The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1859-07-06

IOIHef- -.HE
"Wcll, l suppose its for the best"
And when the shades of night had fallen,
and all was quiet, our two heroes fell silently
to work at O'Neil's chains. .....,.
Teddy belonged to the middle watch, which
was Parkers, and at midnight he, with the
rest of his gang were reused from their berths,
by the boatswain's shrill whistle piping the
watch up; and as they tumbled up on deck, one
by one, they ensconced themselves in the fore
castle, on boxes, coils Of rope, or anything that
ayailed for seat, as was their wont, to spin
long yarns, and smoke their pipes.
"Heave ahead! We lazy, clumsy hulks from
the bogs, or I'll throw shot into yer bnlkhead.
Heaven" roared the boatswain, as Teddy came
laundering up the ladder, seemingly half asleep,
and took his place among the men, while the
boatswain ''tumbled in"
But no sleep had closed the noble fellows $
eyelids that night; for watching the moment,
as soon as he heard the whistle, covered by the
confusion Of changing watches, he leaped from
his hammock, and rolling the sheet closely un-
der his arm carried it to O'Neil, and told him
to wear it when he came out. And it was this
that kept him below, after the rest had come
up,-his sleepy appearance all buncombe,
Soon all was order again. The first gang
had "tumbled in, and the weary hours of the
night wers passing slowly by. Parker was
walking back and forth on the quarter deck
Suddenly stopping in his round, he called
"Mahoney, come att"
Teddy rose and with beating heart, went
back to where the commander was standing.
"Go below and tell Mr.. Culpepper to send
me a glass of grog," .
FL "Aye, aye, sir" and Teddy touching his cap,
started on his errand. Finding that function
ary in the spirit room, he began
"Msther Parker sent me after two glasses u
grog, and he towld me to tell you to make it
purity stiff as the night was cowld."
| Cupepper said nothing but preparing the Ii
quor, handed it to the Irishman, who carried it
to the commander, saying-'Plaise yer honor,
Misther Killpppar says the night is sumat
cowld, and he sint ye coople."
"Welb 'spose you take one back, and tell Mr..
Culpepper to obey my orders hereafter But
stop" as he saw Teddy going, "you may leave
it on the capstain, Archey may want some."-
Then drinking of the glass, he resumed his
walk, which, after few rounds, became some
what irregular. Teddy had returned to his
companions, but every now and then would
steal glatce at the perambulating officer, each
Of whose rounds was drawing closer and closer
to the capstain, until at last he stopped before
the remaining glass; picked it up-and, looking
at it for moment-unable to stand the temp
tation, drained it to the bottom. Such was
Teddv's intention and desire. Soon Parker,
finding his pedestals unable to support him,
sank down between two guns in asound, drum
ken sleep.
Satisfied so far, Teddy now began talking of
ghosts, hobgoblins, spectres, banshees, &C.
Thus started, the superstitous sailors each spun
his yarn, in all of which, some one of the above
named things played a conspicuous part. Each
believed the yarn Of his ship mate and also his
own. In short time, as might be expected
their ignorant and superstitious minds were
worked up in such manner, that they began
to imagine everything they saw was some uu-
happy resident Of the other world and their
flesh would creep as they looked Teddys
yarns were especially wonderful aud awful
One youngster said that he saw on the night
hoforn mora thon dozop ,rb;to oL;oo+s 10 r,;r,.
on the shore, and then they stopped, and poin-
ted at the ship, and with ugly grins, went out
Of sight. Teddy had seen woman, all dress
ed in white, and stained with blood, draw
dagger at Parker, then vanish. The cold salts
shook their heads and looked wise, as they ST.
lently smoked their pipes for death would visit
that ship on the morrow And the "wtching
hour of midnight" passed. -.
Teddy glanced often Ger the moonht waves;
long and anxiously he watched, until at last he
saw the much wished for object gliding noise
lessly toward the sloop, in the shadow of the
| high bank of Maryland, as the moon was sink
ing beneath the sea. Then walking carelessly
to the hatchway. slipping down the ladder ca
silly, cast a small block into the hold, that be
ing the concerted signal then slipping quietly
back to his companions, enhanced their fear by
spinning still more terrible ghost story, about
the equally terrible banSRee when-- s,.
"My Cod" burst from the lips of an old fore
topman, who was facing the starboard, while
his lower jaw fell and his eyes seemed starting
from their sockets. All turned to look. And
| y, horror!-There, in the dim starlight gliding
silently, mysteriously across the deck, white as
the driven snow eyes like balls Of fire, figure
passed. Speechless from fear, the mute sea-
men in horror gazed. Disappearing down the
hatchway, in moment it reappearcd with an
other figure, it too, robed in white, and silently
as before, they glided across the deck; the wind
moaned and sighed through the rigging, and the
creaking spars told Of i'll omened spirits in the
air. Who could speak? Then footsteps were
heard hurrying up the companion ladder--the
figures hesitated--and Teddy, seeing the boat
swain's head above the hatch, paused a moment,
then rushed toward the gangway wiAh sbriek
and cry--"the ta,sshee-bapsheel" The rest Of
the frightened watch broke pell nell after him,
and down the ladder they tumbled on top Of
each other, crushing the boatswain to the bot
tom.
n Much time was spent in getting everything
again in order, and reassuring the hornfed
men; amp in that time Fanny and the prisoner
had hurried over the side and were now bound
ing over the billows nearing the shore, ~
l. The boatswain stormed like o madman; but