Evening star., 1928-12-26
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE VOYAGE
BY WASHINGTON IRVING

(washinston irving, 17es-185s was an
American essayist, novelist. snq ms,
..eEiIns .saimagundi, aneP' 'Knckerbockers History
of New York" etc.)
To one given to day-dreamifg- ana
fond of losing himself in reveries sea
voyage is full of subjects for medlta-
ton: but then they are the wonders OF
the deep and of the air, and rather tend
to abstract the mind from worldly
themes. I delighted to loll over the
Quarter-railing, or climb to the main
top, of calm day, and muse for hours
together on the tranquil bosom OF
summers sea, TO gaze upon the piles
of golden clouds just peering above the
horizon, fancy them some fairy realms,
md people them with creation OF my
own-to watch the gentle undulatlng
billows, rolling their silver volumes, as
Il to die away on these happy shores.
There was a delicious sensation of
mingled security and awe with which
looked down, from my giddy height, on
the monsters of the deep at their un-
ceuth gambolS-shoals of porpoises
tumbling about the, bow Of the ship;
the erampus slowly heaving his huge
Form above the surface, or the raven
tous shark, darting, like a specter,
ination would conjure up all that I had
heard or read of the watery world be-
meath me; of the finny herds that roam
its fathomleSs valleys: of the shape
less monsters that lurk among the very
foundations of the earth and of those
wild phantasrns that swell the tales of
fishermen and sailors
We one day described some shapeless
object drifting at distance. At sea
everything that breaks the monotony of
the surrounding expanse attracts at
tention. 1t proved to be the mast of
q ship that must have been completely
wrecked, for there were the remains of
handkerchiefs by which some of the
crew had fastened themselves to this
spar, to prevent their being washed off
by the waves.
There was no trace by which the
name Of the ship could be ascertained
The wreck had evidently drifted/ about
Tor many months; clusters of Shellf1sh
had fastened about it, and long sea-
weeds flaunted at its sides, but where,
thought I, are the crew? Their strug-
gle has long been over-they have gone
down, amidst the roar of the tempest
their bones lie whitening among the
cayerns Of the deep. Silence, oblivion,
like the waves, have closed over them,
and no one can tell the story of their
end.
The sight of this wreck. as usual.
gave rise to many dismal anecdotes.
This was particularly the case in the
evening, when the weather, which had
hltnerto been fair, began to look wild
ana tnreatene1ng and gave indications Of
one OF those sudden storms which will
sometimes break in upon the serenity of
q summer voyage. AS we sat around
the dull light of lamp in the cabin
that made the gloom more ghastIy.
every one had his tale of a shipwreck
and disaster I was particularly struck
WIN a snort one related by the cap
tain:
"As I was once sailing" said he "in
flne stout ship across the Banks of
Newfoundland, one of those heavy fogS
Which prevail in those parts rendered
1t impossible for us to see far ahead
even IN the daytime, but at night the
Weather was so thick that we could not
distinguish any object at twice the
length OF the ship. I kept lights at the
maSCheau, and constant watch for
ward to look out for fishing smacks.
WHICH are accustomed to lie at anchor
on the banks
The wind was blowing a smackino
breeze, and we were going at a great
rate through the water Suddenly thf
watch gave the alrm of "A sail ahead
1T was scarcely uttered before we were
upon her. She was a small schooner
at anchor with her broadside toward
us. The crew were all asleep. and hao
neglected TO hoist a light We STRUCK
her just anlidships.
The force, the size and weight Of
our vessel bore her down below the
waves; we passed over her and were
hurried on our course. AS the CRASHING
wreck was sinking beneath us, I had q
glimpse of two or three half-nakec
Wretches rushing from her cabin; they
just started from their beds to be swal.
lowed sElrieking by the waves. I heard
their drowning cry mingling with the
wind. The blast that bore it to oul
ears swept us out of all further hearing
I shall never forget the cryl
"It was some time before we could
put the ship about, she was under such
headway. We returned, as nearly a.
we could guess, to the place where tn,
smack had anchored. We criised abol
for several hours in the dense fog We
fired signal-guns, and listened if w
might hear the halloo of any survivors
but all was silent-We never saw o
heard anything of them more"
I confess these stories, for time
put an end to all my fine fancies. Th
storm increased with the night. Th
sea was lashed into tremendous con
fusion. There was a fearful sullel
oound Of rushing waves and broker