"Twas off the Wash-the sun went downthe sea look'd black and grim, For stormy clouds, with murky fleece, were mustering at the brim;

Titanic shades! enormous gloom!--as if the solid night

Of Erebus rose suddenly to seizes upon the light!

It was a time for mariners to bear a wary eye, With such a dark conspiracy between the sea and sky!

Down went my helm-close reef'd-the tack held freely in my handWith ballast snug-1 put about, and scudded for the land.

Loud hiss'd the sea beneath her lee-my little boat flew fast,

But faster still the rushing storm came borne upon the blast.

Lord! what a roaring hurricane beset the straining sail!

What furious sleet, with level drift, and fierce assaults of bail!

What darksome caverns yawn'd before! what jagged steeps behind!

Like battle-steeds, with foamy manes, wild tossing in the wind.

Each after each sank down astern, exhausted in the chase,

But where it sank another rose and gallopp'd in its place;

As black as night-they turned to white, and cast against the cloud

A snowy sheet, as if each serge upturn'd a sailor's shroud :[No. 7.

Still flew my boat; alas! alas! her course was nearly run!

Behold yon fatal billow rise-ten billows heap'd in one!

With fearful speed the dreary mass came. rolling, rolling, fast,

As if the scooping sea contain'd one only

wave at last!

Still on it came, with horrid roar, a swift pursuing grave;

It seem'd as though some cloud had turn'd its hugeness to a wave!

Its briny sleet began to beat beforehand in my face

I felt the rearward keel begin to climb its swelling base!

I saw its alpine hoary head impending over mine!

Another pulse-and down it rush'd-an avalanche of brine!

Brief pause had I, on God to cry, or think of wife and home;

The waters glos'd-and when I shriek'd, I shriek'd below the foam! Beyond that rush I have no hint of any after deed

For I was tossing on the waste, as senseless as a weed.

"Where am I? in the breathing world, or in the world of death?"

With sharp and sudden pang I drew another birth of breath;

My eyes drank in a doubtful light, my ears a doubtful sound

And was that ship a real ship, whose tackle seem'd around?

A moon, as if the earthly moon, was shining up aloft;

But were those beams the very beams that I had seen so oft?

A face, that mock'd the human face, before

me watch'd alone;

But were those eyes the eyes of man that look'd against my own?

Oh! never may the moon again disclose me such a sight

As met my gaze, when first I look'd, on that accursed night!

I've seen a thousand horrid shapes begot of fierce extremes

Of fever; and most frightful things have haunted in my dreamsHyenas-cats-blood-loving bats-and apes with hateful stare

Pernicious snakes, and shaggy bulls-the lion and she bear

Strong enemies, with Judas looks, of treachery and spite

Detested features, hardly dimm'd and banish'd by the light!

Pale-sheeted ghosts, with gory locks, upstarting from their tombs

All phantasies and images that flit in midnight glooms

Hags, goblins, demons, lemures, have made

me all aghast

But nothing like that GRIMLY ONE Who

stood beside the mast!

His cheek was black-his brow was blackhis eyes and hair as dark :

His hand was black, and where it touch'd, it left a sable mark;

His throat was black, his vest the same, and when I look'd beneath, His breast was black-all, all, was black except his grinning teeth.

His sooty crew were like in hue, as black as Afric slaves!

Oh, horror! e'en the ship was black that plough'd the inky waves!

"Alas!" I cried, "for love of truth and blessed mercy's sake, Where am I? in what dreadful ship? upon what dreadful lake?

What shape is that, so very grim, and black as any coal?

It is Mabound, the Evil One, and he has won my soul !

Oh, mother dear! my tender nurse! dear meadows that beguild!

My happy days, when I was yet a little sinless child:

THE BLACK TRADER;

A MARINER'S LEGEND.

The second voyage I ever made was in the Good Intent, of Glasgow, bound to Puerto Rico. I have reason to remember it, for an awful and solemn mystery that attended it has impressed it deeply on my memory, and few who were then with me have forgotten the perils and the horrors of that fated passage. We had light but favorable winds for the first five weeks, and the captain and passengers were anticipating a speedy end to the voyage, when one night, as we were running about seven knots an hour, Gibbie Allan, who had the watch upon deck, saw a light to leeward shining upon the water, or rather a snowy streak, as it appeared, at the distance of little more than a cable's length from the vessel. The captain, although he imagined it to be only the foam of a wave, immediately ordered Gibbie to heave the lead, but he found no bottom; and the man at the helm, who at the first alarm had altered the ship's course by the captain's orders, was now commanded to steer on as before. At that moment a large black-looking vessel, which none of us had previously observed, came sailing swiftly over the white spot towards us. Our captain hailed her, but no one answered; and indeed, not a soul was to be seen upon her deck. Her sails, like her hull, appeared to be perfectly black; and she seemed wandering like a

