AN UNCOMFORTABLE NIGHT. 69 the passengers thought the wind must to a certainty have nearly blown itself out, and would veer shortly.-7 o'clock. The city vanished—the shades of night all around us the starred robe of Heaven unrolled and flinging an uncertain light upon our path the ship under full sail and with a smart breeze dashing with rapid course through the dark and troubled waters. The old seaman at the helm as tranquil as the planet Jupiter. For myself— though I had been much on the water not altogether so calm. Not seeing distinctly the ship's length ahead, what marvel if my fancy conjured up the dreadful scene of our being run down and in a moment sinking into the abyss of waters. That night was a disturbed, dismal night. Towards daylight, worn down with sleeplessness and anxiety, I resolved to get upon deck. The vessel rolled so awfully that I was nigh giving up in despair. At length I succeeded; and now look around with me. Not a speck of land in sight-80 miles from anchorage the wind still dead ahead and impetuous -the crested waves swelling to mountains' height and coming towards us, apparently, with fell intent to bury us forever- our bark-the beautiful and rapid bird of the seas-bounding, quivering, and screaming in the blast - disappointment and doubt (but no fearfulness) marked on every countenance. A council was held upon the quarter deck and the result was to make for the nearest and most convenient harbor. The sun had nearly descended the - horizon before we were greeted with the welcome sight of the port of Gloucester. From our position. -two miles down the bay it has an uncommonly fine appearance. Wearied and sick, having had nothing that could be called sleep, many of us anticipated a blessed night of repose upon terra-firma, in the motionless beds of a comfortable inn. We were in high spirits, but alas! how soon depressed even lower than before! The wind, without our knowledge, had changed to point more favorable, and the clouds that skirted the horizon rose upwards and presented a broad track of golden light to the eye. The weather-wise captain saw not in vain. We stood gazing at the ranges of white houses and the various steeples of the Town. Shortly the word was passed from one to another that we were going out to Sea. What so nigh the Town able to see into its very streets and running away from it? We could not believe it. Our senses must be deceived. But it proved too true. Grad ually the Town receded from us, and we could no more trace its streets, or count its dwellings. Some would have given anything to have landed upon one of the islands in the harbor. But, no, our watchword was onward, and none of our regrets or complaints restrained the progress of our leaping bark. The night was more endurable than the last, but in the morning we perceived we had made little headway. We were nearly opposite Old York. The wind proved light and continued so through the day ADVENTURE ON AN ISLAND. 71 until night-fall, when a South-Easter with rain set in, and the old seamen said we must make a harbor, as it would be dangerous to be out trying to find our way in such squally weather. So we lay our course for Portland. It was no easy thing to discover the lights amid such rain and darkness. At half past eleven o'clock we anchored three miles from the city under the lee of an island in the harbor and about half a mile from the shore. The captain feared to go up to the wharfs lest he should run into some of the vessels. My companion and myself were not satisfied with being where we were. Though in calm water, we were in the vessel and must sleep in a birth with all its disagreeable associations. We resolved to see if we could not persuade the captain to put us on the shore of the island in the boat. We inquired if there was any place where we could get accommodations. He told us there was and that it was common for passengers to land for this purpose. Though the 1ain came down in torrents he ordered his boat to be manned. It was done. Our baggage was dropped in, and ourselves followed. We were soon at the beach, where we desired the seamen to remain until we went to a house, where we could see a light, to ascertain whether and where we could get lodging. We were obliged to scramble up an almost perpendicular clay bank of some fifty feet, covered with shrubs and briars, down which streams of water, finite in number, were running : in 72 GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. "Brook and brookling hurrying down." And such a scramble, with umbrellas in hand too! It seemed to me when I reached the summit, that there was no part of me from the crown of my head to the sole of my foot that had not received a thorough scratching. No sooner had we set foot upon the top of the bank than the taper seen in the cottage at a little distance was extinguished. It was now twelve o'clock, and we felt assured that all the inmates had retired. Conceive our disappointment. But what was to be done? Rouse them? 'Twould be cruel. We looked about us and discovered at a distance a light. We made towards it, wading through high wet grass-crossing some swollen brooks the rain unabated until at length we were at the threshold. It proved a house of two stories, ancient and weather-beaten. We knocked. A grum, ruffian voice reached our ears from an inner apartment, sounding out in tones to make one shudder, 'Come in.' We would not trust ourselves until we saw our host so knocked again — and were greeted in like manner. In a moment footsteps were heard approaching. The door opened, and two persons presented themselves. By the light which one of them brought we perceived they had a somewhat fearful aspect. Both were shaggily apparelled. One was of the middle size and, with his copper face and long black hair, had the look of an Indian. The other was tall and big a brawny man with fiendish face every way - A BRACE OF RUFFIANS. 73 evidently brutalized with excessive potations. They seemed to be alone in the house and, as it was Saturday night, had probably been deep in a carouse. They asked who we were, and where we came from, and how we came there. Having answered their questions, I asked them if there was an inn on the island. They said, No. Any place where strangers could be accommodated? No. They were vehemently urgent for us to come in. There was so much reason to suspect them of sinister designs that we declined. At length the fiercest of the two grasped with his hand the collar of my coat and would have me enter. But I resisted with all possible decision. Why I was not alarmed I know not. My companion, who stood behind, pulled me by the coat, as much as to say, we had better be off as soon as possible. I told the ruffian to take his hand from my collar and, suiting the action to the word, jerked it forcibly off. Our backs were turned upon them in an instant. A volley of oaths followed us at some distance, but in less than a trice we were down the bank and at the boat's side. We told the seamen we were disappointed and that they must row us to the vessel. We were glad to get back to our cabin again, but we kept our strange adventure a profound secret, answering no more questions than we were obliged to. We were soon informed that some of the ladies, presuming of course that we should not return, had taken possession of our berths. There seemed to |