his services and skill were absolutely necessary for the safety of the Brigantine, and the preservation of the lives of his shipmates. There he sat, with all the sullenness of a man whose pride had been insulted, depicted upon his brow. This, too, while in the strict performance of his duty, which he so well knew. -Mr. James was cut to the very soul.

The atmosphere had become most oppressively sultry, and the under growling of the already agitated main was very distinct and alarming. Still the haughty young skipper heeded it not; indeed, however necessary even he himself might now think it was, to reduce the useless canvass which flapped most forebodingly against the masts, it seemed as though his obstinate disposition would not allow him to do it; and why? merely because one, who was his inferior in command, had but a minute before so strongly recommended it to be done. The albatross, at the mast head, again stretched out her wings, and swung them to and fro: another dismal and warning croak was heard as a sort of farewell summons, that those below her might prepare for what was coming. Again she flapped her great long pinions, as she let go her hold of the vane, and slowly ascended, in almost a perpendicular direction, through the thick close atmosphere, towards the regions of the sky above.

At this moment, the helmsman again returned upon deck, and presented the rifle to its owner, who instantly, fixing the piece firmly to his shoulder, took an aim at the bird, that was soaring in the heavens, with most fatal precision.

Old Cummins, the boatswain, had imperceptibly stolen up to the side of his commander, and, after the usual hitch up of his waistband, and turn over of the quid in his

mouth, ventured to whisper in his ear:-"Sure-ly yer honor aint agoing to have a slap at that ere harmless and friendly cratur aloft there, are you? If you kill that ere bird, Captain, harm will as sure come of it to this craft, and all aboard her, as sure, ay, as sure as my name's Joe Cummins."

Scarcely had the last sentence been uttered by the seaman, when the sharp crack of the rifle was heard to reverberate along the deck of the Brigantine: the smoke was yet clinging to the mouth of the fatal instrument of destruction, when the albatross was observed to topple over in the air; having lost the use of its limbs, it descended with rapid velocity upon the deck, at the foot of the skilful marksman. A profound silence was kept by the whole of the crew, during the performance of this rash-and, in their then critical situation, extremely thoughtless-act of their presumptuous and obstinate young Captain.

"The vessel's doom'd!-the vessel's doom'd!" whispered the men, one to another; while collecting in groups, with most doleful and superstitious fear depicted on their countenances, they talked over the likelihood of what would be the result of this murderous proceeding.

I'll tell you what I'm arter thinking, Captain,-axing yer honor's pardon-that you will prove that ere to be a werry unlucky shot; depend upon it, harm will come to us now, as sure as I'm your bo-sun. It's my opinion, sir,-axing your pardon for making so boldbut I

Here, old Cummins's speech was cut short, for the skipper had taken hold of the extreme ends of the bird's wings, while the former was addressing him; then swinging it round his head, with that perfect ease which

his muscular strength gave him, he dashed its bloody body, through which the rifle ball had perforated, against the little fat fellow's face. With such violence was the blow given, that it completely spun the boatswain round on his legs, and nearly capsized him.

"Take that, fellow, for your assurance in daring to give me an opinion of the propriety or impropriety of what I am pleased to do on board this vessel; I will let you know, fellow, that I am Captain here:" then repeating the blow, added-" and take that! lubber-headed fool, for your insolence; I'll teach you, sirrah, that none under my command shall dictate to me, let their situation on board be what it may." As the skipper pronounced the last sentence, his eye was cast with a malicious glance upon the form of his sullen mate. Then, again, he turned his invective against the unfortunate boatswain, whom he kicked with such brutish force, on a certain part behind, that the Blow sent the poor fellow reeling right against the bulwarks of the vessel: "And take that! fellow," said he, at the same time throwing the dead albatross, with an unerring aim, at old Cummins's head, " as a detonation of the contempt that I have for all your foolish fear and superstitious humbug."

Having spoke thus, the skipper walked leisurely over to the opposite side of the deck, and calmly looked out upon the sea, as though he were in deep thought.

THE GALE AND HURRICANE.

RETRIBUTION, direful retribution was at hand, for that wanton and unnecessary shedding of innocent bloodfor that presumptuous and wicked act. Instead of thus cruelly slaying one of God's creatures, how much more

acceptable would the slayer have appeared in the eyes of that all-wise Ruler of the elements, had he silently turned his thoughts to Him, and sought his succour against the peril contained in that fearful blast, which, with the speed of lightning, swept o'er the deep blue ocean towards his unprepared bark. Ah! thou inoffensive and murdered bird! the vengeance of heaven is thine-see the tempest in all its terrible anger bursts upon the beautiful little Brigantine-see that huge, powerful, and all-levelling wave now washes o'er her deck from stem to stern, and heaves everything of a moveable nature along with it, far, far away to leeward of the vessel. For a second or two, the dead body of the albatross was seen floating on the top of a mountain billow; then sinking down into the deep abyss beneath, was lost to sight for ever.

At this moment, the large Newfoundland dog, Dolphin, sprung overboard, at a single bound, into the boiling spray, but for what purpose, all on deck were too much engaged to observe, save one, and that one was Mr. James, the mate. He was the only being, except Him who seeth all things, that knew the cause thereof. In vain that ill-used but kind hearted man shouted, and encouraged the noble animal by every gesticulation of body he could think of; in vain he made several well-meant, but, alas! fruitless attempts to heave the end of a rope to him; again he triedagain he shouted, and quickly another coil was cast, but all his most strenuous efforts were of no avail, for the dog was far beyond his reach astern. At length, becoming quite exhausted with fatigue, he shrieked one more feeble shout of encouragement to the animal, as he totally receded from his sight, then lifting up his hands

in the attitude of supplication and despair, muttered to himself—"This! this is indeed a severe, although just retribution for his obstinate and wicked presumption: this must be deeply felt by him--this must, indeed, fell his proud and haughty spirit. Yet, O God! thy will be done!"

The clouds, as it were, suddenly bilged, and hurled down a deluge upon the decks of the doomed vessel. The gloom of approaching night was rendered more horribly dense and black by the impenetrable mist brought upon the wings of that furious gale, which wreaked itself with fearful violence upon the quarter of the Brigantine. Snap went the main t'gallant-mast and spritsail yard; while the beautifully tapered spar at the fore, bent like a reed before the wind. Confusion began to reign on board: the masts, yards, sails, shrouds, and running rigging of that smart little sea-boat were soon in as complete derangement as they were one hour before all tidiness, and in such excellent ship-shape order. Again the heavens opened, and torrents of rain descended therefrom. Another gust of wind, more fearful than the former one, tore the jibsail from its leach ropes. whistling of the gale through the rigging, and the splashing of the waves as they curled over, and roared with aggravated rage at the violence of their invisible brother element, were almost deafening. Still, above the loudest of the din and clamour that prevailed on deck, as the watch braced the yards to the wind-one voice was distinctly heard. There stood the young skipper, with a speaking-trumpet in his hand, proudly cheering on his men, and giving forth his orders with all coolness and intrepidity. He had, indeed, a master spirit within him, which seemed to increase in vigour as fresh difficulties

The