Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-04-18

I'D pool to run to Calcutta
but on the passage out my mate died, and
having found Marshall most excellent
seaman, both theoretically and practically
] gave him the Office. He readily accept
ed it, but | could plainly see that he did
it more from desire to please me, than
because he aspired to the post. was
not deceived in his capability, for he soon
proved himself the most efficient officer
ever had. He altered the ships sailing
gear, and made more speed by one sixth
certainly than | had ever DONE He was
punctual to a minute in his reckoning
could tell to certainty what time he
should make. When we were near our
destination, he came to me one evening
and told me that if the wind held fair we
should see Edmonstone's Island at half
past six on the following morning; and at
twenty ight minutes past six in the morn
ing, the lookout reported land two points
on the starboard bow.
Marshall was one of the most civil and
gentlelnanly men lever saw, and his man.
ners showed that lie had been well edu-
Gated, both mentally and socially. Yet
there was one thing that troubled me not
little-or rather | should say, it puzzled
me-though [ must confess | did allow
myself at times to feel somewhat troubled.
Nv mate was the most silent man, for one
who commanded the free use Of language,
that ever met with. He scarcely ever
spoke, save on matters pertaining to his
duty, and then only in as few words as
possible. | often tried to draw him into
conversation, but without avail. | tried
to learn something Of his former history,
but could not | knew he was an Ameri-
can. and that was all.
One evening after we had entered the
Hoogly, and while our ship lay at Dia-
mond Point, / was sitting in my cabin and
Marshall was alone with me. pushed
the wine bottle over to him, and asked
him if he would not take drop. had
never seen him take wine at any time, but
he had often refused. He took the bottle
and poured some of the wine out into a
glass, and then he held the glass up be
tween his eye and the lamp. His face
turned pale as death, and his lips were
tightly compressed. Tie glass fell from
his hand upon the floor, and was broken
into thousand pieces.
" Mr.. Marshall, are you not well ?"
uttered, starting up and laying my hand
upon his arm.
:" Very WE'LL" he returned, laying my
hand off. and looking up with a faint smile
"You will excuse me, captain, twas an
accident"
"That's nothing,n said I abiding to the
glass, take anolher-here."
Z" No, no." he quickly uttered, putting
the glass away. Il do not drink wine
sir"
!" You have signed tetotal pledge, per-
haps," said | carelessly.
Signed tetotal pledge ?" herepeated
in tone so strange that it fairly made
me start. No sir, | have not"
"Then why not take "a glass of wine on
such night as this ?"
Marshall looked at me as though he
would look me through. There was a
strange spark in his eye, and I could see
that his cheeks grew pale again. His
hand trembled. and he placed it in
his lap out of my sight. At length he
spoke, and his voice was very low and
deep.
..7Captain," said he, g in that wine there
turks demon as deadly as the twin broth
ers of Night. You may escape him and
vet embrace. | will not drink it,"
" But you have"
"Stop !" he whispered, cutting me short
and raising his finger. Never finish
that sentence in my presence, nor allude
TO the subject again"
And with that he broke off upon anoth.
topic, and began to lay out the business Of
the morrow.
"The lighters will come down from the
city early in the morning" he said, and
as I must be up to attend to them, will
retirenow.'
fairly ached to question my mate fur
Their on his strange conduct, but his look
forbade me. He threw off his outer gar
ments and retired to, his state-room, and
I was left alone with my wine- ! looked
at the bottle, and then / looked at the
fragments Of glass upon the Aoor-and
wondered what it was that dwelt upon my
mates mind, for well l knew there was
something. When l arose to go on deck
and set the watch, / hoped that some day