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as ever planked' a deck, Sandy; and if I can serve you in

any way,

I'll do so with all my heart. 'Dare, now, Mr. Bobstay, you talks like a gentleman, you does ; de Lor a massy, you

boys is all alike, you is ! - always gwine to fly off de handle! But, as I was a sayin' afore, I'm gotten a onpleasant piece of duty to perform - 'deed I has, Sarel'

· Well, go on, Sandy.'
· Mr. Bobstay, Jocko's dead !'
Jocko dead! what ! the monkey?'
Dat's him, Sare.'

Why, I saw him playing about the rigging last evening, as lively as a kitten.

‘Dat's a sarcumstantial fac, Sare, but he's dead, nebber de less; and he so diwertin, too, wid his tricks !'

And so fond ob ebbery body 'bout de galley,' said the wardroom cook.

• And sich a soon monkey, too, cried he of the cabin. “Uch, ah! he was all dat!' chimed in the others.

Well, Sare, continued Sandy, de manner ob de poor feller's deff was dis. You see, Sare, Jacko was berry like de cullered pussons, and could n't stan’ de cold no how; so las night, when de fire was out in de galley, he don gwine, and crawl in de oben; and dare he lay berry snug and warm, I spose, till de day gin to break, at which time, I kindled ob de fire, and at de same time I don shet to de door ob de oben, kase I knowed de ward-room steward was a gwine to bake cakes for breakfast. Twan't long afore I heern Jocko scream. Who de debbil 's a teasin ob dat ere monkey ?' said I. But nobody answer; and den anoder scream, and den anoder, and anoder, and anoder on de top ob dat, too. At las, after runnin' all around, and ebbery which way, kinder 'stracted like, I 'gan for to 'spicion in my mind what de matter was, and peeped in de oben, and dare was poor Jocko almos' burned to a crisp. He libbed about two minnits after I haul him out, Sare, and den he dropped stone dead jes in front ob de range. And de objec of disser meetin' at de mast am, Sare, to ax you to pleas hab de goodness to luff us launch de body from de starboard gang-way, kase he was so 'spectable a monkey, as soon as de carpenter's mate's don finish a coffin wot he's a makin of for him

now,

Sare. Most certainly I will, Sandy,' responded the juvenile Bobstay; and you may bring him up as soon as you 're ready.'

Much gratified with this permission, the cooks grinned their thanks, and left the deck. In the course of an hour, however, they returned to it, bringing with them the mortal remains of their deceased comrade, which were borne on the shoulders of the venerable Sandy. They were all dressed in their mustering clothes ;' and they looked as melancholy as the hired mourners at a rich man's funeral.

When they reached the gang-way, the body was deposited on the deck, for a few minutes, in order that the friends of Jocko might take their last look at his mirth-provoking features; which

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ceremony being concluded, the corpse was consigned to the deep, amid the lamentations of the whole crew. In fact, I do not believe that the death of any officer or man in the ship would have caused such general regret as did that of poor Jocko.'

As Sandy turned to go forward, I noticed the tears coursing one after the other, down his wrinkled cheeks; and I heard him say, in reply to some consolatory words which Peterson was pouring into his ear: 'I knows berry well, George, dat you knowledges more 'bout most tings dan wot I does, but as to dat monkey's not having no soul, 'taint no kinder use for you to tell dis nigger notting 't all about it, kase in regard ob dat 'ticklar pint, dere am only ONE wot knows — and dat 's de LOR A’MIGHTY. I knows dare 's dose as says de monkeys an't got no reason nudder. Go way, childe ! dey's got a heap mor’n de common nig, any day ob de seben. Why, it am morin eight year, George, sense I fust made de 'quaintance ob Jocko, kase you see we was ship-mates two cruises afore dis, and I nebber knowed him to do nuthin dat a 'spectable monkey need be 'shamed ob doin', no how. He war a little mischievyous, I allows, but den he nebber did a right down mean onchristian act, no, nebber ! And so you see, George, I b’liebes myself — do I do n't purten for to say sartin - dat Jocko had a soul jes de same as you and I habs, and dat one ob dese days we be all a gwine to meet agin in Daby Jones's locker, kase people may call em monkeys and brutes and all dat, but I tinks dey's old-time people, I does - dat's wot I tinks !

