CONJURING UP A BREEZE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 264, 16 September 1864, Page 4

CONJURING UP A BREEZE.

(I'ltoat Jtv indiax jorii.v.u.. nr colonel \valtj;r CAiiriiKix.) "What are you at there, young gentleman ?" cried the chief mate, 11 vci<evai,lc OUI seaman, juut a firm believer in all nautical superstitions, as C opened a large clasp knife, and drove it with all his strength into the leaving it sticking in the wood. " Only conjuring up a breeze, old boy," replied ( , laughing- "I am sure you want, one." " Maybe, n.ayle," replied the mate.- resuming his walk with rather a dogged air ; " but mind that you do not tret more wind than you bargain for, young gentleman. J have seen that trick played before now, and no good came of if, J can tell yon." At this moment the dressing bugle sounded, and (he youngsters rushed to their cabins to prepare lor dinner, laughing immoderately at the solemn visage of the worthy mate. "1 wish S had the keel-hauling of.some of these d—d skylarking young scamps," muttered the old quartermaster, who, standing at the wheel, had been a very unwilling spectator of young C 's incantation, although in (he presence of his otli(cr he did not venture to interfere. '• Mr. t\l may well say that 110 good ever conies of such Irieks. AVe have good reason to remember the last lime one of these boiled lobsters brought us a breeze, when the ship was 011 her beam ends, and poor Tom Bunt wa.-hed overboard. And all along of the monkey tricks of them rl—d sodger otticers. Ay, by the Lord Harry! we had the devil to pay that night, and 110 pitch hot; and so we'll have it again before long, else my name is not .lack- But what signifies argufying '■ Jt's always the same with any of those cattle on board. L'm Mowed if a man mightn't as well look for the Lord's prayer in a Guincamnn's logbook as expect lo find common sense in the head ol a sodgcr. And so there's an end un't." 1 had tho middle watch that — lor we 41 sodger otlicers" \\t re obliged to keep watch as regularly asthcoflie. rs of tho ship—and accordingly relived early \o my h-j-th ; but before doing so 1 went on deck (o sec how the weather looked. It was still as calm as ever, but. tin; night wan very dark; a swell was getting up, and 1 eould sec fro n the anxious looks of the men who stood clustered in groups in tho Wiiist und at t(K* gungwnys, that tiny expected a dirlv night. I could also gather from the few words that reached my ears, that my irieud C—and h\* incunlalion formed the subject of their conversation. At twelve o'clock I wa>» roused irom n comfortable nap by the shrill pipe of the boatswain, and a hoarse voice bawling down the hatchway, u Larboard watch, ahov ! All hands reef topsails !" which, together with the uneasy motion of the ship, proved that aehangehad taken place in the weather, next moment the unwelcome apparition of adrippmg,

shivering -middy, sfoodin the doorway of my cabin, cap m hand. " Kipht bells, if you please, sir." " Very good, Master Peter. What tort of a night is it ?" " Yery diity to windward, sir,—breeze freshening— sea getting up—heavy rain—every nppi'.'iranec of a squally night, sir,"—and with this Job's comfort

middy made his bow and exit. " Bcmarkablv pleasant," thought I, as I jumped out. of my comfortable cot, and huddled on a thick pea-jacket and pair of

I'lushing trousers. When I got on deck, 1 found the night darker than ever. There was a thick drizzling rain—(he sea had got-up in an extraordinary manner—and the ship, under double reefed topsails with top-gallant sails over them, was rolling along at the rate of eleven knots, with afresli breeze on her quarter; the royal yards were on deck, and all appeared to bo made snug for the night. Having mustered my watch, I ascended the poop ladder, and found the sceond mate, who had been relieved from his watch, taking a parting glance, to see that all was right, before leaving the deck. The wind groaned

