The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-02-29

fellow he must be good hand at hide.and.
seek. Order up oil hands,"
Every nook aud corner Of the vessel, from
stem to stern, was thoroughly searched, and
that with all the eagerness of excited curl.
osity,-for the report had gone out that
stranger had shown himself on board but
not living soul, beyond the crew and the
officers, was found. ..'
Returning to the cabin after their fruitless
seurch,"Mr Bruce" said the.captain, "what
the devil do you make Of all this %
"Can't tell, sir, saw the man write you
see the writing. There must be something
in It," . :...
swell, It would seem so. We have the
wind free, and have great mind to keep
her away and see what will come of it."
81 surely would, sir, if were in your
place. It's only few hours lost at the
worst"
swell, we'll see. Go on deck and give
the course nor'west. And, Mr.. Bruce" he
added, as the mate rose 10 60, shave look.
out uloft, and let it be hand you can de-
pend on"
His orders were obeyed. About three
O'Clock the look out reported an iceberg
neurly aheod, and, shortly after. what he
thought was O vessel of some kind close to
it. 90
AS they approached, the captains glass
disclosed the fact that it was a dsmantled
ship, apparently frozen to the ice, and with
a good many human beings on it. Shortly
after. they hove to, and sent out the boats to
the relief Of the sufferers.
II proved to be vessel from Quebec,
bound to Liverpool, with passengers on
board. She had got entaugled iu the ice,
and finally frozen fast, and had passed sew.
eral weeks in most critical situation. She
was STAYED, her decks swept-n fact, mere
wreck ell her water, gone. Her crew and
passengers had lost all hopes Of being saved,
and their gratitude for the unexpected rescue
was proportionately great.
AS one of the men who had been brought
away in the third boat that had reached the
wreck was ascending the ships side. the
mate, catching glimpse Of his face, started
back 10 CONSERVATION. 1t was the very face
he had seen, three or four hours before,
looking up at him from the captains desk.
AT first he tried to persuade himself II
might be fancy but the more he examined
the man the more sure he became that he
was right. Not only the face, but the per-
son and the dress, exsctly corresponded.
AS soon as the exhausted crew and fem.
ished passengers were cared for, and the
barque on her course again, the mate called
the captain aside. at seems that was not a
ghost saw to-day, sir the mans alive"
"What do you mean! Who's alive :"
"Why, sir, one Of the passengers we have
just saved is the same man saw writing on
your slate at noon. would swear to it in a
court OF Justice"
"Upon my word, Mr.. Bruce" replied the
captain, "this gets more and more singular.
Let US 60 and see this gentleman"
They found him in conversation with the
captain of the rescued ship. They both
came forward, and expressed, in the warm
est terms, their gratitude for deliverance
from horrible fate-slow. coming death by
exposure and starvation.
The captain replied that he had but done
what he was certain they would have done
for him under the same circumstances, and
asked them both to step down into the cabin.
Then, turning to the passenger, he said, 81
, hope, bir, you will not think am triaing
with you but I would be much obliged to
you il you would write few words on this
slate" And he handed him the slate, with
!, the side upon which the mysterious writing
was not. II will do anything you ask" re-
/, piled the passenger /; "but what shall
| write :"
"a few words are all l want. Suppose
. you write Steer to the Nor'west.'
II The passenger, evidently puzzled to make
out the motive for ruch request, did SO
however, with smile. The captain took
4 up the slate and examined it closely; ther
. stepping aside SO as to conceal the slate
I trem the passenger, he turned it over, ant
gave it to him again with the other side up
i; "You say that is your handwriting 7" sale
I he. .- .
II need not say so," rejoined the other
Elooking at It, "for you saw me write."
Sand this Z" said the captain, turning tht
slate over. .....
The man looked first at one writing, thel
, at the other, quite confounded. At last
"What is the meaning of this 7" said he.-
II only wrote one OF those. Who wrote tht
, other I" ,s... a..- ..... s..
"Thats more than can tell you, sir.-
My mate here says you wrote it, sitting a
) this desk, at noon to-day"
t The captain Of the wreck and the passen
ger looked at each other, exchanging CLAN
ces of Intelligence and surprise and tht
former asked the latter, "Did you dream tha
|, you wrote on this slate?' .... ~. ..
, No, cir. not that Remember"
"You speak of dteamine," said the captain
ofthe barqGe. sWhat was this gentleman
:. obout at noon to-day! :" '''' '.'','' ''''
"Captain," rejolned the other, "the whole