Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-03-24

the captain raised his head and disclosed
30 the astonshed mate the features of an
entire stranger.
Bruce was no coward but as he met
that fixed gaze looking directly at him in
grave silence, and become assured that it
was 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" said the
latter, "what in the world is the matter
with you ?"
The matter, sir? Who is that at your
desk"
" No one, that l know Of.
But there is, sir there's stranger
there"
" A stranger! Why man you must be
dreaming. You must have seen the stew
ard there. or the second mate. Who else
would venture down without orders :"
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 saw man plainly and dis
tincty in this world saw him"
Him Whom"
q God knows, sir; I don't. | saw q
man, and man had never seen in my
, life before
You must be going crazy, Mr.. Bruce
y stranger, and We nearly six weeks out y
. ! know, sir but then | saw him"
"Go down and see who it is"
- Bruce hesitatcd. " / never wa. a
believer in ghosts" he said; "but if the
truth must be told, sir, I'd rather not face
| it alone"
Come, come, man. Go down at once
ond dom make fool Of yourself before
the crew"
81 hope you've always found mo willing
to do whats reasonable Bruce replied
changing color; "but if it's all the same to
vou. sir. I'd rather we should both 70
down together" The captain descended
the stairs, and the mate followed him.-
Nobody in the cabin. They cXomined tn
state rooms not soul to be found
seWell. Mr.. Bruce" said the captain
"iid not tell you you had been dream
ing!"
ITS all very we'll to say 50, sir; bu
if | didn't see that man writing on you
slate, may never see my home and tanil
again ~
All writing on the slate, Then
= should be there" And the captain too
$ it up.
my God :" he exclaimed, "hcre's som'
thing, sure enough. Is that your wrltin
Mr.. Bruce"
The mate took the slate and there
plain, legiblc characters, stood the word
STEER TO THE oR'wE5T"
Have you been triHing with me, sir
, added the captain, in stern manner.
= On my word as man and sallo
- sir" replied Bruce, 81 know no more
this matter than you do. have told y'
"A the truth
" The captain sat down at his desk, Il
n. slate before him in deep thought. Atlas
V, turning the slate over and pushing it iowa
Rruce he said ssWrite down Steer to t
nor west"
# The mate complied, and the captai
no after narrowly comparing the two han
IS. writings, said, "Mr, Bruce, 60 and tell
second mate to come down here"
d, He came down, and at the captains !
nd quest, he also wrote the same words.
he did the steward So in succession, {
nd every man of the crew who could write
an all. But not one of the various hands
ey sembled in any degree the mysterious W
Us ting,
When the crew retired the captain
ely in deep thought "Could any one hi
ort been slowed away" AT last he said
ps, g The ship must be searched, and if l dc
ust find the fellow, he must be good hand
ere hide and seek Order up all hands"
one Every nook and corner of the ves'
mt from stem to stern, was thoroughly scar
The ed, and that with all the eagerness of
ard cited curiosity-for the report had G
any out that a stranger had shown himself
i'd board-but not living soul beyond
officers and crew were found.
ons, Returning to the cabin after their tr
ted, less search, Mr., Bruce said the capt
eek "what do you make of all this :"
mo- "Can't tell, sir. l saw the man W
leu you see the writing, There mus
md, something in it,"
and "Well, it would seem So We have