dark spirit over the restless billows of the ocean. "That's an ill token," said Gibbie, as he followed the departing vessel with his eye, "that's an ill token, or Gibbie kens naething about it! As sure as we are on the waters, yon's the Black Trader, and few who meet her, be they gentle or simple, can boast much of a prosperous voyage. Aw' is no' right, and some o' us will find it sae afore the morn." As he concluded, seven small pale blue-lights were seen dancing on our deck, near the forecastle, and, having remained for a few seconds, suddenly disappeared. The captain started, and, muttering something to himself, paced up and down in a hurried and agitated manner, whilst the rest of those on deck eyed him with evident curiosity and apprehension. We had now just approached the glittering streak that I spoke of, when suddenly the vessel struck, but without doing any material injury. She struck a second time, the rudder was lost-a third time, and the foremast and bowsprit were swept away. The cries of the passengers, who were awakened from their dreams to a sense of danger, enough to appal the stoutest heart, burst with a shrill, mournful, and discordant sound, on the ears of those who were upon deck. They were answered by a loud hoarse laugh, but whence it proceeded no one knew. All stood gazing at each other unconsciously, yet with an expression that showed they were under the influence of supernatural terrors. We sounded the pump, and found that the ship had already more than three feet water in the hold. She had fallen with her starboard side on the rocks, and her ports were only about two feet above water. The vessel still kept striking, and seemed to be settling more and more, when the captain having ordered the main and mizen mast to be cut away, the motion of the wreck was considerably diminished. Whilst we were

in this situation, the wind began to increase until it swelled into a complete tempest, and the rain burst over us in torrents. Our sole remaining place of refuge from destruction was on the larboard side, where we contrived to lash ourselves, for the waves broke so frequently and so heavily over the wreck that every soul on board of her must otherwise have perished. We were now perfectly helpless, and awaited death with the fortitude of despair. Then were heard prayers from lips that but a few hours before had uttered blasphemy and wickedness, and the paleness of the sea-foam was on the sun-burnt faces of the crew. Amidst us was one fair and trembling girl, our only female passenger, who was lashed at the side of her father, and kept her arms continually round his neck, as if anxious not to be separated even when the wreck should go to pieces. It was a heart-breaking sight to see one, who appeared but a tender and weakly flower, clinging in her fear to an aged parent, and seeming to dread death less than being divided from him who had cherished her in his heart, and loved her with all the fondness that a father feels for his first-born child. She bore up, however, as well as many of our hardiest seamen, for hopeless danger makes all equal; and the warrior in the field, the mariner on the sea, and maiden who would tremble if a bee crossed her path, may feel the same emotions, and bear them in the same manner when destruction seems inevitable. Just at that cold and cheerless time, between the departure of the night and break of day, the dark vessel again passed us within hail, but to our repeated calls no answer was given, except seven loud and discordant yells, and Gibbie Allan, who looked out anxiously, counted seven forms leaning over that side of the dark ship which was nearest towards us. A superstitious, but undefinable sensation, arose in the

of the sailors found means to procure some biscuit, which, although damaged by the salt water, was peculiarly acceptable in our exhausted state. Gibbie Allan also got us a little rum, and, after having made a good meal, our hopes began in some measure to revive.

Towards the evening, a light breeze sprang up, which the captain was afraid would increase as on the preceding day; for the clouds, the seaman's barometer, indicated a gale. This was cruel news to beings in our desolate situation, and, what was worse, we soon found it realized, for the wind began to freshen amain, and the wreck, from its repeated concussions against the rocks, seemed every moment in danger of going to pieces. At this critical period, when the fears of all were at their height, and a lingering, if not an immediate death, appeared inevitable, the captain, who was looking out with the utmost anxiety,suddenly exclaimed, "Cheer up! there's a sail a-head! there's a sail a-head!" and then remained breathlessly gazing over the ocean to mark the directions she took. "Tis all right!" said he," she is running down to us! See, see! how nobly she comes into view. If these bits of timber but keep together till she nears us, all will be well! But, death! she alters her course! What's to be done? We have no signals, and we cannot fire a gun. Ha! she changes again. Hurrah! hurrah! we are worth a thousand dead men yet!" The interval between the first appearance

