The Water-Witch; Or, the Skimmer of the Seas: A TaleCooper, James Fenimore
General
The Water-Witch; Or, the Skimmer of the Seas: A Tale
Cooper, James Fenimore
Sea stories
Mem.—Each lipper of a wave works like tartar emetic on the lad
in marine gear.”
As no description of ours can give a more graphic account of the
position of the two vessels in question, at the time named, than that
which is contained in the foregoing extract, we shall take up the
narrative at that moment, which the reader will see must, in the 43d
degree of latitude, and in the month of June have been shortly after
the close of the day.
The young votary of Neptune, whose opinions have just been quoted, had
indeed presumed on his knowledge of the localities, in affirming the
distance and position of the cape, since the low sandy point was no
longer visible from the deck. The sun had set, as seen from the vessel,
precisely in the mouth of the Raritan; and the shadows from Navesink,
or Neversink as the hills are vulgarly called, were thrown far upon the
sea. In short, the night was gathering round the mariners, with every
appearance of settled and mild weather, but of a darkness deeper than
is common on the ocean. Under such circumstances, the great object was
to keep on the track of the chase, during the time when she must
necessarily be hid from their sight.
Ludlow walked into the lee-gangway of his ship, and, leaning with his
elbow on the empty hammock-cloths, he gazed long and in silence at the
object of his pursuit. The Water-Witch was lying in the quarter of the
horizon most favorable to being seen. The twilight, which still fell
out of the heavens, was without glare in that direction; and for the
first time that day, he saw her in her true proportions. The admiration
of a seaman was blended with the other sensations of the young man. The
brigantine lay in the position that exhibited her exquisitely-moulded
hull and rakish rig to the most advantage. The head, having come to the
wind, was turned towards her pursuer; and as the bows rose on some
swell that was heavier than common, Ludlow saw, or fancied he saw, the
mysterious image still perched on her cut-water, holding the book to
the curious, and ever pointing with its finger across the waste of
water. A movement of the hammock-cloths caused the young sailor to bend
his head aside, and he then saw that the master had drawn as near to
his person as discipline would warrant. Ludlow had a great respect for
the professional attainments that his inferior unquestionably
possessed; and he was not without some consideration for the chances of
a fortune, which had not done much to reward the privations and the
services of a seaman old enough to be his father. The recollection of
these facts always disposed him to be indulgent to a man who had
little, beyond his seaman-like character and long experience, to
recommend him.
“We are likely to have a thick night, Master Trysail,” said the young
captain, without deeming it necessary to change his look, “and we may
yet be brought on a bowline, before yonder insolent is overhauled.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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