Part 2 (1/2)
The glooh it was doubtful whether we should be able to reach the bank, and, if successful, whether the anchors would hold on Orders were given to lay aloft and send down the top-gallant-yards,into theup forward With much difficulty, I reached the main-topmast cross-trees, and, when there, it was alle of at least forty-five degrees, and I found , not perpendicularly over the shi+p's deck, but at least thirty feet fro The yard rope was stoppered out on the quarter of the yard, the sheets, clewlines, and buntlines, cast off, and the shi+ft slackened, and then simultaneously from both mast-heads the cry was heard, ”Sway, away!” The parrel cut, the yard was quickly topped and unrigged, and then lowered away on deck The next duty to be perforallant masts After much difficulty and hard work, this was also accoh I felt soerous service, yet, on this occasion, I was not a little pleased when I reached the deck in safety
By this tiained four s indicated our approach to the bank Tackles were rove and stretched along forward of the windlass, as well as deck-stoppers hooked on to the ringbolts fore and aft ”Loose the fore-topsail!”
shouted Captain G, ”we , there will not be left a timber head of this shi+p, nor one of us, to tell the sad tale of our disaster” The topsail was loosed and set, and the shi+p groaned heavily under the immense pressure of canvass; her lee rail was under water, and every moment it was expected that the topmast or the canvass would yield The deep-sea-lead was taken forward and hove: when the line reached the after-part of the h in the air, ”By the deep, nine!” It was three o'clock ”Clew up and furl the fore-topsail!” shouted Captain G The topsail furled of itself, for the moment the weather sheet was started, it bleay from the bolt-rope; the foresail was ireat pressure of canvass, and having now nothing on her except the ht The main-topsail was clewed up and fortunately saved, the mizzen-staysail was set ”Stand by, to cut away the stoppers of the best bower anchor--to let it go, stock and fluke,” said Captain G ”Man the fore-topmast-staysail down-haul; put your helm down! haul down the staysail” This was done, and the shi+p came up handsomely, head to wind, ”See the cable tiers all clear--ater is there?” said Captain G
The leadsht!” By this time, the shi+p had lost her way ”Are you all clear forward there?” ”Ay, ay, sir!” was the reply ”Streao the anchor!”
shouted Captain G The order was executed as rapidly as it was given; the anchor was on the botto the windlass sh the cable eather-bitted, and every effort was made with the deck-stoppers and tackles to check her, all was fruitless Ninety fathoo the larboard anchor,” said Captain G; ”Cheerily, o!” In the same breath he shouted, ”Hold on!” for just then there was a lull, and having run out the best bower-cable, nearly to the better end, she brought up No ti service on the cable, to prevent its chafing She was now riding to a single anchor of two thousand weight, with one hundred fathoms of a seventeen-inch hemp cable The sea rolled heavily, and broke in upon the deck fore and aft; the lower yards were got down; the topsail-yards pointed to the wind; and as the tide had now turned, the shi+p rode without any strain on her cable, because it tended broad on the bea presented a dismal scene, for there were more than fifty sail in-shore of us, so the bank, and anchored with loss of sails, topmasts, &c Many others were dashed upon the rocks, and not a soul was left to tell the tale of their destruction I shall not forget that, on the second day, a Dutch galliot was driven in to leeward of us; and although, by carrying on a tre off shore until five PM, yet, at sunset she disappeared, and was seen no more After our arrival in London, we learned that this unfortunate vessel was driven on the rocks, and every soul on board perished
The gale continued four days, at the expiration of which tiht, the wind hauled round to the eastward, and the weather beca in the cable at five AM, yet we did not get the anchor until nine that night
Close-reefed topsails were set on the shi+p and we stood over to the English coast, and anchored to the ard of Dungeness During the whole period of this gale, which lasted four days, Captain G never for one h well advanced in years, yet his iron constitution enabled him to overco the situation of the shi+p, was, perhaps more critical than many of those less fortunate vessels which stranded upon the rocks, yet his coolness, and the seaman-like manner hich the shi+p was handled, no doubt were thesaved
THE HUNTER'S WIFE