and wistled through the straining cordage, and Hie rain beat in my face, so as almost, to blind me, as I looked out to windward and attempted to pierce the deep gloom which brocded over sea and sky. ""VPliat port of a night, are ivc likely to have ?" paid I, addressing the second mate. '-Not very settled sir, from the appearance of the sky," he replied in an abstracted manner. "Bather squally or so—eh ? A small pull of that -weather main topsail brace! So! Belay every inch of that; Now that's something shipshape —eh? "Mr. Peter"— addressing the little dripping middy before mentioned, who, buttoned up in a huge pea-jacket; large enough to hold three ol' him, looked very much like a young bear ',I'ust run down to the cabin and see l.i.w the barometer stands." "A little down since it was last set, sir, reportedHastcr Icier, returning on deck and touching his hat. " The devil it is—eli ! Smart fellow, you, Cluster Peter. Are all the lopes clear, and ready for running " Yes, sir, —saw them all clear myself." " lih, you did, did you r—that's riclit! —smart fellow, 11 aster I'eter. Kever trust to another. Always seo things done yourself. That's ship-shape—eh ! Well, go below now, and turn in. I'-i.t stay, go to my cabin first and get a glass of grog, for you are wet to the skin, you poor little imp, and must want something to warm you." I'eter made a grateful duck of acknowledgment for the mate's kind offer, and disappeared down the hatchway. "And now, gentlemen," continued the second mate, "I thai] wish you good night and a pleasant watch. Ycur orders," addressing the third mate, who had relieved him. " are to cairv on as li ng as you can, to keep a good look out, and to call the captain and first male, if any particular cbnnge takes place in the weather. \ou need not trouble join self about me, unless you want to reef. Gocd night, gentlemen." So saying, and humming n tune, Xo. 2 dived below. ljuring I lie first, hour of my watch 110 change took place in the weather ; but about two bells (for ore o'clock in the morning) the dark gloomy haze which had hung so long to windward gradually rose till it bad attained a certain height, where it hung like a huge black curtain, a lurid mysterious light extending from its lower edge to the horizon, and showing the foaming crests of lhe waves, as they mshtd along tumultuously in our wake, roaring and hissing in their vain attempts to overtake the bounding ship ; the rain suddenly censed, and the breeze freshened rapidly, comirg in strong fitful puffs. "I don't much like the lc ok of the night, sir," said the gunner approaching the otl'icr of the watch, and touching his liat resp< etf'uPj. "Neither do 3," replicil the mate. "There's a fresh hand at the bellows, and we'll catch it before long, 1 suspect." "1l eg your pardon, sir, for oflering an opinion," said the gunner modestly, after taking a turn or two across the deck, " but that main to-gallant mast is complaining a good deal, sir; shall wo settle down the topgallant halvirds a bit to i ase it "Ay," replied the mate, looking aloft and smiling, " it's grinning a little, but it's a good stick. ar.d my orders are to cany on till all's blue—to we'll let it grin a lit tie I'ttlu longer: there are plenty .of spare spars on brnrd." I'ut the bn cze ircshcned now so rapidly that the dashing- mate was obliged to full his topgallant sails ; and in another hour, in spite of his inclination to " carry on," lie began to think seriously of taking another reel' in the topsails. He was about to issue oitiers to this cffect, when the wind suddenly lulled as if by magic. The bhiek cloud again descended to the hoiizon, rendering the darkness more intenso than ever. It fell stark calm, and the ship having no longer steerage way, reeled and staggere like a "drunkard, thieatcning at every lurch to roil the masts over the side, and making the wet sails flap and thrash about with a noise like thunder. 1 found i'. impossible to k< i ]) my feet,and was obliged to bold on by the wizen ligging. '• This is strange weather." said I. addiessirg the mate. " You may say that, sir,] have been exjn cting Jlr. f— : —'s breeze all night, and we are going- to have it now with a vengeance. Here, youngster," addressing a mielshi] man, "call the captain and first mate, and desiie the boatswain to pipe all hands, iccf topsails." The first mate, who, likea good seaman, always slept in his cl( Hies in such unsettled weather, was on dc-ek ill an instant, and his experienced o;e at once dt tected that mischief was blowing. " Shall J reef the main topsail, sir," asked the oflieCT of the watch. " Yes, sir, yes," re plied ihefirst mate hurriedly. " Away alott there, men, main topsail yard." The gunner was aheady in the top, and a few hands besides the topnien. But just as the words left the mouth of the chief mate, a flash of forked lightning, far exceeding in intensity anything 1 have witnessed holme or since, burst from the black

cloud overhead, lighting up the wild scene with a

ghastly blue light, and glaring feaifully on the [ anxious faces and dripping forms of tho crew. Ano- ; ther and another follow* d in rapid succession, nnd the thunder "bellowed as if the whole . firmnitu tit was being rent to pieces. *' Lie down theiein the tops!— Off the yaids men.! —Stop where you are, yon cn dock !" ic-aic d tho chief mate, as the men were swaiming up tho rigging like bees. At this moment 1 hoked out over tho gangway. The rain had suddenly ceased, the dfiik cloud lifted a J'ltle, and a line of blight phosphoiic light appeared to fringe the horizon ; at the same moment a low moaning sound, gradually increasing to a fearful hissing noise, was heard. " Port!" ioared the caplain, who at tin's moment rushed on deck half dressed, and who, bewildered hy tho darkness and confusion, did not know exactly what lie was about. " Starboaid your helm! liard a starboard!' 1 shouted the iirst mate, in a clear, manly voice that was heard above everything. This was no time for etiquette. The man at the wheel hesitated for a single moment, and then obeyed the latter older. It was well for us he did so. The low hissing sound increased to a tcrriiie roar, and a thick mist drove lull in our faces. It was not lain, but salt spray. Jiol'ore I had time to remark anything lurther. the tempest had burst upon f the ship in all its iury. The wind had ilown round ill an instant from is.W. to 5..5. H., and struck lis with a violence that baf'les desciiplicn. ilad it not In cn for the quick eye and presence of mind of the first mate, the ship miut. have been thrown on her beam-ends, and would probably have been dismasted. As it was, she caieciied for an instant, and then, being right before it, llew thiougli the boiling sea with a velocity that was fearful to behold. A teiriiic ciash, followed liy wild shrieks from the alter cabins, was now heard. The cross-jack yard had snapped in the slings, and the unfortunate lady passengers, thinking, no doubt, fiom the tremendous noi.-o overhead, that the ship had struck, rushe.l wildly from their cabins in their niglit dresses, and were spci ilily joined hy the gentlemen from below, in a similar stale of dishabille. Jt was a scene which at i.ny other time would make one laugh, but other thoughts were uppermost at that moment. The work of destruction once begun went on rapidly ; s.-t'' after sail was split and torn to ribbons, and in a few n"'mites the unfortunate ship was flying along under bare poles—a dismantled wreck. The noise of the splitting canvas, the splintering of wood, the furious clanging of the chain sheets as they hanged about und thrashed against tiie masts, the dismal howiing of the wind, the shouts of tint men and screams ot the women, formed the most teri ifie eoneei t i ever heat d : whilst the lire-balls wiiieh piayid ab, • lit the mast-heads and vard-anns, lighted up the wild scene with a ghastly blue that rendered it pcriectly awiul. The on'y man in the ship who appeared thoroughly at his ease in the midst of the hubbub was the second mate. lie was quite in his element, and bustled about, laughing ami joking, a> if the whole thing had been got up lor bis spceiai amusement. " Why," said be, laughing, as lie picked up a large splinter of wood which hud teen hurled irom tiir poop with gr«>at violence, "one might, as well bo in action at once ; here are t*plinler> and chain shot," alluding- to tho chain sheets which were banging about near our heads :

4k and all the other delights of a naval engagement. And some work for the doctor, too," he continued, as sin apparently lifeless body was cairied pa>t him between two of the men. Uut his levity gave way to heller feelings, when he discovcied the suDerer to be his favorite middy, LitUo iVter. The poor httlw lellow had been struck by a splinter, and his head

w;.i" so fearfully mangled thut we supposed him. dead. But the kind hearted reader will be glad to know that lie eventually recovered. The squall, although so furious during (lie time it lasted, blew over in less than a quaitcr of an hour, -when it again fell stark ea'm. l!ut the sea, which had hitherto been kept down by the extn me furv of the blast, now got up so suddenly, and in so frightfu"y agitated a manner that nothing could be clone towaids repairing damages ; and for the remainder of that night we continued in about as uncemfm table a plight as can well be imagined. The whole oelium of the affair, of course, fell upon poor C' , who from thai time forth was looked upon as a perfect Jonah, by the flp'p's crew in general, and Ilie old quarter-master in particular. So much for catching the tail of a hnrricnnc. During the height of the gale, our Colonel's wife gave birtli to a fine hoy, and, notwithstanding the vnfavourable circumstances under which the event took place, all went well. The lady made a rapid recovery : and the young gentleman, on whom we have, in the meantime, bestowed the name tf " Grampus," is thriving.