Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-01-09
Stand frem Ender.
A QUEER STORY.

that ne knew II 10 &c true. We have the
story as he related il:
was on board slave ship bound to the
coast of Africa. had my rp;sgiviDgs about
the business, aad believe others had them
too. We had passed the Straits of Glib
ra!tar, and were lying of Barbary, one
clear, bright evening, when it came niy turn
to take the helm. The ship was beealn,ed.
and everything 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 NE think
the old fables of Neptune were true, and
! that Anphithrite and ber Naiads were
sporting on the surface of the ocean, with
diamonds in their hair. These fancies we're
followed By the thought Of my wife, my
children and my home; and all were wildly
enough jumbled together in delicious state
of approaching slumber. Suddenly heard
above my head loud, deep, terrible voice
call cut, Stand from under' l started to
my feet--it was customary signal when
anything was to be thrown from the shrouds
and mechanically sung out the usual an
swer, Let GO But nothing came. /
/ !ooked up into the shrouds-there was no.
thibg there. I searched the deck, and
found that was alone. tried to think it
was dream. but that sound, 50 deep, so
stern, SO dreadful, rrng in my ears like the
I bursting of cannon.
In the morning, told the crew what
had heard. They laughed at me, and were
all day long full of their jokes about
Dreaming Tom. One fellow among them
was taost unmerciful in his raillery. He
was swarthy, malignant looking Spaniard,
who carried murder in bis eye and curses
on ais tongue; a daring aud lordly man
who bcastei of crime as if it gave him pre-
emiaeree among bis fellows He laughed
longest and lOrdest at my story. a most
uaoivil ghost, Tom,' said lie, when such
ths1s thsmseiTss; GH III a5i be ~ sasishsa wi.ho
seeing and feeling, as we'll as hearipg.'
The sailcrs all joined with hin, aud |
ASHAMED, was glad to be silent The next
night Dick Burton took tue helm. Dick
! had nerves like an OK, and sinews like
whale: II was little be feared on earth or
/ bepeath il. The clock struck one. Dick
1 xas leaning his head on the helm, as be
said. thinking nothing OF me or my story,
when that awful voice again called out from
the shrouds, Stand from under Dick
darted forward like au Indian arrow, which
they say goes through and through butfa-
4 10, aid wings on Its way as il IT had not
left death in the rear. Ii was an instant
O, more before be found presence of mind
enough to cali out, Let go!' Again moth
ing was seen-uotbing heard. fea night'
in succession, at one O'Clock, the same IN
earthly sound rrng through the ar ma
king cur stoutesi sailors quail as if buiie
shot had gone through their brains.
At last we grew pale when it was sPoke'
Of. and the worst of US never went TO sieeI
without saying our prayers. For myself
c wauId have been chained to the oar all n
life, to have got out of that vessel bu
there we were, in the vast solitude OF ocea
and this invisible being was with US. n
one put bold face on the matter tut An
tonic the Spaniard. He laughed at ou
50 fears, and defed Satan himself to terrli
a him. However. whea it was his tarn at IL
= helm, he refused to 90, several times, IL
!. der the pTetence of Illness, he was excuse
IS from duty which all on board dreaded.-
J But at last tho Captain ordered Antonio
receive round dozen of lashes every nigh
: until he should consent to perform his sha
of the un welcome Office. For awhile th
te was borne patiently, but at length ne eall'
p ont, 4 may as veil die one way as the OF
er. Give me over to the ghost =
!. That night Antonio kept watch on q
: deck. Few of the crew slept, for expect
! ti0u anu 2IarLu nM4 NAA 49, -
on the rack. At one o'clock the voice o.
led out, Stand from UNDER 'Let 6
screamed the Spaniard. This was ans~c
), ed by shrek of laughter, and such laug
!, ter! II seemed as if the fends aas~eF
: : each otker from pole TO poie, aud The 0'
was howled in hell. Then came asudd
crash upon the deck, as if our masts =
- snars had fallen. Ne all rushed 10
~ suot. aud there was a cold, still, gisan
:" corpse. The Sp4niard said It VS. saro'
~ fem the shrouds; AID vixen be looked
on il he groand bis teeth like nladalan
= : y knox his,,' exclaimed he, i stabbed !
=, - xithiu Tn icrr's sail of Cuba, and drank
I 81 bleed fer breakfast
AM We all stooi agirast AZ the monster
fearful whispers we asked What sheuld