Page:The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance 1832.pdf/51

Rh aboard of me. I've no notion of being laughed at every time I foul my hawse, or shiver a little in the wind. But now for the yarn. Who has the look-out?-ah! I see it is you, Smith. Run down, my good fellow, into the steerage, and bring up a couple of camp-stools. We can sit here, Quills, in the wake of the fore-mast, out of sight of the officer of the deck. Keep a bright look-out, Smith," said the mate, when the stools were brought, and the companions seated, " and if you see the officer coming forward, let me know it." Ay, ay, Sir," was the rejoinder; "I'll keep an eye on him, and a bright look-out ahead, too."

"Now, Quills, commence your yarn."

"I had been," began the clerk, "for some three or four years in a counting-house, in London, when, one morning, I was called into my employer's private office, by the senior partner of the house, and informed that they were about loading a vessel with arms and munitions of war for South America ; and as the service required a trustworthy and experienced manager, they had concluded to appoint me supercargo, in case I was willing to accept the berth. I had often listened, with the greatest attention and delight, to romantic stories of the sea, which the masters and mates in my employer's service were in the habit of recounting, and had long anxiously looked forward to the period when my lucky stars would present such an opportunity for gratifying my ardent desire to see the world. As you may imagine, I embraced the offer without hesitation, and set about preparing myself for the voyage.

"The vessel destined for the business was a brig, that had been built during the war, for a privateer, and pierced originally for eighteen guns. With great length and breadth of beam, she was remarkably sharp ; had long raking masts, and a low hull; and sailed so fast, that, to use an expression of her captain, ' it was necessary to heave her to, now and then, to cool the rudder irons.' In those days, the West Indies swarmed with pirates; and as our cargo was valuable, we were armed with six guns, and carried a crew of eighteen men, to meet any attack those desperate marauders might make upon us. Our destination was the island of Curacoa, where the patriot privateers were in the habit of rendezvousing, to replenish their stores and sell their prizes. In the course of a week, we were loaded, and had sailed. Although miserably sea- sick, for the first two or three days, I shall never forget the emotions of awe and delight with which I was filled by the tumbling, boundless, and lonely sea. 'Here,' thought I, man is indeed free. Here

JAN. 1839.