Every

The fleet was all scattered here and there, like a flock of wild geese, making the best they could of it. It was a fearful night-as black as pitch, and rendered more appalling by tremendous flashes of lightning at short intervals. I have weathered many a storm, but lightning so vivid and lengthened I never witnessed. The mate and half of the crew had turned-in for the second watch; I had, therefore, the charge on deck, and was scudding the ship under a close-reefed foresail, keeping a look-out on a light shown by some vessel close under our lee-bow, when, all at once, it gave a deep lurch to larboard, and disappeared. Whatever she was, I instantly knew that she must have broached-to, capsized, and was probably foundering; Itherefore called to the man at the helm to haul his wind on the starboard tack, and keep clear of the wreck. This we had hardly accomplished, when a sheet of fire showed me a ship on the beam-ends, right under our lee-quarter. thing had been washed off her decks, with the exception of one solitary figure who stood holding on by the weather rails. He looked up to our stern lantern, as we rushed past him, almost to touching. The light fell, full and strong, on his upraised face, and uncovered head, and, to my grief and horror, I recognized the countenance of poor George Cuthbertson! Instinctively I threw myself half over the quarter-gallery-stretched forth my hands to snatch him from his perilous situation, and loudly called out his name. I make no doubt that he heard, and knew the voice of his old friend, for he gave a faint reply; too faint, indeed, for me to distinguish the words; but as a token of his recognition he opened his arms, as if to embrace me, waved his hand, and pointed homeward. I understood the signal-I essayed to countersign, but the vessel was again sweeping before the wind-and we left him to his fate. One minute afterwards, another flash shewed me her main topmast-head dis

appearing amidst the foam of a tremendous breaker.

It was now that his last promise in Mondego Bay, so long forgot, recurred to my recollection. I pondered it over in my mind, and tried, as I had done then, to slight and laugh it past. I fan-cied I had reasoned myself out of my apprehension, but a lurking tremor at bottom made me fear that the calm was only on the surface.

The whole fleet, after the gale, made their destination in safety, but the old Lion of Port Glasgow never cast up.

Time passed on, till that very day twelvemonth-when in such another gale, and at the self same hour, I again saw the Lion founder. But the vision was only disclosed to my eyes. That voyage I lost the Severn; she sprang a leak at sea, we left her with seven feet water in her hold, and just cleared her before she went down. I saw the same vision again, after the lapse of three years, and I was then wrecked on the coast of Holland. Now, for the last time, I have seen it this night

I have long felt the withering touch of the finger of fate, but now the whole weight of its hand is on me. My existence has drawn to its final close, for I dare no longer disbelieve the warning. And better it is to die at once, than live thus in the continual fear of death. That which to others is enjoyment of life, is to me only a source of misery: surrounded by their families and kindred, they look through the vista of future years, and only see happiness waving them forward on their journey-but, sleeping or waking, in light or darkness, the vision of the foundering ship has never been from before my eyes. Oh, Sir! pray that you may never feel the curse of being a doomed man-to have the book of fate, as it were, laid open to you. From the careless, light-hearted, rattling sailor, what a miserable transition to the gloomy, melancholy, wretched being that I now am. And yet at times I have roused myself to

shake off these feelings, and, with the rich man in the parable, have said "Soul, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry;" but the response rang in mine ear, with a voice like thunder, "Thou fool, this very night shall thy soul be required of thee!"

Here we were interrupted by the boatswain piping up the morning watch. The captain started to his feet, and went on deck to relieve the mate, while I again retreated to bed, and fell asleep, musing over the strangeness of the narrative.

When I ascended the deck next morning, I found a ship lying becalmed at a little distance from us, and Miss Bexamining her, with great delight, through a spyglass, full of conjectures as to her name and destination. The wind had died quite away, the sea was like a vast mirror all round us, and nothing remained to indicate the preceding night's storm. The vivifying influence of the morning sun and clear atmosphere raised all our spirits, and Gilkison even appeared in some degree cheerful. While we loitered about, giving our several opinions of the strangers, we saw them lower their boat, row for our ship, and, in a short time, come along side. They proved acquaintances of the captain, and of Miss B——, homeward bound, and we welcomed them on board with pleasure. In the course of conversation, they expressed their regret at not knowing us sooner, or they would have brought a present of half a turtle to the cabin, and some fruit for Miss B-: but by way. of making up for our loss, they proposed our accompanying them back to the John Campbell, to dine with their female passengers, and return in the evening. Miss B-- was all joy at the proposal; she had never eat turtle-and it was long since she had tasted West India fruits; besides, it would be such a delightful novelty to pay a dinner visit in the middle of the ocean. I declined the invitation, and went below to write letters home. On my return with

my packet, I found the captain trying to persuade her to give up the thoughts of going, as it was dangerous to be in a small boat on the western ocean, if the wind or sea suddenly rose. But the lady could see none in the calmness and serenity of the day; she had crossed over to Roseneath many times when the sea was rough, without alarm, and never met with an accident. In short, her heart was set upon it, and go she would, even though it were in the stranger's boat, if he was so much afraid. This was out of the question-she had been particularly recommended to his care, and, seeing her so positive, he gave up farther opposition. The jolly-boat was lowered and manned-Miss Bhanded down-the captain took his seat at the helm, and the bow-oar pushing off, they pulled from the vessel.

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was

During the day the ships had drifted to a considerable distance from each other, but as the evening set in, a smart breeze sprung up, accompanied with a haze however, we could distinguish our boat leave the John Campbell, who fired a parting salute, and then setting all her canvas, bore away before the wind. We also got under-way, and with easy sail stood on in the direction of the boat. The time passed in which we expected to fall in with her, but still she did not make her appearance. Becoming rather uneasy I proposed to heave the vessel to, lest we should pass them in the dark, and to show lights; for the fog had become so dense that we could not see the length of the ship before us.-This was instantly done; and guns fired to direct them in case they might not perceive our lights. Hour after hour passed in this manner, in a state of terrible anxiety and alarm. Daylight at length began to break-the fog had cleared away, and the mate ran up to the topmast-head with the glass, to have a better survey all round. Theship was also got under-way again, and we cruized about the whole day in all directions; but our search was fruitless. In due time the Susannah arrived safe at Barbadoes-but the boat and her crew were never more heard of.