and near approach of the strange sail, was one not merely of suspense, but of agony-of positive mental agony. At length, she neared and hailed us, and part of the crew having, with great difficulty, lowered her boat, put off at the immediate risk of their own lives to rescue ours. After the most strenuous exertions had been used, and the greatest perils braved, by the daring fellows in the boat, we were all conveyed in safety on board the ship, which proved to be the Carib, from Montego Bay, bound to Liverpool. The captain treated us with great kindness, and, by his aid, and the assistance of his passengers, we were furnished with dry clothes, and provisions of every kind. So different was our situation, by compa rison, that we scarcely heeded the increasing violence of the winds, and the swell of the irritated waters, although the Captain of the Carib by no means seemed to share our insensibility, but remained constantly on deck, and gave his orders with redoubled activity. As we looked towards the wreck that we had quitted, a large dark shadow glided between us, and when that had passed away, not a trace of the Good Intent was to be seen. vessel went gallantly on her way, and stood the buffeting of the storm as if she gloried in it. The gale continued for two days, but, on the third morning, the wind dropped into a deep sleep, as though wearied out by its own powerful exertions. On the night of that day it was a dead calm. The ship appeared to be stationary, the sails flapped sluggishly against the masts, and the seaman, who had the watch, paced the deck with listless and unchanging steps, when the Black Trader again came within hail, and sailed past us, although there was not wind enough to hang a pearldrop on the edge of a wave, or part a single ringlet on the forehead of the innocent and lovely girl, who that night clung to her father's arm,

The

and watched the cloud-like vessel taking her solitary and mysterious way over the melancholy main. The same seven figures were seen upon her starboard, immoveable as before, yet apparently gazing towards us. As the ghostly stranger vanished, a clear purple light, which shone like a brilliant star, played, for an instant, on our deck, and disappeared as on the former occasion. "That," said our captain, "is an augury of death to one amongst us, for the Black Trader casts not her lights about without a recompence. May heaven protect us!" "Amen!" ejaculated the voices of all on deck.

On the following morning, we took our stations at the breakfast table, and awaited the appearance of the young lady, who was, generally, as early a riser as any of us. Still she came not. 66 My girl has overslept herself," said her father, "I will awaken her." He arose from his seat, and tapped gently at her door, but received no answer; he knocked louder and louder, and called upon her by name, but all was still quiet within. "She is not wont to sleep so soundly," added the father, in an agitated tone of voice, "pray Heaven, nothing has happened to my poor girl!" The passengers looked significantly and gloomily towards the captain, and a dead silence ensued. The father again called, but with as little effect, and then, as if the suspense were more horrible than the worst of certainties, he rushed against the door, burst it almost from its hinges, and entered the little cabin. A deep groan testified that the forebodings of the passengers were but too well founded. The innocent girl was dead. She had passed away from life to death, apparently in a dream, for there was not the slightest trace of pain on her beautiful face, and her arms encircled her pillow, even as she had held her father's arm on the preceding evening. I will not

speak of the old man's grief---his tears-his heart-broken feelingsfor no words can picture them. His daughter was the only relative that he had in the world, and he gave himself up to the most unrestrained and violent anguish. All on board endeavoured at first to divert him from his melancholy, but finding

that their attentions rather added to than decreased his affliction, they forebore intruding upon him, and left it to the hand of time to soften down his sense of the calamity which had fallen upon him.

It was on a bright and beautiful night that we were assembled on deck, to give the remains of the poor girl to the wide and placid grave, that shone so glitteringly around us. The sea was perfectly. calm, and as the body was let down the side of the vessel, it almost appeared as if a heaven were waiting to receive it; for the waters were as blue as the sky itself, and myriads of stars were reflected on its surface. A few minutes only had elapsed, when a dark shadow was observed at a distance, stealing ra, pidly along the ocean, and almost instantly the terrible Black Trader lay scarcely a cable's length from our vessel. A cold shudder crept through the boldest hearts, for they thought that some new victim was required; and even those who cared little for the others, began to feel the most lively apprehensions for themselves. The seven men were still plainly seen, and the young maiden, who had been just committed to the deep, stood beside them without motion, but, as we thought, gazing intently upon us. At this moment, sounds, that appeared to rise from the very depth of the ocean, were heard, and a full chorus echoed the following wild and gloomy song:

We are the merry mariners, who trade in human souls, And we never want a noble freight where'er our vessel rolls: