The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-01-31
Tbt ftlitiana Democrat.
STAND FROM UNDER-A QUEER
STORY


fact by sailor, who solemnly affirmed that he
knew it to be true. We give the story rs he
related it:
was on board slave ship, hound to the
coast Of Africa. ! had my nisgivings about
the business, and believe others had them,
too. We had passed the Straits Of Gibraltar,
and were laying of Barbary, one Clear bright
evening. when 1t came my turn to take the
helm. The ship was becalmed, and everything
around was silent as the day after the deluge
The wide monotony Of water, varied only by
the glancings Of the moon on the crest Of the
waves, made me think the old fables of Nep.
tune were true. and that Amphitrite and her
ocean, with diamonds in their hair. These
wife. my children and my home; and all were
state approaching slumber. Suddenly heard
above my head loud, deep, terrible voice
call out, "Stand from underw started to
my feet it was a customary signal when any
thing was to be thrown from the shrouds, d
LET go?' But nothing came. looked up
into the shrouds-there was nothing there. /
searched the deck. and found that was alone!
i
so deep, so stern. so dreadful rung in my ears
like the bursting Of q cannon.
In the morning told the crew what had
heard. They laughed at me, and we're all day
long full Of their jokes about Dreaming Tom"
Ons fellow among them was most unmerciful
in his raifery Ho was swarthy, malignant
looking Spaniard, who carried murder in his
eye and curses on his tongue; a daring and
H., tad IS
him pre-eminence among his fellows He
laughed loudest and longer at my story. "A
most uncivil ghost, Tom." said he; when such
chaps come to see ma, I'll make 'em show
themselves; I'll not be satisfied without seeing
and feeling as we'll as hearing.
Thesailors all joined with him; and I, asham-
ed, was glad to be silent. The next night
Dick Burton took the helm Dick had nerves
like an OK, and sinews like whale; it was lit
tie he feared on earth or beneath it, The
clock struck one. Dick was leaning his head
on the helm, as he said, thinking nothing Of
me or my story, when that awful voice again
called ont from the shrouds, "Stand from ur-
der?" Dick darted forward like an Indian
arrow, which they say goes through and
through buffalo. and wings on its way as if
it had not lef death in its rear. 1t was al
mind to call out, "Lct gow Again nothing
was seen-no:hing heard. Ten nights in sue
cession, at one o'clock, the same unearthly
sound rung through the air, making our stout
est sailors quail as If bulletshot had gone
through their brains.
At last we grew pale when it was spoken
Of, and the worst Of us never went to sleep
without saying our prayers. For myself,
10 hoo nho;u 20 1o all
to have got out of that vessel. But there we
visible being was with us. No one put bold
face on the matter but Antonio, the Spanyard
He laughed at our fears and defed Satan him.
self I. terrify him. However, when it was his
turn at the helm he refused to go; several
times, under the pretence of illnoss, he was ex.
cascd from duty which all on board dreaded
But at last the captain ordered Antonio to
receive round dozen Of lashes every night,
until he should consent to perform his share OF
The unwelcome Office. For awhile this Was
horne patiently; hut at length he called out,
81 may as well die one way as the other Give
me over to the ghost"
That night Antonio kept watch on the deck.
Few Of the crew slept; for expectation and
alarm had stretched our nerves upon the reck.
AL OclOck the voice caIleu, Stanu from
under" Let go!" screamed the Spanyard
This was answered by a shrek Of laughter;
and such laughter! 1t seemed as If the fends
answered each other from pole TO POLE and
the bass was sounded in hell Then came a
sudden crash upon the deck, as if our masts
and spnrs had fallen We all rushed to the
spot, and there was cold stiff gigantic corpse!
The Spanard said it was thrown from the
shrounds; and when he looked on it he ground
his teeth like mailman. ~ know him." ex-
claimed he; II stabbed him within an hours
sail Of Cuba, and drank his blood for break.
fast!"
We all stood aghast at the monster In
fearful whispers we asked what should be done
with the body. Finally we agreed that the
terrible sight must be removed from us, and
hidden in the sea. Four Of us attempted TO
raise il; but human strength wasaof no avail
we might as we'll have tugged at Atlas
There it lay, stiff, rigid. heavy and as immova
BILE as il it had formed part Of the vessel. The
Spaniard was furions; Let me lift him." said
he, II lifted him once and can do it again. III
teach him what it is to come and trouble me. ,
He tool the hodv rOund the waist and attemnt