Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-06-10

weeks aIter, Wncn our VeSSel arrived at Dos
ton, / had almost entirely forgotten il. But
certain Incidents which am now gong 10 re-
late, recalled it again, and that very fercibiy,
70 my recollection, about eighteen months af-
forwards. After having lett the Plymontb, |
had shipped in a sperm Nhaler; but not being
satisfied with the usage | received on board,
took the liberty TO desert her when she arrived
at her first, port In Talcahuna, ten months after
wards. remained here for nearly ten weeks,
earning few reals daily by serving in a Chi
Han schooner, plying up and down the coast.
AZ tie end Of that time, as there was no other
ehaaee, | shipped in another whaler, then "
ing ID port. Scarcely had leaped over the
bulwarks on first coming on board, than my
eye lighted upon the wel-known countenance
of ny former shipmate in the Plymouth, Jack
Ratlin. lie was walking up ana down the
quarter deck. issuing, now and then, some or
ders, 10 sharp tone, to the men forward, who
were employed about the windlass.
As soon as he saw me, he ran up, and des-
pite lis dignity as second mate of the vessel,
shook tne cordially by the hand, and inquired
after my bealth. He then informed me shat
shortly atter leaving the Plymouth, he succeed
cd, through the the influence of one Of the
ship owners, in obtaining the birth of second
mate on board the Rochester, which was the
nanieof the vessel iu winch now had shipped
as a fDremast hand.
s;AKson'll find me good officer, Tom," said
he; ssAlfhough, perhaps, the men think In
qdiek-tempered.
'sNo doubt of it Jaek-no doubt of IT,
said /, as / bundled forward with mr. chest and
yalise.
We had not been out from Talcahuaua but
few weeks, when | was also inclined to think
With the rest of my sbipnates, that Jack Rat
lin, although he had been quiet enough as a
forenlast hand, vas quick tempered as second
mate.
He treated me we'll enough, but the greater
portion of the men had cause TO complain of
his conduct toward them. There was one in
dlyidual in particular among the crew whom no
used Ike dog. This parsonage was pitifui
looking specimen of humanity, about fifty years
of age, called Brooks. His eyes were sunk
eE, bis cheek wasted, and his brow wriukled
as with care lie always kept by himself, and
would n4ser eat anything at meal times but
lttlla4H1f bread and some water. He was ev-
iaeAffy halt al HIGE, fuF
walk about the decks, moaning and wringing
hls lands, while his eyes would have strange
vacant stare. Ho never seemed to take pride
like the rest OF US 10 making himself look
neat, although he was far from being filthy
Ills garments were generally clean, but always
ragged aud never seemed to fit his attenuated
figure
Ilhs poor fellow was the butt of the crew,
and pitied him from the bottom of my heart.
Sometimes | would see him sitting all alone in
some obscure part of the ship eating hls solita-
ry meal, while the tears we're streaming down
his Hollow checks. Whenever he was told
to dc anything, instead OF executing the COM
mani, he would stand and look about him with
beRildercd stare. 1t was at such times that
the wrath of Jack Ratlin would become arous-
Ell against the unfortunate fellow, and he would
deaIhim blow or kick. To this abuse,
how.ver, be would only respond by clasping
his hsnds together and uttering strange,
papiiye moan. Que night, presumng upon
ourtormer acquaintance, took the liberty CT
demonstrating with Ratllu in regard to his be-
hayor toward the poor wretch.
'sIon," said he, ''do you know what makes
meso bard upon that felows | will tell you.
1t because there is look about him which
always makes me thiGk Of"
buzz bang crash Down keeled our
ship on her beam ends, aud away wen; the main
toigallant mast. We had been struck by one
ofIhose sudden squalls SO common off the
cdst of japan.
|'Clew up top-gallaut sails let go topsail
higards fore anu aft ~ yelled katlln. Ihe
MO dew to obey the order.
tsWhat III! are you about2 Go there
ali help the meu clew up the gallant-saiisF
rAred Jacks to Brooks, who was standing close
THIN troubling from bead to foot. The man
dl not stir. Euraged at this, Jack caught up
d iron Delaying pin aud struck him on the head |
se uttered a low moan and fell heavily on the
eek. Jack now repented of what he had done
ad az the squall by this time had passed to
lewari, he ordered some of the men to convey |
he body into the cabin. was one of those |
Iho obliged the order, and helped TO carry The |
bdg into the state room, aud lay 1t out upon !
sofa. AS the light fell upon his features 1t |
Jas to be seen that they were deadly pale, while
small stream of blood was tricklng from |
POUND In the temple, which bad been inflicted
Iy the Delaying pin. -,
The eyes fell upon us with fixed look, which |
here was no mia:akiug-it was the ICY stare /
be death.
STOOD GodI'' groaned Jack, she is dead
Yet-oh, no. no. it cannot be that have real |
y murdered him! Perhaps he may recover; this
heavy jlcket alone is enough to s:ltie the man.
While uttering these words, the second mate
had been engaged in divestjng Brooks of his
Jacket. He had already disengaged the sleave !
Of the right arm, when something was heard TO
drop from one of the pockets to the floor. Jack |
picked it up, and on examination, discovered 1t
10 be q small locket containing likeness OF
,imsclf He instantly tore the shirt from the
pack of the corpse; the supposed seainen was
woman. He lifted the right arm, and looked |
1t it closely. -Four blue marks the impression
,f teeth, we're perceived just above the elbow. :