Thus fully expressing his psychological opinions, the old cook left the presence;' and when I next met him he was busily engaged in bilin ob de bean soup,' preparatory to giving the ship's company their dinner.

Fair and softly blew the northern breeze, and gayly the 'Shenandoah' danced upon the billows of the Sardinian sea, as we ran along the coast of Sicily; and every one was predicting a speedy passage to Malta, (whither we were bound,) when a little after mid-night, on the sixth day of August, Cape St. Marco bearing north, distant about ten miles, the wind came out but-end foremost, as the sailors say, from west-by-south, while the sudden fall of the barometer gave indication of the approach of one of those violent tornadoes which so frequently sweep across the southern shores of the Mediterranean, bringing death and devastation in their track.

All hands being called, the ship was placed at once under closereefed topsails and courses, and hauled by the wind on the starboard tack, with her head to the southward; after which the topgallant masts were sent on deck, relieving-tackles hooked, and, in short, every preparation made to breast the coming storm that good seamanship could dictate to men who, with

"That stern joy which warriors feel

In foemen worthy of their steel, were fully determined to battle with their enemy á outrance.

"We are clawing off well, I think, Mr. Garboard,' remarked the Captain at two in the morning, (as the master reported the vessel

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heading south-by-east, making five knots ;) and if it blow no harder, we'll be in a snug berth enough by eight o'clock.'

• It will blow a hurricane long before that, Sir,' answered the first lieutenant, in a subdued tone;' and the sea is getting up fast, I perceive.

"I know it well, Garboard,' hurriedly rejoined his superior, and I would give all I possess on earth for a little more sea-room; but as it is, we must make the best of it. We have but one resource

• And that is ? '
* To carry sail as long as the masts stand!'
"And when they go ?!

The Captain replied not; but he raised his eyes and hands toward heaven, and the look and gesture were more eloquent than words.

Come, Garboard," said he, at length, 'we must have no more of this. You and I are old and tried friends, and know each other's strength, but I would not, for my life, have the crew share our apprehensions !

•You need have no fear on that score, so far as I am concerned, Captain Blazes, cried Mr. Garboard, reddening to the temples ; " for

"Pray do n’t misunderstand me,' interrupted the Captain, kindly and affectionately placing his hand on his lieutenant's shoulder.

Believe me, Garboard, my greatest support during this trial will be to have you by my side.'

May God bless you for those words, Sir!!. And as the old salt spoke, unable to repress his emotions of gratified pride, he turned away his head to conceal the tear which was slowly trickling down his weather-beaten face.

By three o'clock the wind and sea had greatly increased, and the ship was laboring fearfully.

'Let the men and officers go below by watches, and refresh themselves with hot coffee, Mr. Garboard; we will need all their energies ere long,' said the Captain, quietly.

As I was seated cross-legged on the steerage deck, an hour or so after this, holding a pot of old Java' in my hand, which I was eagerly sipping, the hoarse cry of All hands ! resounding through the ship, summoned me to my post, and never, while life lasts, can I forget the appalling spectacle

which presented itself to my horrified gaze, as I reached the upper-deck.

Day was just breaking; and, as far as the eye could reach to leeward, extended a rock-bound, surf-lashed shore, while the sky over our heads and the waves beneath us (save that their crests were fringed with foam) were as black as the shades of mid-night; and, as if these horrors were not sufficient to appal the stoutest heart, the roaring of the wind through the rigging, the creaking of the strained masts, and the groaning of the over-tasked vessel, were terrors that were felt, but can never, never be described.

“The masts are buckling like reeds, Garboard, coolly remarked our commander. “Send the men down from the tops!''

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The first lieutenant had but just complied with this mandate, when, with a terrific crash, the topmasts went over the side, and at the same instant the courses blew out of the bolt-rope. The three lower stay-sails, which were bent in readiness for this emergency, were now hoisted; but although the 'Shenandoah," lightened of her top-hamper, and relieved of her press of canvas, was comparatively easy, and lay to' like a duck, to use a favorite simile, the securing of the wreck was no trifling matter. At length, however, through the almost incredible exertions and indomitable gallantry of both officers and men, this difficult feat was accomplished, and, happily, without loss of life or limb. Yet, there lay the grim island to leeward - a monster Death! from whose clutches none could expect to escape

and our hearts sank within us, and all hope of deliverance was indeed taken away, when, in the course of an hour from the time of our losing our spars, it became evident to every man and boy in the ship, that, in addition to our drift, a current was setting us toward our enemy.

