The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-02-29
. The stc,ue.
r A VERY CURIOUS STORY.
From" FOOtfails on the Boundary of Another
is-7 ,71r%i World." li'.-l al- s"-r.
By ROBERT DALE OWEN.

from some branch or the Scottish family Of
that name, was born in humble cIrcumstan.
ces, about the close Of the last century, at
Tcrbny, 10 the south Of England, and there
bred up to seafaring life. -
When about thirty years Of age, to wit, in
the year 1899, he was first mste on barque
trading between liverpool and1St. Johns,
New Brunswick. .''-t'' 5'" ,t''I'
On one Of her voyages bound westward,
being then some five or six weeks out, and
having neared the eastern portion Of the
Banks OF Newfoundland, the captain and
mate had been on deck at noon, taking an
observation of the sun; after which they both
descended to calculste their days work.
The cabin, email one, was Immediately
at the stern Of the vessel, and the short
stairway descending to it ran athwart ships.
Immediately opposite to this stairway, just
beyond small square landing, was the
mates state room ; and from that landing
there were two doors, close to each other,
the one opening oft into the cabin, the other
fronting the s,uirwsy. into the state.room.
The desk in the state.room was in the for
ward part OF it, close to the door SO that
any one sitting at il and looking over his
shoulder could see into the cabin.
The mate absorbed in his calculation,
which did not result as he expected, varying
considerably from the dead.reckoning, had
not noticed the captains motions. When
he had CO ompleted his calculations. he called
out without looking around. 81 make our
latitude and longitude SO and so. Can that
be right. How is yours o. Receiving no
reply, he repeated his question, glancing
over his shoulder and perceiving, as he
thought, the captain busy writing on his
slate. Still no answer. Thereupon lie rose;
and, as he fronted the cabin door, the figure
be had mistaken for the captain raised his
head and disclosed, to the sstonshed mate,
the features ofan entire stranger.
Bruce was no coward but ss he met the
fixed gaze looking at him in grave silence,
and became assured tina, It was no one whom
he had ever seen before, it wos too much for
him and, instead Of stopping to question the
seeming intruder, he rushed upon deck in
such evident alarm that it instantly attracted
the captains attention. "Why, Mr.. Bruce y
said the latter, "whst in the world 10 the
matter with you"
"The matter, sir! Who is that at your
desk Z"
"No one, that Il know Of"
"But there is, sir there's a stranger
there" g.
"A stranger! ! Why, man, you must be
dreaming. You must have seen the steward
there, or the second mate. Who else would
venture down without my orders T.
"But, sir, he was sitting in your arm. chair
fronting the door, writing on your slate
Then he looked up full 10 my face and. il
ever saw a man plainly and distinctly in
this world, I saw him."
"Him Whoml''
"God knows, sir. don't. Isaw man
and man had never seen in my life be-
fore."
"You must be going crazy, Mr.. Bruce
A stranger and we nearly six weeks out !"
II know, sir but then ! saw him."
$50 down and see who it is."
Bruce hesitated. 81 never was believ-
er in GHOSTS" he ssid "but, If the truth
must be told cir, I'drather not face it alone
"Come, come, man. Go down at once
and don't make fool of yourself before the
crew." ...,.
II hope you've always found me willing
to do what's reasonable" Bruce replied
changing color shut if it's all the same t'
you, sir, I'D rather we should both go dowl
together" ~ 81 q
The captain descended the stairs, and th'
mate followed him. Nobody in the cabin
They examined the state.rooms. Not sou
to be found! -. yersr rT n
| "WeIl, Mr.. Bruce, said the captain, "di,
not I tell you that you had been dreeniing!'
."It's all very we'll to say so, cir but If
didn't see thst man writing on your slate
may never see my house and fomily again =
1 "Ahl writing on the slate Then i
should be there still" And the captain tool
it up.
stBy -" be exclsimed. ''here's some
thing. sure enough 1! Is that your writing
Mr.. Bruce 90 s& " ~ Z Sa5
The mate took the slate i and there, il
plain, legible characters, stood the words
"Ssesr to tie Nor s0sst". ".r'nI vg ~
"Have you been triAing with me, sir =
added the captain, in astern munner.5 -
"On my word a. d man and as a sailor
sir," replied Bruce, "rknow no more Of thi'
matter than you do. I have told the exac
truth" a..a.g ."
D The captain sal down at his desk, the slatt
before him, In deep thought. At last turn
ing the slate over and pdshing It towsrd'
Bruce. he said, ,"Write down steer to .h'
Nor west.'', I = y IA \ Al s-'>
} The mate complied and the captain, af
ter narrowly comparing the two hand. writ
3 ings, said. ''Mr. Bruce, 60 and. tell the sec
Ond mate to, come down hsre.s' = n. =;
h He came /; and. at the captains request
be also wrote the same words. 80 did sh'
steward. SO, 10 succession. did every mai III i