The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1890-04-26
A. M. D. G.

THE VOYAGE TO ''THE DISCOVERY
Our sketch opens in mid ocean.
Three buoyant watches are smoothly
waited upon the CLASSY deep many a
hundred miles from the realms Of
their owaers-the conquerors of Gre.
NADIA.
Night invests the scene, and for an
instant the golden hues lingering be-
hind the departed orb Of the West are
reflected upon the tranquil waters and
present a scene fair beyond descrip-
ton. On deck the foremost vessel we
behold man Of commanding mien,
tall and graceful in his every move
ment. He PAGES up and down the
aforesaid part Of the ship, his face the
while giving sign Of great emotion,
of distress, even though blended with
and made less striking by earnest and
deep meditation. Suddenly his face
clears, his knitted eyebrows and firmly
set mouth relax as is their wont, and
a smile hovers for moment round
the latter. This magic change is
wrought by the appearance of the
mate.
Columbus, for it is he, has made
too deep a study Of human nature
not to know that the dread anxiety,
apprehension and distress attending
imminent danger are very often suf-
fcient to unman the staunchest heart
and to weaken the strongest arm. On
this account he finds himself now re-
duced to play comedy, and to appear
calm and smiling before his intimate
friend when he himself is morally con-
vinced that that very night, or the
following morn at latest, must needs
be an evertful one indeed.
This assertion as to the certainty of
something unusual to happen may seem
rather bold and even preposterous on
our part, but facts speak louder than
words, and for some days past the
commander has met many an angry
scowl from his sailors, and but a short
hour ago, passing alongside the second
mates cabin he has heard more than
threats-he has had an inkling into a
we'll planned plot towards his own de-
struction. A few minutes later, meet
ing this officer and his subordinate
conversing together in a low, tragic
tone, they have shruak away at his
approach, and he does not doubt but
that he was the subject of their con-
yersation and moreover that they we're
anything but well disposed towards
him.
He knows his position is most cri-
teal and precisely for this reason he
tries to hide his late discovery to the
mate and keep him in ignorance of
the fresh doings aboard the ship.
Critical did we say? Aye! almost
past human hope. Columbus knows
that there is but one soul aboard the
ship on which he can fully rely and
that rather an incumbrance than. a
help at the present moment because
were he alone he would mind much
less these odds, but not so now that
his friends life is at stake as we'll as
his own. To use physical force In the
emergency is out Of the question and
he knows that if moral suasion fail at
the last moment, he shall lose hi1mor
OF life and perhaps both, dragging
his friend with him into the abyss
which he had prepared for himself.
Then, his name. to be handed down to
posterity in ignbminy a that Of an
imposter by those very sovereigns who
have put such faith in all he advanc-
ed-Nol anything before that. Too
much is at stake to give up without
an effort. Tine is all he wants and
hel shall get it. Then the remem-
brance Of those copper colored corpses
found floating in European currents
betokening new countries and strange
people spur him on. Faith and hope
are strong enough in him to support
though the worst was to happen.
Faith shall be his consoler if it does
come; but now ray Of hope lightens
his inmost heart hope to convert
those Pagan Nations to the light of