TALES OF CHARACTER x COUNTRY

 NO. TI The Skeleton Drummer.
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ssAny body in the cradle, Mir. Watkins?o

 ssAy, ay, Sr-Dick Rannion has been there this three hours; but l ha'n't heerd him open his shells, sence he climbed the silrouds. He's asleep, ::asa:.;;hap; :s:.;; and Dick ar'n't apt to do that, nyther.n

 ..We'll see, any how. Top there! hallo!e

 In obedience to the summons, q round, shag head was thrust out of the scrad!e,' and Dick made answers

 "Ay, ay, Sir"

 s'Any thing in sight!o

 No, Sm.'

 The vessel te which so nnceremonious- .ly have introduced my readers, was ship of something like three hundred tons, built with that peculiar symmetry whrch distin- guishes the vessels of New England lear rying tall set of spars, and plenty of can yass-but exhibiting none of that clcanli- ness which Is seen oa board q merchant ship. On the contrary, every thing was dirty and greasy, and she appeared already to have had a long voyage. She was q whaer. On all sides extended the illimit- able ocean--b,e and boundless. A light wind was breathing against the solitary sail which forced her slowly thro' the water and the sea was as cain and level as sum- mef lake. She had passed Cape Horn, and was now on the western coast of Cal ifornia, looking out for sperm whales. The cradle which haye mentioned, is netting of ropes at the top of the Isssiiiiiiast, where a man Is always placed 10 keep lookout.

 After a glance around the horizon and a muttered curse upon the weather, the Cap tain returned to the cabin, and the Mate re- suned his measured pace along the deck. He was tall, ganni man, with strong, harsh features, of that indescribable express sion formed by mixture of 8 sailors open ness with Yankees shrewd penuriousness.

 There are two thugs in which whaler differs from other vessels s-there is more id- leness, and less discipline on board so that 1t was nothing strange when, shortly after, sailor emerged from the hatchways; and rolling along the deck, came up and ad- IL n xl>< 3H Hut<