy, help! we can't hold n
longer"
"Where away 7" shouted the mate
8 "In-the-rudder chains
d In less than a minute the stern ladd,
: was dropped, and the captain himse
o was upon it; while almost at the san
I, time, boat was lowered from the sta
e board side and manned. Shouts we
b heard, and when the boat came in sig
p again it had others in it beside the 70,
lers.
e Doubles was swung on deck almo
d helpless and senseless, but otherwise u
injured On plunging into the sea,
Is the rescue Of the drowning man, "Mi
il dy" was SO happy as to lay hold OF hi
u before he sank, and to keep him ados
!; swimming with him to the ship, hopir
!" that rope would be flung over to
assistance. All hope must have be,
abandoned il at that very time the sh
re had not swung round and placed with
g reach of "Middy's hand the rudd
chain, which proved the preserver
le both.
= In stripping the young midshipman
dark purple bruise was seen on i
: breast, caused, it was conjectured,
ly concussion in irst striking the water.
But human as well as divine sight c.
at sometimes tear away mysteries. 1t W