SCENE ON THE BAHAMA BANKS.

BY CLUE GARNET.
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During the summer and autumn of fhe year lS2--, was in the West Indies, on board of one Of our national vessels of war. After leaving Havanna, we had cruised for some time in the neighberhood the Grand Bahama Banks, from the Key Vest 10 tie Caycos.

 One splendid afternoon, inc bright and 1 glorious sun was sinking behind the vest efn wave, tiffging the curling and foam- crested pillows with purple and golden light, and dyeing the spray that rose and flew be- fore the wind, with prsmatic hues. While leaning upon the quaHer-rai, was n1usng on home and distant friends, the hoarse voice of the captain of the forecastle came I upon my ear, calling, "Sai in sight''

 Yhere away!" was the response of the lieutenant of the watch.

 Three points on the lee bow, sir. '

 In moment all the glasses in the ship were put in requisition, and every one was examining with critical eye, the strange craft, that lay about four miles to leeward, with all her spars and the cob-web tracery of her rigging distinct and clear in the bright 1 light that enFeloped her.

 After steady gaze of some moments, the lieutenant dropped his glass, and sign ing to one of the reefers, bade him report 10 the captain.

 in few minutes the skipper appeared, took squint through his dong carronade, as tlfet t1fids called his telescope, and retired with tie first lieutenant to the satctum of the binnacie3 where they stood in close con sultatlon.

 Among the rest, produced my canvass covered star gazer, and was endeavoring, with inexperienced hand, to fix my eye up- on the object of attention.

 Group after group formed along the decks, each around some oracle of the forecastle, and specelated largely upon the probable character of the stranger.

 Many shrewd guesses were formed, and those respectable characters, the oldest sail ors, were delivered of many wise shake of ihe head, and muttered words of wisdom Old Bill Thompson, the quarter-qunner, who was staneling neat the main chains, 1 rolling his aud from one cheek to inc other, tipping his norwester, and striving to look gracious, with phiz marvellously resem- bling a gnarled and splited oak stump. brought ouE iii gruf' tones, ''Mayhap, Mir. Garnet, you'd lend me that 'ere peeper, for why I've been longer on salt water nor you, though there's not better sailor on board | of your inches."

 Delighted with this fat.oTine eneomiiun upon my seamanship. gave him my teles- cope. and after pulling up his trousers. and drawing his mahogany fist across his eyes, he took 'long, last, lingering gaze at the fairy craft. He slowly took down the glass from his eye, turned round. handed it to me, looked exceedingly knowing, and provo kingly inclined to conceal his knowledge, took fresh qnid from his sbaccy bog and with grin of infinite meaning, sad-noth- ing at all.

 "Well, old Bill" said I, ''what is she? do you know her! speak, man." "Do I'D said he, with a sepulchral tore, and fool; that would have mmorfalised him as the ghost in Hamlet-"Do T."

 Now this was all We could worm out of around knew that two words from Bill Thompson were worth a sermon from any one else, and all watched the movements of the stranger with even greater nteniness of ] observation.

 While wondering ia my own mind what the deuce Bill could mean, heard the or der, "Pass the word for the Master.n Away sprang, down the ladder, into the gun-room, where l found Bunting, sur founded by old charts, flags, and signals, and with good stiff runner of half and half, which he was contemplating with pe- culiar compiaeency.

 1'Hiilo Master, you're wanted

 "Clap a stopper on your jaw tackle. youngster," says he.

 "Strange sail in sight says I, skipper, swabs, and ali, puzzled about her-want you to make out the number-t'ye notion 1 it's pirate"

 "Pirate!" says Bunting, while visions of prizemoney danced through his mind; and up he sprang through the companion, and on deck in less time than could knot bowline. followed, having first slowed away his allowance, and found him on deck. He took a glass, and having looked steadily at the stranger, swept it around the horizon, and suddenly arrested 1t on an object which we had all overlooked, ship to windward, but which, not being so directly in the light, had escaped our observation. "I thought so,n said the master, as he pointed 1t ont to the captain--'.that long legged scoundrel is trying to work up to wonder ship"

 ..I see his game-beat to quarters,'' said the skipper, "and clear for action. Make sail on the ship, sir, and let us try our friend to leeward with the signals"