, 1860-01-21
EiAc IKc&cue---iA True Story Of tho Su-
pcruaturnl.
~. a

Mr.. Robert Bruce, originally descended iron,
SOME branch Of the Scottish family oi that uatslc
was born, in humble circumstances, about the
close If the last century. at To, bay in tie aouth
.f England, and there bred np to scaiaring
life.
When about thirty years Of age, to wit, in the
wear 1873, he was FIRST mate Of u bark trading
brtweeu Liverpool mud st. Johns, New Bruus-
wick.
ia one Of her voyages. bound westward, be-
ing thea some tive or six weeks ont, and having
neared the eastern portion Of the banks Of New
Fuundian.l, the CaItan and mate had been on
'Ieck 1T noon, taking Ill observation Of tie sun,
after which they lV:h descended to calculate
the day. wurR.
The cabin, n small one. was immediately at
the stern at the vessel and the short stairway
,1esccndingto it ran a.hwart-ships. Immediately
"prssise TO this stairway. just beFonl small
square hnil,ling, was the mates state room and
iron, that landing there we're two doors close to
e3ch o.hcr. the ene opening nit iut0 the cabin.
the other fronting tho stairway into the state
r.n,,.. The desk in the state room was in the
forward part Of i, close TO the door; SO that one
sitting ut it und looking orer his shoulder, could
look into the cabin.
Tue ,uate, absorbed in his calculations, which
did not result ~ he expected, varying consider.
ai,ts from the dead reckoning. had not noticed
1f,e captain i metiuns. When he had completed
his calculations, lie called out without looking
fAuHU% ! l1lkc utlT 8slslLuuE H1lN 1Q1tsltHQE So
aud 50. Can ttfat be right? How is yours?
Receiving no reply, he repeated Ills question,
rt4ncsog over tis shoulder, and percelring, rs
hc thought, the captain bus5 writing on his
slate. Still no answer. Thereupon he rose,
and, a. he frontea the cabin door, the figure he
had u,isaken for the captain raised its head and
disclosed TO the astonished mate the features Of
an entire stranger.
bruce was no coward: but, us he met that
fixed gaze looking directly at him in grare ST.
l.oce, and WAS assured that be was NO one whom
he had cser seen before, it was too much for
him aud insfead Of stopping 10 question tho
seeming Intruder. he rushed upon deck in such
clptain's attention.
"Why, Mr.. Nrncc," saiI the latter, "what in
tue world is the matter with youY"
"The matter, sir. Who is that ut yonr desk:''
NO one that know Of
'' Hut there is, s,r; there's stranger there"
ing. lau .ntlst have seen the steward there,
or the second mate Who else would venture
duwa without 0rdcrs"
.'Hut, sir, he was sitting in your armchair,
fronting the door, writing on your slate. Thea
he 'oke,l up full in my taco; aud if ever saw
a tnnn rlalnly and distinctly in this world,
saw him.
Linn. Whams" ..
"God knows, sir; don't. saw man, and
usau had never seen in my life before"
"You must be going erazy, Ar. Bruce. A
stranger, and we uearly six weeks out"
- know, sir; but then saw him."
"G0 down and sec who it is.''
Bruce hesitated. II uever was believer in
ghosts he said, but it the truth must be told.
sir. I'd rather not face it alone
"Con,c, come, uaap. Go down at once, and
don't make fool Of yourself before the crew."
81 hope you've always found me willing to
| do what's reasonable" !" Bruce replied, chang
;t,o husf ff il nit ha IN
slr, Ia rather ne should both 80 down to-
The enptain descended the stairs, and The
| rate followed him. Nobody in the cabin
They cxsnined the stats.roons. Not soul to
! be fonnd.
-WeII, Mr. Bruce" said the captain. did not
| tell you 5oa had been dreaming:"
"Its oil rers well to sag 50, sir; but if did mt
| see that man writing oa yeur slate, may 1neTer
sec my home and family again"
| "Ah! writing ou the slate! Then it should
be there s'i!,:" And he captain took tnp.
thsug surs enousdt Il that your writing, Mr.
Druce."
The ,r,utc look The slate, and there in plain,
1eghls characters, stood the words, Steer to th<
| Nor'sct4t."
"uare you been triaing With me, sir:" added
| tue captain, in stern manner.
"On ms word as man, and fAi}or, sit, " re,
piled Bruce, II know no more Of THE matter
thsu you do. have told you the exact truth y
/ The captain sat down ut his desk, the slate be-
fore h.na, in deep thonght. At 1ast turning the
slate oree and pushing It to~srd Brnce, he said
"Writc down. Steer to the nor vest"
The mate complied, and the captain, atte,
narrowly comparing The two land writings
sa'd, Mr.. Bruce, 50 and tell the second mate
to catne down here"
/, He came, and ut the Captains request, ht
also wrote the same words. So did the steward
Il re At.A
who could wsite 1t Ill. But not ono Of the VI
rious hands resembled in any degree, the nys
s Wien "hs the crew returnea the captain sat i,
deep thought. could auy one hare been stoves
1 awny:" At last, he said. "fhe ship must b
searched; and il don't find the fellow lc mus
DC good hand ut hidc.and.seek. Order ur d
! hnnas.''
Eyery-nook and corner Of the vessel from
stem to stern. WAS thoroughly searched, an
that with all the eagerness Of excited curjosit
for the report had gone out TINT strange
soul beyond the crew and The officers va
Returning to the cabin after their fruitle.
search, ''Mr. Bruce" said the captain, ''whl
do you make Of ali thiss''
"Can's tell. sir. I saw the man write; 70
sec the writing. There must be something j
SWELL, it would seem 10. Ne hare the win
free, and I have great mind 10 keep be
away and see what will come Of it."
# Isursly would, sir, If wers in your plae
. It's onls few hours lost as the worst"
swell. we'll see. Go on deck and give tn
: course nor wesi. And, AE. Rsnee,n. he adde
as the mate ross to 60, "hare look ont alot
:, aud let itbe band you can depend on" > :
His orders were obeyea. About 3 3io'c1oel
, The lookout reported an iceberg nearly ahea
and. ebp9tly atier, what he thought was avess
| Of some kind close to it,