Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-04

him, though that was, | fear, unsatisfac-
tory, for the strong belief of another in
what they have seen is very apt to affect
yourself He would not, however, he
reasoned out of what he had told me. 1t
was useless to speak to him of having
fallen asleep, and being frightened by a
nightmare, or of having dreamt what had
occurred-equallv vain to speak of how
moonlight may be imagined into forms
and features.
| saw he hardly attended to what
said l. and felt indeed that | was talking
idle words even to my own soul. At last
| tried another system. begged him to
so down into his own berth, and prom
ised to sit up with him there during the
night. | even spoke as though believed
fever were on him, and that he was slight
ly delirious. 1t was all to no effect
''1e would never RETURN" he said, eto
his berth, for he knew it was lighted up
even now by her spirit sitting there
awaiting him. But no, no; she was dead
to him upon earth, and he could not bear
to meet her again and live" Nothing
could shake this fact of her dissolution
from his mind; but his previous tremor
left him, and he grew silent, composed,
almost sullenly gloomy. Hewould hardly
answer me at last; and after pause of
a few moments, turned round and re-
qrcstcd | would leave him to himself
"You need not fear any violence, or at
tempt at suicide" he said coldly-an-
swcring, | fancy, more to the expression
of my eyes than to anything had let fall
from my lips. Il only feel it is good for
me now that | should be alone; and do
not even ask you to leave the deck. If
you will return to your old post at the
helm, you will see me from thence, and |
will come to you when | am able"
Well, thought he would be better hui
mored, and accordingly left him-only |
called one Of the hands aside as | passed,
and desired nim to keep his eye upon
him. congratulated myself at first on
my foresight, for he went straight up to
the side of the vessel, leaning over its
wooden side as though he could look right
into the heart of the waters. Every mo-
ment expected him to spring over, but
the faithful help | had spoken to was
there behind him, and would have come
forward at the least movement. 1t was
relief though, ] must own, when he re-
moved from the side of the vessel-stu-
pidly, it is true, and as one in dream
but still there he was away from actual
danger: and as | saw his tall figure lean
ing against the mast, and his eyes bent
thoughtfully to the ground, | felt as
though heavy weight had been taken
from my heart. | looked up several
times, but he always continued in the
same position; and, after what he had
said, must own | hesitated in disturb
ing him. 1t might have made fine pic
ture that for painter. The sky was of
that intense blue in which each star mir
rors herself again upon the bosom of each
tiny wavelet that rises to greet her, and
the track of the vessel upon the waters
was marked out by a phosphoric hue of
glory that followed as she went Half
the vessel was in shade; and sleeping
there amidst the heavy cordage, you
could just make out the figures of the
sailors, whilst the moonbeamS fell straight
across the deck where Campbell was
white light at his very feet. For myself
keeping my station at the helm thus 81
lent, lonely and undisturbed, | could al
most fancy myself a good influence, steer
ing the poor craft amid the shoals and
quicksandS that surrounded her, into the
calm, deep waters of trust and security.
The anxiety had felt on CampbellsS
account was beginning to wear off, and
seeing him still standing quietly in the
same position, | turned my eyes from
him for moment to make out the track
on which we were then going. A moment
did | say ?-it could scarcely have been
breathing time; but in that instant |
heard heavy fall downwards on the
deck-a fall of that dull, fearful, sicken-
ing nature that tells its own tale of help
leSSneSS and uncOnSciOusneSs. | rushed
forward instantly to the PROSTATE man,
and was joined by one of the sailors
whom the noise had also aroused. We
found him still laid just as he had fallen.
with his face across his arms, and him.
self wholly turned towards the the deck
He was quite-quitc dead, and never
stirred after we approached him. The
breeze just slight moved his hair, and
the moonbeams fell upon his figure, but
no marble could have been more cold,
passive, and motionless. His heart must
have been broken, [ think, at the instant
he fell forward from his position; and
you could almost have fancied he had
been shot at his post. | shall never for
get the grief and reverence of the poor
sailors as they raised him up. He was
universally beloved, and as l related to
them what he himself told me, an awe
fell upon their rough countenances, and
you saw that every man believed, from
the bottom of his heart, the truth of the
vision.
We had only few days further to
complete our cruise: and as we were all
unwilling that the deep sea should receive
our poor friend, we wrapped him up
carefully in his own hammock, and day
and night one or other of us took our
watch beside him. All, those were sad
hours! and as we neared the seaport
town TO which we had looked forward
with SO much pleasure, change fell over
the most careless countenances, and the
men went about with hushed steps and
low voices.
| used sometimes to hear them conyerS-