The cables were now bent, and every thing prepared for cutting away the lower mast, and coming to anchor on a lee shore - the starboard sheet-anchor being backed by the stream, and the other anchors with kedges — and Mr. Bobstay and the master having received their final orders, were sent on the main-deck with the port watch. After which the hatches were securely battened down fore and aft.

Then came the most trying time of all; when, there being nothing more to do, we were compelled (like a corps of veterans, exposed to the fire of an enemy, with orders to maintain their position without discharging a shot in return) passively to submit to our fate; and none but those similarly circumstanced can un

; derstand with what a feeling of absolute relief we realized the fact, about mid-day, that the struggle for life or death was at hand.

The Captain deeming it advisable to send the first lieutenant forward, now took the trumpet; and when we had approached within a mile of the shore, the ship, caught by a roller, suddenly falling off in the trough of the sea, and the quarter-master at the lead reporting twenty fathoms, and shoaling,' the stream-anchor

go, and as soon as the stream-cable was taut, the weathersheet. At the same instant, the staysails were hauled down and the helm put hard a-port; while clear and distinct through the trumpet, came the command to cut away the masts. But there was no need; for at this crisis, a high, combing sea came hissing and foaming over the weather hammock-nettings, just forward of the main-rigging, and when it left us, masts, spars, and boats, together with one officer and six seamen, were floating away to leeward. Yet, still calm and collected, amid the horror and confusion of this scene, our noble commander, and first lieutenant, retained their full presence of mind, instilling confidence into the breasts of all around them, by their manly bearing; and the orders to let go the other anchors were given and obeyed, with as much coolness and deliberation, as if the 'Shenandoah' was merely making a 'flying moor' in a snug harbor.

a

was let

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The ship now swung to her anchors, and after • dragging' until they were in a line ahead, with an equal strain on each, contrary to the expectation of us all

, ' brought up.? Then followed a period of the most agonizing suspense, compared with which, all that we had previously endured was light and trifling ; as, now elated by hope, now depressed by fear, we lay for four long hours, balancing, as it were, between two worlds.

During all this time, the sea made a clean breach over us, carrying many a poor fellow to his last account; while, high above the wail of the tempest, was heard the sullen roar of the breakers greedy of their prey. And as cold, wet, and trembling, I crouched to leeward of the capstan, to which I was securely lashed, I prayed, as I had never prayed before, that I might not be cut off in my sins.

But 'the voice of the LORD that stilleth the raging of the sea, was heard at length upon the deep; and the winds were hushed, and the waves sobbed themselves to sleep, and 'there was a great calm. And when night came, the sky was clear, and the moon arose, and the stars looked down upon us and smiled. Then knew we that we were saved, and with the knowledge came the remembrance of the dead : and silently we looked into each other's faces, and wept.

When day dawned, the crew was mustered, and it was found that Williamson, Duet, and nineteen of the men were missing.

The Captain then gave the order to 'pipe down,' and we all went below, (save the lieutenant of the watch and a quartermaster) to seek the repose which we so much needed; and when I again went on deck, which was not until long after mid-day, a British steamer was running down to our assistance. The anchors were now weighed, and the steamer taking us in tow, we were soon under way for the Island of Malta ; and the next evening, as we entered the beautiful harbor of Valetta, I recalled to mind the words of the inspired Psalmist, and could scarce forbear crying aloud:

They that go down to the sea in ships, and occupy their business in the great waters:

“These men see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.

'For at His word the stormy wind ariseth, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

They are carried up to the heavens, and down again to the deep; their soul melteth away because of the trouble.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.

'So when they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, He delivereth them out of their distress.

“For He maketh the storm to cease, so that the waves thereof are still.

• Then are they glad, because they are at rest : and so HE bringeth them unto the haven where they would be.?

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VOL. LI.