Thomas Cooper was a fine specihtly but powerfully , indefatigable, and a crack shot--he was admirably adapted for a hunter's life For many years he knew not what it was to have a ho froame All who knew To wife, to settle within threecreature, ould have to lead such a solitary life; while others said, ”If she was fool enough to marry him, it was her own look-out” For nearly fourthe old hut he had fixed on for their residence more comfortable He cleared and tilled a san to hope that, for her sake, he would settle down quietly as a squatter But these visions of happiness were soon dispelled, for, as soon as this as finished, he recommenced his old erratichis wife alone, yet not unprotected, for, since his e, old Nero, a favorite hound, was always left at ho--a cross between the old Scottish deerhound and the bloodhound, and would hunt an Indian as well as a deer or bear, which, Tom said, ”was a proof they Injins was a sort o' warmint, or why should the brute beast take to hunt 'em, nat'ral like--him that took no notice of white , about two years after their e, Susan akened by a loud crash, i
She recollected that she had shut hi he had winded so around the hut, and effected his escape, she took little notice of the circumstance; but a few moments after came a shrill, wild cry, whichfrom her bed, throw on her clothes, and rush froer doubted what the hound was in pursuit of Fearful thoughts shot through her brain; she called wildly on Nero, and, to her joy, he ca drew near, she saw that he galloped heavily, and carried in his e, dark creature
Her brain reeled; she felt a cold and sickly shudder dart through her lihter, and, all her life, had been accustoer and of horror, and in this school had learned to subdue the natural timidity of her character With a powerful effort, she recovered herself, just as Nero dropped at her feet a little Indian child, apparently between three and four years old She bent down over him; but there was no sound or motion: she placed her hand on his little, naked chest; the heart within had ceased to beat: he was dead! The deep s were visible on the neck; but the body was untorn Old Nero stood, with his large, bright eyes fixed on the face of hison her, as if he expected to be praised for what he had done, and seemed to wonder why she looked so terrified But Susan spurned him from her; and the fierce animal, ould have pulled down an Indian as he would a deer, crouched hu woently in her arms to the hut, and laid it on her own bed Her first i over the fire-place, and shoot the hound; and yet she felt she could not do it, for, in the lone life she led, the faithful animal seemed like a dear and valued friend, who loved and watched over her, as if aware of the precious charge intrusted to hiht, also, of what her husband would say, when, on his return, he should find his old companion dead Susan had never seen To but kindness; yet she feared as well as loved him, for there was a fire in those dark eyes which told of deep, wild passions hidden in his breast, and she knew that the lives of a whole tribe of Indians would be light in the balance against that of his favorite hound
Having securely fastened up Nero, Susan, with a heavy heart, proceeded to exaround around the hut In several places she observed the impression of a small moccasined foot; but not a child's The tracks were deeply ht, elastic tread of an Indian
From this circu her child when attacked by the dog There was nothing to shohy she had come so near the hut: most probably the hopes of some petty plunder had been the induce a band of Indians hborhood She returned sorrowfully to the hut, and e up the , or rather the hole where thehad been, for the powerful hound had, in his leap, dashed out the entire frame, and shattered it to pieces When this was finished, Susan dug a grave, and in it laid the little Indian boy She made it close to the hut, for she could not bear that wolves should devour those delicate limbs, and she knew that there it would be safe The next day Tom returned He had been very unsuccessful, and intended setting out again, in a few days, in a different direction
”Susan,” he said, when he had heard her sad story, ”I wish you'd left the child where the dog killed hih sartain to come back a seekin' for the body, and 'tis a pity the poor crittur should be disappointed Besides, the Indians will be high sartain to put it down to us; whereas, if so be as they'd found the body 'pon the spot, may be they'd onderstand as 'twas an accident like, for they 're unkiot sense like Christians”
”Why do you think the poor woman came here?” said Susan ”I never knew an Indian squaw so near the hut before?”
