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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 tried— again 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 jibsait from its leach ropes. The 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

rose up to appal him. There he was-undaunted by danger, and still presumptuously confiding in his own vain strength, even while himself, and all others around him, were in the midst of the greatest peril.

"Let go the haliards fore and aft," shouted he,"Call the hands out, you lubber-headed bo-sun.”

In obedience to this command, old Cummins applied the silver call, which was slung about his neck, to his mouth. Its shrill pipe was heard in every part of the vessel; after which, the usual hail of-" All hands hoy" was sung out by the boatswain, with a gruff and powerful voice.

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What an animated picture was there! In a few seconds, the Brigantine was teeming with life in every part. How handsomely did she behave, as though conscious of what was required of her. How perfectly did she answer to her helm-yet, how truly pitiful were the laboured attempts that she made to escape each overwhelming wave. How great was the contrast-when her fragile frame contended with His Almighty power! The gale continued in its wild career; steadier, but with increased force. The weather foresheet, at this moment, was carried away, and nearly caused the ship to be taken aback. The sail began to shake, and to whirl the clue about in a dangerous manner, as the Brigantine's head flew up in the wind's eye. Again the skipper's voice was heard::- "Starboard."

"Starboard it is, sir."
"Meet her, boy, meet her.
"Meet her, it is, sir.

attentive seaman.

Sted-dy."

Sted-dee," answered the

"Ease off that boom sheet there, abaft, and brail up the mainsail. Up aloft there, two of you, and cut away

the wreck of that main t'gallant mast. Fore top, there! —what is foul of that top sail yard?"

"The t'gallant sheets are jammed in the sheave holds, sir," answered a voice from aloft, scarcely intelligible. "Look alive, then, you sir, and get the yard clear of Quick aloft there, my boys, and tuck-up the canvass. There's brave souls, bouse again so-altogether. boys, altogether with a will-that's your brave souls, Cummins!"

all.

"Sir," answered the boatswain, touching his hat to his commander.

"Bear-a-hand with that new storm stay-sel, and get it bent ready for setting."

“Ay, Ay, sir.”

Although these various orders were given out with decision and firmness-although the young skipper walked collectedly from one end of the deck to the other, that he might himself see them obeyed promptlyalthough he endeavoured to stimulate the men by his own bold demeanour and apparent total absence of fear --still the whole of the crew went about their duty in a sullen and misgiving mood. Superstition had gained an ascendency in their minds, and, like sailors in general, the idea was not to be divested therefrom. They knew that their captain had the blood of an inoffensive and friendly monitor upon his hands-they knew, too, that their favourite shipmate, the Newfoundland dog, had left the vessel in a very mysterious manner, for no other purpose, as they supposed, than to attempt the preservation of his life by trusting to his own natural powers of swimming, rather than remain any longer on board a vessel where innocent blood had been shed. Although the Brigantine, which had been made as snug as circum

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