1031.] The Spirit-Seeker. (i07 



and see through the darkness which hath enveloped thy soul in its 

 misty folds for so many generations. 



" I left their dwelling, after discovering how vain was the search in 

 wliich I had been employed, and took ship with a determination to 

 return to my own country. We left port with a fair wind, and the ship 

 rode proudly on the bosom of the ocean. I felt a strange delight when 

 I found myself proceeding towai'ds my native land, after so long an 

 absence, and in fancy I often thought I could discern its snowy cliffs 

 peering through the fog, although we were many thousand miles from 

 its nearest coast. The vessel in which I sailed was a pirate, the crew a 

 set of lawless villains of all nations ; but I loved their society from the 

 spirit of freedom which seemed to animate them all. They were daring 

 as young lions, and crafty as serpents ; yet each seemed to possess a high 

 feeling of honour which scorned all meanness. I found myself at home 

 among them, for they respected my humours, and allowed me to conduct 

 myself as I pleased. They declared war against all governments, and 

 set up the black flag in opposition even to free states. The captain was 

 a man of considerable muscular strength, and great bravery — one as 

 iTiuch feared as loved by those whom he commanded. Although he 

 never failed to distinguish any of his men who had made themselves 

 conspicuous by acts of daring or good seamanship, yet his anger was fatal, 

 and few among such a reckless set would have chosen to risk it. 



" I loved to pace the deck after the sun had gone down, and watch 

 the stars come forth by twos and threes in all their beauty from their 

 hiding places. Night after night have I gazed as they shot from their 

 spheres into darkness, till I became as familiar with the heavens as with 

 an open book, and the stars became unto me as the faces I had known 

 in infancy. 



" One night as I was taking my usual walk on the deck, the watch 

 was set, and I was wrapt up in meditations of the bright things above 

 me. All was hushed as a maiden's sleep ; and we lay becalmed upon 

 the silent waters. I was startled from my reverie by a loud cry of fire, 

 and in an instant the ship was in one immense blaze. There was either 

 no time to get out the boats, or all were rendered stupified by the extent 

 of the danger. They leapt from their hammocks, and fled about the 

 vessel as if bewildered. Some ran to the spirit- room, and soon rendered 

 themselves incapable of providing for their own safety ; — others, in their 

 frenzy, leapt overboard, and the waters overwhelmed them ; — a few, with 

 more presence of mind, got out the long-boat. As soon as it was lowered 

 tliey jumped in — numbers followed, till it was unable to hold its bur- 

 then ; — they were endeavouring to put off when she sunk, and all went 

 to the bottom. 



" In a short time, the captain and myself were the only persons left 

 on board. I attempted to persuade him to jump into the sea, and save 

 himself by clinging to some of the planks which were floating about. 

 But he silenced me by saying, that he and the ship should perish toge- 

 ther. I committed myself to the waves, and soon swam beyond the 

 reach of the burning fragments of timber that were continually thrown 

 around me by explosions of gunpowder. As fast as the flame reached 

 the guns, they were discharged, and scattered the messengers of death 

 in all directions. 



" I lashed myself to a large plank, and then turned to take a last look 

 at the ship. For an instant I saw tlie form of the intrepid cajjtain red 



