12. Captain Bacon seemed utterly astonished at the im pudence of the man; but Smith, who was equally prompt and energetic on all occasions, and who divined the object that Allen had in view, in lieu of a civil rejoinder dealt him a blow on the left temple, which sent him with violence against the bulwarks. Allen recovered himself, however, and sprang on the mate like a tiger, clasped him in his sinewy embrace, and called upon his watchmates for assist ance. 13. As Smith and Allen were both powerful men, it is uncertain what would have been the result had Smith fought the battle single-handed. The men looked on, waiting the result, but without daring to interfere. Not so the captain. When he saw Allen attack the mate he seized a belaying pin, that was loose in the fife-rail, and watching his opportunity, gave the refractory sailor two or three smart raps over the head and face, which embarrassed him amazingly, caused him to release his grasp on the mate, and felled him to the deck! 14. The mate then took a stout rope's end and threshed him until he roared for mercy. The fellow was terribly punished, and staggered forward, followed by a volley of threats and anathemas. 15. But the matter did not end here. At twelve o'clock Allen went below, and was loud in his complaints of the barbarous manner in which he had been treated. He swore revenge, and said he would lay a plan to get the mate into the forecastle and then square all accounts. Robinson and another of the starboard watch, having no idea that Smith could be enticed below, approved of the suggestion, and intimated that they would lend him a hand if necessary. They did not know Smith! 16. When the watch was called at four o'clock, Allen did not make his appearance. In about half an hour the voice of Smith was heard at the forecastle ordering him on deck. 17. "Ay, ay, sir," said Allen, "I am coming directly." "You had better do so," said the mate, "if you know when you are well off." 66 "Ay, ay, sir!" 18. Allen was sitting on a chest, dressed, but did not move. I was lying in my berth attentive to these proceedings, as, I believe, were all my watchmates. In about a quarter of an hour Smith took another look down the scuttle, and bellowed out, "Allen, are you coming on deck or not? 19. "Ay, ay, sir, directly!" "If I have to go down after you, my good fellow, it will be worse for you, that's all.” 20. Allen remained sitting on the chest. Day began to break. Smith was again heard at the entrance of the forecastle. His patience, of which he had not a large stock, was exhausted. 21. "Come on deck, this instant, you lazy, lounging, bigshouldered renegade! Will you let other people do your work? Show your broken head and your lovely battered features on deck at once-in the twinkling of a handspike. I want to see how you look, after your frolic!" 22. "Ay, ay, sir! I'm coming right up." "You lie, you rascal. You don't mean to come. But I'll soon settle the question whether you are to have your way in this ship or I am to have mine!" 23. Saying this, Smith descended the steps which led into the habitation of the sailors. In doing this, under the peculiar circumstances, he gave a striking proof of his fearless character. He had reason to anticipate a desperate resistance from Allen, while some of the sailors might also be ready to take part with their shipmate, if they saw him overmatched; and in that dark and close apartment, where no features could be clearly distinguished, he would be likely to receive exceedingly rough treatment. 24. Smith, however, was a man who seldom calculated consequences in cases of this kind. He may have been armed, but he made no display of other weapons than his brawny fist. He seized Allen by the collar with a vigorous grasp. “You scoundrel," said he, "what do you mean by this conduct? Go on deck, and attend to your duty! On deck, I say! Up with you at once!" 25. Allen at first held back, hoping that some of his shipmates would come to his aid, as they partly promised; but not a man stirred, greatly to his disappointment and disgust. They, doubtless, felt it might be unsafe to engage in the quar rels of others; and Allen, after receiving a few gentle reminders from the mate, in the shape of clips on the side of his head, and punches among the short ribs, preceded the mate on deck. He was conquered. 26. The weather was cold and cheerless; the wind was blowing heavy; the rain was falling fast; and Allen, who had few clothes, was thinly clad; but he was sent aloft in an exposed situation, and kept there through the greater part of the day. His battered head, his cut face, his swollen features, and his gory locks, told the tale of his punishment. Smith had no magnanimity in his composition. He cherished a grudge against that man to the end of the passage, and lost no opportunity to indulge his hatred and vindictiveness. 27. "Never mind," said Allen, one day, when sent on some useless mission in the vicinity of the knight-heads, while the ship was plunging violently, and sending cataracts of salt-water over the bowsprit at every dive; "never mind, it will be only for a single passage." 28. "I know that," said Smith, with an oath; "and I will take good care to 'work you up' well during the passage." And he was as good as his word. QUESTIONS.-3. What is meant by "starboard watch "? 4. What is meant by "six bells "? by "the wind hauling to the north-west"? by "weather-braces"? 5. What is the "boatswain" of a ship? the "mate"? the "captain"?. 8. What is meant by the expression "the yards were trimmed"? by the word "watch"? 9. What is meant by the expression "overshadowed by a truculent expression"? What sort of business was the "African slave-trade"? 10. Meaning of "double-reefed topsails"? 13. What is " belaying pin"? "fife-rail"? 15. What about Smith did not the men "know"? Was he afraid to go into the forecastle? How ought this piece to be read? a VII. MY MOTHER'S BIBLE. GEO. P. MORRIS. 1. This book is all that's left me now! With faltering lip and throbbing brow, For many generations past, Here is our family tree: My mother's hand this Bible clasped ; 2. Ah! well do I remember those Whose names those records bear, Who round the hearthstone used to close And speak of what these pages said, In tones my heart would thrill ! 3. My father read this holy book How calm was my poor mother's look, Her angel-face-I see it yet! What thronging memories come! Again that little group is met 4. Thou truest friend man ever knew, Thy constancy I've tried ; Where all were false I found thee true, My counselor and guide. The mines of earth no treasure give That could this volume buy: In teaching me the way to live, It taught me how to die. QUESTIONS.-What is the character of this piece? What emotion does it chiefly express? Does it require to be read in loud tones? Does it require rapid speaking? Should the words be spoken sharply or gently? VIII. THE TURF SHALL BE MY FRAGRANT SHRINE. THOMAS MOORE. 1. The turf shall be my fragrant shrine ; 2. My choir shall be the moonlit waves E'en more than music, breathes of Thee. 3. I'll seek, by day, some glade unknown, 4. Thy heaven, on which 'tis bliss to look, 5. I'll read thy anger in the rack That clouds awhile the day-beam's track; Of sunny brightness, breaking through! 6. There's nothing bright, above, below, From flowers that bloom to stars that glow, Some feature of thy Deity. |