The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-05-19
a murmur at the slightest teck of the

murmur at the slightest teck OF the
mate.
One morning, when Captain Wallack
and his second mate had the morning
watch, they both kept the deck until
Roland had finished his breakfast, and
when the latter took his watch at few
minutes past eight o'clock, they went
below. When they reached the cabin,
Mr.. Russell, the supercargo, was just
rising from the table, and taking a book
from the head of his berth, sat down
upon a stool at the foot of the ladder
and commenced reading. He passed
a few observations upon the weather, as
the captain and second mate sat down
to breakfast, and went on with his read
ing. Some five minutes had passed, ,
when Faulkner and Wallack were startad
by sudden exclamation of pain from
the supercargo, and on turning they saw
that he had dropped his book and sat
with both hands pressed upon his stom-
ach, while his features had assumed a
livid hue, expressive of the most acute
suffering. The captain sprang quickly
from the table, and laying his hand upon
his stomach, while his features had
assumed a livid hue expressive of the
the sufferers shoulder, exclaimed
"What is the matter, Mr.. Russell ?"
"Oh, God l don't know! Here it
is |! | burn :" uttered the suffering
supercargo, as he pressed his hands
upon his stomach.
" What have you been eating What
have you been drinking :" asked Wal
lack in frenzy of anxiety.
" Nothing, nothing. Oh! oh y"
groaned the poor fellow.
Wallack cast trembling glance at
his second mate, and for moment they
both remained silent.
"It's strange" at length muttered
Faulkner; "poor Gwynn was taken ex-
actly the same way"
The captain made no reply, but his
countenancc wore strange shade ofl
doubt and suspicion, as he gazed upon
the torpid features of the supercargo.
That night the broad Atlantic rolled
its ceaseless waves over another of the
ships company. Mr.. Russell had
breathed his last
Capt Wallack and Nat Faulkner had
the last dog watch. Roland had gone
down into the cabin, while the foremost
hands, with the exception of the man at
the wheel, were all forward. The cap
tain paced the quarterback in thought.
full, troubled mood, ever and anon cast
ing his eyes towards the forecaste,
where his first mate had disappeared a
short time before, and then turning his
gaze towards the forecastle, where the
men had congregated. Faulkner was
by the wheel, and several times as the
captain approac he'd him in his walk, did
start to join him, but fearful suspicion
kept him back, and until the watch was
changed, neither he nor Wallack spoke
a word, save such as related to the man
agement of the ship. AT eight O'Clock
Roland came upon deck for the first
watch. The ship was upon the star
board tack, close hauled upon the wind
and just able to stand on her course.
AS Capt Wallack gave up the deck
he requested the mate, if the wind
should haul round to the eastward any,
to call him. Roland replied kindly that
he would, but beneath the half curling
smile that rested upon his features, the
captain thought he could detect lurk-
ing spirit of evil. He let not shadow
of his doubt manifest itself upon his
countenance, but with blank frankness
he wished his mate a pleasant watch,
and went below.
Faulkner" said the captain, as he
cast furtive glance at the head Of the
ladder, "let not a word escape you,
unless it be Of common place affairs,
until we turn into our berths but keep
your weather eye open, and follow my
aulkner did not start ct this request,
for the same thoughts seemed TO be
passing in his own mind.
" Let's see," said the captain in .
tone loud enough 10 be heard on deck,