Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-09-12
NEW SERIES. VOL. 1xVIII, 10. 81

breath OF air rippled the surface OF the
sea or 1uttered the canvas we spread
By O'Clock sort OF blush gray haze
crept over the sky, but the heat was
none the less oppressive.
The captain walked the deck and
raved. Do yon know where we areg he
snarled at Corello. The natives who In
habit this country are cannibalsl What
If they should take a fancy to attack us
nows We'd all DO served in soup and
roasts
"Ths skipper seemed to blame the
mate, and in less than three minutes an-
other row had begun. This time the
master did order Corelloto be seized and
ironed, but the order was not obeyed
Not man moved to carry out the COM
mand Instead the sailors stood scowI-
ing at their captain.
What's thisy' he roared. his face
growing black. DO you refuse to obey
mes By hi, this is inutinyr
We arc seek of you, calmly said
Corello. We serve you 20 way ze crew
OF ze Els Noble was serve. Grab him.
ladsr
1.-The skipper snatched ont a pistol and
retreated few steps. swearing to blow
out the brains of the first man who tried
to touch MIN. saw Portuguese creep
ing catliEe up behind the man, and
knew tho brig would soon be in the pos
session o. the lnutineers unless some un-
toreseen occurrence prevented.
AT this very instant Bildad Downes,
cockeyed old tar, shouted:
Canoes putin Off from shore loaded
with blacliskinsl There's piles of 'em,
an they're all armed. We're in for a
fghtF
In one instant the mutiny was over.
Every man realized our peril, and they
jumped to the rail to get look at the
approaching canoes. Downes had told
tho truth. y regular war party of the
cannibals were coming off to attack the
brig.
'Muskets and cutlasses, menr thun.
dered the captain. Train the gun on
en- and blow 'em out of the waterr
"Our only chance was to fight. and
that chance was really u slim one, as we
were badly prepared for such an encoun-
ter. Our heavy gun was a rusty old
thing, and twas doubtful if it would
do much execution. But we were not
destined to FIRE shot.
Suddenly great cry went up from
tho throats of the natives, and the GU
noes sat motionless on the CLASSY water.
while the black faces OF their inmates
were turned upward.
I" Great Godl Look therer
"The sailor who uttered the cry point
ed almost directly overhead, and there
we saw most astounding spectacle. A
two masted schooner turned bottom up-
ward seem to hang suspended in the air
amid the blush haze that overspread the
skyi Every sail was set, but they hung
idle like our own, as il she was also be-
calmed. We could look directly upon
the deck, but not a living thing seemed
stirring about her. She was deserted.
But the most singular part OF it all is
that could read her name, and swear
she was the lost schooner Ella Noble.
I'm few moments she began to fade
from view. DINNER and DINNER grew
her outlines, and she was finally swal-
lowed up and lost in the haze. When
we looked at the cannibals, every canoe
was scooting for the shore as fast as pad
dies could send them. Those nntiyes
were the worst scared lot you ever saw,
and we had no more trouble with them.
II suppose it is easy enough to account
for the vision of the vessel in the sky bv
calling it mirage, but sailors are mighty
superstitious, and there were some sober
men ON the Swallow after that. No fur
ther offer at rnutiny was made, and ey-
erything moved smoothly to the end of
the voyage.
But we didn't find the Ella Noble,
and she has never been heard OF since."-
New York Dispatch.