She fancied a dark shadow flitted across her husband's brow He rily, ”How should I know? 'Tis as well to ask for a bear's reasons as an Injin's”
Toh to mend the broken , and plant a s Susan not to expect hiin,” he said, ”as ot for the poor crittur; though may be she wont come, for they Injins be onki an interest in the woht of that dark look she had noticed, and of Toness to speak on the subject She never knew that on his last hunting expedition, when hiding some skins which he intended to fetch on his return, he had observed an Indian watching him, and had shot him, with as little mercy as he would have shown to a wolf On Toone; and in the soft, damp soil was the mark of an Indian squaw's foot; and by its side, a little child's He was sorry then for the deed he had done; he thought of the grief of the poor , and hoould be possible for her to live until she could reach her tribe, ere far, far distant, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains; and now to feel, that, through his hts into his ht that one God had formed the red man as well as the white--of the souls of therifle; and they, perhaps, were rounds,” than he for the white man's heaven In this state of mind, every word his wife had said to hiain to be alone, in the forest, with his rifle and his hounds
The afternoon of the third day after To at work, she heard so at the door
Nero, as by her side, evinced no signs of anger, but ran to the door, showing his white teeth, as was his custom when pleased Susan unbarred it, when, to her astonishment, the two deerhounds her husband had taken with hi weary and soiled At first she thought Toht her a fresh supply of venison; but no one was there She rushed from the hut, and soon, breathless and terrified, reached the squatter's cabin John Wilton and his three sons were just returned fros, when Susan ran into their co on her shoulders, and her wild and bloodshot eyes, gave her the appearance of a maniac In a few unconnected words, she explained to them the cause of her terror, and implored them to set off immediately in search of her husband It was in vain they told her of the uselessness of going at that ti a trail in the dark She said she would go herself: she felt sure of finding hied to use force to prevent her leaving the house
The nextat daybreak, Wilton and his two sons wereto take Nero with the could induce him to leave his mistress: he resisted passively for sohi upon his torled hi it impossible to make Nero accompany them, they left without him, but had not proceeded many ed Susan to return; told her of the inconvenience she would be to them It was no avail; she had but one answer,--”I ahter, and a hunter's wife” She told the how useful Nero would be to them in their search, she had secretly taken a horse and followed them
The party rode first to To their horses through the forest, followed the trail, as only ht they lay on the ground, covered with their thick, bear-skin cloaks: for Susan only, they heaped a bed of dried leaves; but she refused to occupy it, saying, it was her duty to bear the same hardshi+ps they did Ever since their departure, she had shown no sign of sorrow Although slight and delicately forued: her whole soul was absorbed in one longing desire--to find her husband's body; for, fro hi Early the nextthey were on the trail About noon, as they were crossing a small brook, the hound suddenly dashed away from theht have crossed the track of a deer or wolf; but a long, mournful howl soon told the sad truth, for, not far fro on the dead body of his master, which was pierced to the heart by an Indian arrow
The murderer had apparently been afraid to approach on account of the dogs, for the body was left as it had fallen--not even the rifle was gone No sign of Indians could be discovered, save one small footprint, which was instantly pronounced to be that of a squaw Susan showed no grief at the sight of the body: she maintained the same forced calmness, and seemed comforted that it was found Old Wilton staid with her to re husband, and his two sons set out on the trail, which soon led theh the tall, thick grass They continued riding all that afternoon, and the next ain on the track, which they followed to the banks of a wide but shallow stream There they saw the re the ashes, which were still warm They crossed the river; and, in the soft sand on the opposite bank, saw again the print of small, moccasined footsteps Here they were at a loss; for the rank prairie-grass had been consumed by one of those fearful fires so corew short, sweet herbage, where even an Indian's eye could observe no trace They were on the point of abandoning the pursuit, when Richard, the younger of the two, called his brother's attention to Nero, who had, of his own accord, left his mistress to accompany them, an if he now understood what they were about The hound was trotting to and fro, with his nose to the ground, as if endeavoring to pick out a cold scent Edward laughed at his brother, and pointed to the track of a deer that had coreed to follow Nero, as now cantering slowly across the prairie The pace gradually increased, until, on a spot where the grass had grown ave a deep bay, and started off at so furious a pace, that, although wellup with hiht the it impossible to take their horses further, they tethered theht of the hound, but still, fro far away At last they fancied it sounded nearer instead of beco less distinct; and of this they were soon convinced They still went on in the direction whence the sound proceeded, until they saw Nero sitting with his fore-paws against the trunk of a tree, no longerlike a fury They looked up in the tree, but could see nothing, until, at last, Edward espied a large hollow about half way up the trunk ”I was right, you see,” he said ”After all, it nothing but a bear; but we iven us so much trouble”