SKETCHES OF A SEA LIFE.

CHAPTER I.

THE BRIGANTINE.

THE period at which the opening scene of our tale commences was about the middle of August.........

The sun was slowly descending towards the western horizon, and the revelling waters of the broad Atlantic blushed most brilliantly beneath his reddening glare. The boisterous clamor of Æolus's rude voice for awhile had ceased, and all was hushed, save the gentle sighing of evening's softest zephyr which fanned the ocean's slightly agitated surface with its cooling and welcome breath. About the centre of this marine tableau two small white specks were visible.— The only objects to be seen upon the wide expanse of dark blue waves, and still more extensive regions of firmament above, were the two small specks just alluded to. One, on a nearer view, was observed to be a most beautiful little vessel, gracefully haling to the breeze, and stealing almost imperceptibly on her course. The other was one of the largest kind of that immense species of sea fowl, called the Albatross. The saucy looking craft proved very deceptive with respect to her size, for at first sight she was taken for a light coasting cruiser, but on a closer survey was found to be the Fanny of

Buenos Ayres, a fine Bermuda-built Brigantine of nearly two hundred and fifty tons burthen. The while this perfect specimen of naval architecture spread her large white studding sails to the wind, so apparently endowed with life were her gambols, that in the distance a landsman might easily have mistaken her for a mate of the wild ocean bird that majestically soared along with her in its flight.

The Brigantine appeared to be in mourning, either for her captain, whom it was supposed she might have lost on the voyage, or otherwise for some one of her owners. Her masts, spars, booms, blocks, and dead eyes, as well as the inside of her bulwarks, nay every part about her, save the figure head, which represented the fine formed bust of a mature young female, and which was all gilt, were painted black. Her long low hull was of such unexceptionable symmetry in all its proportions, that she truly seemed to combine invincible strength with a swiftness perfectly incredible. The planks of which her deck was composed from stem to stern were of that hard cedar wood peculiar to the islands amongst which she was built, and the belaying pins and stanchions abaft the main-mast, of solid brass beautifully bright and untarnished. Her wheel was formed of knotted oak, and her capstan head of mahogany, the highly polished crown of which exhibited a specimen of the most exquisite workmanship, being divided into twelve elegantly carved panels, diverging in radii from the centre, and alternately composed of ebony, ivory, and satin wood, with the signs of the zodiac richly inlaid in mother-of-pearl represented upon each. In the centre was a small plate of pure silver, with the name of the vessel and the date of her build engraven thereon.

The Brigantine's masts and sweetly tapered spars,her yards, booms, and crosstrees,-her standing, as well as running rigging,-the regularity of her large but exceedingly well formed sails,-the cleanly and unincumbered state of her decks,-the tautness of each rope, and the careful precision with which their falls were stowed away in neat Flemish coils,-the discipline of her crew, the order and strict attention to the duty of the ship which seemed fore and aft to prevail,-all bespoke that not only everything belonging to this compact and smart little craft was in unison with the beautiful model of her hull, but also that she was under the command of one who took a pride in the super-excellence of her surpassing qualities.

Below too, the greatest care and elegance of taste had been studied to blend ornament with utility. No expense had been spared on the part of the owners in the costly and extravagant manner in which her cabin was fitted up.-What, our readers will ask, could have been the occupation of this noble and apparently immaculate specimen of man's ingenuity? There she was seen upon the bright water, creeping along more like a sea-snake that had risen up from the fathomless depths of the ocean, than a fragile craft which the raging elements in their anger could so easily annihilate—And what, our readers will also ask, could have been the characters of her dauntless-looking crew?

The Brigantine mounted eight brass carronades, each of about six pound calibre. Upon the aftermost of these, with one hand holding on by the weather main-topmastbackstay, stood a man who appeared to be in the middle

age of life-his eye was fixed upon the leach of the foretop-sail, and the frequent orders which he gave to the

man at the wheel of "Sted-dy, no higher, boy"-pronounced him to be the officer of the watch steering the vessel-which was sailing close hauled upon the starboard tack. It was a beautiful evening-and there being no appearance of any sudden change in the wind, the hands had been turned up to skylark.

men.

THE CREW.

THE crew of the Brigantine were a hardy-looking set of The swarthy complexion of their sun-burnt and weather-beaten countenances told that they had long broiled under the heat of the tropical sun, and consequently had become thoroughly inured to the climate. They were a medley of all nations--from the wily and uncivilized African, to the enterprising and more intelligent European. In the fore part of the ship, close by the caboose, some standing, some kneeling, and others sitting upon the deck, were a group, with very interested looks, anxiously awaiting the result of a game at dice between two of their senior shipmates; while two others, a little separate from these, were engaged in deep silence over a pack of cards which they were playing upon a reversed bucket placed between them, in lieu of a better table. Upon the bow-sprit were seen three or four fishermen with their lines and hooks endeavouring to ensnare the unsuspicious bonetas that were frisking in the spray beneath the bows of the vessel.

In the weather waist, leaning with his back against the booms which were lashed amidships between the main and foremost, stood a regular man-of-war-built tar: his arms were folded upon his chest, and a short pipe was stuck in the corner of his good humoured mouth,