Wilmington journal., 1876-01-21
IFrom the Waverly Magazine.l
The Loss OF the VOlga.
BX LOUIS CHARLES,

that mighty and never ending Atlantis.
that ocean which SO often thrilll
with horror the soul Of the brave ma
riner WIN ventures upon it-where tn.
roaring winds sweep the broad waste
of waters and vivid lightpings Illumint
the scene upon the bosom of tha
ocean foated. on the Goth day of June
in the year 49, noble ship. carrying
her freight of human beings from the
continent of Europe to their homes or
these, our American shores. H.
Can anything more grand and i'm
posing be imagined or described
At first, the ship, with every stitch oil
canvas stretched before the wind filled
tight as a sack by the strong breez ,,
flew rather than sailed along, skippin g
the waves as they broke beneath her
counter, and sending the sparkling
spray high into the air. The dolphin
and the porpoise gambolled in the
midsummer sunshine; the albatrosa
paused in her weary flight across the
seas to gaze upon the grand scene be-
meath. The hungry sharks no longer
followed in the wake of the vessel, for
what chance had they for fresh vio>
Tins in calm weather?
The passengers and the sailors were
| Hdppy-"Ity uOS 1NlCu WcaenOi sSuCd
a sky, such wind, we're forebodings of
good those upon the deep rejoiced ;
those upon the land rejoiced - all
joined in hearty hymn OF thanksgiv-
ing. for such tranquility bade them
God-speed |"
Such was the spirit which prevailed
upon that noble ship. A few days
more aud the Volga would be in sight
of iand-of home-where wives and
bs bies, relatives and friends, awaited
them all. eager to express their Joy at
| the happy return and safety of the
| voyagers. For she sailors, too, were
| mostly Americans, and had their little
| families at home in New York expect
| ing them home as anxiously and CRATE
| fully as were the parents of the fairest
passengers.
That evening, just before dusk. a
party of seamen were seated on their
| trunks in the forecastie, discussing, as
sailors always do, the prospect FOR
happy termination of their long jour
ney.
Old Billy Cowan was the oracle of
the ship. His age might have been
. sixty; his hair was snowy white. his
figure little bent his hand began to
tremble little now in the discharge
of duty but he was nothing daunted
by the coming. infirnrities dus to his
years, and if one hand was not suffis
cient to haul ropes, or turn the wheel,
why, he used two, rather than call any
assistance from q mate, though he
was ever ready to lend helping hand
when needed.
If there was man sick or INJURED,
Bill was first to take his place; any
little odd jobs about the ship were
given him, aud they were always per
formed readily and we'll. He had q
pleasant word for all, smile for
| everybody. consolation for the sick
ones, advice for new hands; in fact,
his obliging nature combined those
| qualities 80 seldom found among sail
ors-good cheer and good companion
| ship. Is it wonder that he was liked
by the men, or that they looked upon
him as an oracle or prophet?
| What's your idea, Sam ? asked one
of the sailors, addressing a fore-top
man.
It's hard saying, Tom.' replied Sam !;
Goblin except the captain since we left
port. He knows what's in it; I don't,
and. what's more, don't care
But it amt right continued Tom.
peevishly; it amt fair for him to kee
! critters looked up in a cabin, without
| letting fellow know what they be. i,
for one, don't like it,
Nor I-nor Ir echoed a dozen
voices.
L think it's gal. shouted one.
Nonsense = said old Bill, speaking
for the first time. How can you say
that, Ned Garter? You know it can't
be so. Capt'n Butler would not both
er with women-knows his duty too
well.'-
| Then what on earth is it?
'Ah,' said Bill, what on earth is it
I'm sure I don't know, and, as Sam
says, don't care. The skipper's a
perfect right to keep what he likes in
the cabin, without q lot of lubbers like
us trying to fiud it out. Let it all lie
quiet, mates, whatever it be: better
let it alone-mebbe it's rattlesnake.
Yes, mebbe it is, laughed the men.
If it is. let's out with it, aud over into
the sea I
They induIged in hearty laugh,
and the subject was dismissed.
Are we going 10 have fair trip,
Bill 2 asked Ned Carter, by way oi
changing the conversation.
The old man shook his head.
Dunno, Dunno he said " sely
Shouldn't wonder il we never reached
port. I've sailed many time undel
Captain Butler, AMI N some pretty
stiff weather, too; but blast me if
ever did feel so queer before ! It may
be warning, lads, SO let's look out
"A storm blowing up?'
No, can't say that it be-my rheu
mat,z don't feel 80; but something tot
sudden to come on us like a thunder
clap, to drown us ali without mo
ment's warning
sThat beast in the cabin is at tn,
bottom of it, Pll bo bound, said Car
ter.
We'll, 1 mean to find it out before
sleep tonight, announced Tom Den
ny. 'Ill sneak down to the cabin, ant
when my chance comes I'll just
Coward I exclaimed Bill. sWh,
don't you act like a man ? Here come
the captain now. Go to him and asl
what '1is in the cabin. He'll tell 70,
if it's anything you ought to know
And if it ain't?'
Then he'll keep it, suppose
Hat in hand, Tom approached tn
officer.
| Wen =? SAID the captain, klnQly.
Please, sir, we's all bound to know
VIZ, at kind of a beast you've locked il
ali to yourself in the aft cabin. Is it
gal or a monkey p
1t is neither
Let us see for ourselves
MY FRIEND replied the captain
firmly, 81 tell you once for all tha
YOU will never know from me wha
creature breathes the air of that cabin
When we reach port may tell you
not before
But we've a right to know
Il deny it. The cabin is mine, an,
I have right to occupy it as 1 will
Attend to your duty like a man, au'
you will never have cause to regret it.
will You tell us 2
Decidedly not
The captain turned upon his heel
and left the sailor disconte ltly muttel
ing to himself some half broken sen
tences about ttseeing it anyhow
vhether or no