The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-02-08

titled "Footfails on the Boundaries tf
Another World;"
Mr.. Robert Bruce, originally desce' d
ed from some branch of the Scottish FAM
ily of that pam,, was born, in humble
circumstances, about the close of tho last
century, at Torbay, in the south Of Eng
land, and there bred upin a sea a ing
lie.
When about thirty years of age, to
wit. in the year 1928, he was first mate
IN bark trading between Liverpool and
st. Johns, New Brunswick.
On one of her voyages bound west
ward, being then some five or six weeks
out and having neared the eastern por-
ton of the Banks of Newfoundland, the
captain and mate had been on deck al
noon, taking an observation Of the sun;
after which they both descended to calcu
late their days work.
The cabin, small one, was imrnedi
ately at the stern of the vessel, and the
short stairway descending to it ran att
wart ships. Immediately opposite to
his stairway, just beyond small s9uar'
anding, was the mates state room; and
from that landing there were two doors.
.ose to each other, the one opening af'
nto the cal in, the other, fronting the
stairway, into the state room. The desk
in the state room was in the forward
part of it, close to the door; SO that any
one sitting at it, and looking over bis
shoulder could see into the cabin.
The mate, absorbed in his calculation,
which did not result as he expected, vary
ing considerably from the dead-reckon
ing. had not noticed the captains motions.
When he had completed his calculations,
he called out, without looking around,
'Imakc our latitude and longitude SO and
50. Can that be right! How is your's?'
Receiving no reply, he repeated bis
question, gancing over bis shoulder
aud perceiving, as he thought, the cap
tain busy writing on bis slate. Still no
answer. Thereupon he rose; and, as b"
tronted the cabin door, tho figure he had
mistaken for the captain raised bis head
and disclosed to the astonished mate til
features of the entire stranger.
Bruce was no coward; but, rs lie met
shat fixed gaze looking directly at him
in grave silence, aud became assured that
it was no one whom he had ever seen be-
fore, it was too much for him; and, in
stead of stopping to question the intruder,
he rushed on deck in such evident alarm
hat it instantly attracted the captains
attention. "Why, Mr.. Bruce" said the
latter. "what in the world is the matter
with ycu!"
"The matter, sir? Who is that al
your desk~
mo one that know Of"
"But there is, sir: there's a stranger
there"
"a stranger. Why, man, YOU must
be dreaming. You must have seen the
steward there, or tn, second mate. Who
else would venture down without or,lers T.
"But, sir, he was sitting in your arm
chair, fronting the door, writing on your
slate.
Then he looked up full in my face
and, if ever l saw man plainly and dis
tinctly in this world, saw him."
Him! Whom?"
"God knows, sir: don't. saw a
man, and man I had never seen in my
life before"
"You must be going crazy, Mr.. Bruce.
A stranger and nearly six weeks OUT"
Il know, sir; but then I saw him"
$50 down and see who it is"
Bruce hesitated. 81 never was be-
liver in CHESTS" he said; "but, if the
truth must be told, sir, I'd rather not
face it alone"
"Come, come, man. Go down at
once, and dou't make fool of yourself
before the crew."
Il hope you've always found me will
ing to do what's reasonable" Bruce re-
piled changing color; "but if it's all the
same to you, sir, I'd much rather we
should both 60 down together"
The captain descended the stairs, and
the mate followed him. Nobody in the
cabin! They examined the state-rooms.
Not soul to he found any where.
swell, Mr.. Bruce" said the captain,
"did not l tell YOU you had been dream
ing!'
'It's all very well to say so, sir; but if /
H.. .oa {bot ~, M rrr;t;n,r IN ,.n,,r rIo 70