Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-02-25

any one sitting at it and looking over MS
shoulder could see into the cabin.
The mate, absorbed in his calculations
which did not result as he had expected,
varying considerably from the dead-reckon-
ing, had not noticed the captains motions.
When heAh had completed his calculations,
be called out without looking round II
make our latitude and longitude so and so.
Can that be right. How is yours Z"
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
Thereupou he rose, and, as he frouted the
cabn'doOr, the figure he had mistaken for
the captain raised his head and disclosed to
the astonished mate the features Of an en-
tire stranger
Bruce was no coward; but as he met that
fixed gaze, looking directly at him in grave
'ience, and became well assured that it
was no one whom he had ever seen before,
it was too much for him; and instead of
stopping to question the evident intruder,
be rushed upon deck iu such evident alarm
that it Instantly attracted the captains at
tention. "Why, Mr.. Bruce" said the lat
ter, what in the world is the matter with
you
"The matter, sir ? Who is that at your
desk |"
"No one that know Of"
"Bnt there as sir there's a stranger
there" ......, ...''...
"A stranger Why, man, you must be
dreaming. You must have seen the stewart
there, or the second mate Who else would
venture down without orders .
"Bnt, 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
tinctly in the world, saw him."
Him Whom ? ..
God knows sir don't. I saw q man,
and man l never saw in my life before
You must be going crazy, Mr.. Bruce =
A stranger, and we merely six weeks out =
: l know, sir but then / saw him.
Go down and see who it is.'
Bruce hesitated Il never was be-
lever in ghosts he said but if the truth
must be told, l d rather not face it alone
Come, come man /; go down at once, and
don 7 make fool Of yourself before the
crew.
Il hope you we always found me willing
to do what IS reasonable Bruce replied,
changing color, but if it g all the same to
you, sir, | ID rather we should both go down
together
The captain descended the stairs, and the
mate followed him. Nobody in the cabin !
They examined the state-rooms. Not q
soul to be found
We'll, Mr.. Bruce said the captain, did
l not tell you you had been dreaming
It's oil very well to say so, sir; but if !
did mt see that man writing on your slate.
may never see my home and family again
'Ahl Writing on the slate? Then it
should be their STILL And the captain took
it up.
BY G-dl' he exclaimed, here IS some
thing sure enough Is that your writing,
Mr. Bruce p
The mate took the slate, and there, in
plain, legible characters, stood the words,
STEER TO THE NoR'wEsT'
Have you been triaing with me, sir p
added the captain, in stern manner.
On my word as man and q sailor, SIR
replied Bruce, i know no more of this
matter than you do. l have told you the
exact truth
The captain sat down at his desk, the
slate before him in deep thought. AT last,
turning the slate over and pushing it to-
wards Bruce; be said, Write down, Steer
to the nor west"
The mate complied, aud the captain,
after narrowly comparing the two hand
writings, said, Mr.. Bruce, go aud tell the
second mate to come down here.'
He came, aud, at the captains request
he also wrote the same words. So did the
steward. So, in succession, did every man
of the crew who could write at all. But
not one of the various hands resembled
iu any degree the mysterious writing.
When the crew retired the captain sat
deep in thought. Gould any one have
been slowed away |? at last he said The
ship must be searched and if don't find
the fellow he must be good hand at hide
aud.seek. Order up all hands,
Every nook and corner of the vessel,
from stem to stern, was thoroughly search.
ed, anu JnaI Win Iue ed5tTueSS OF excited
curiosity-for a report had gone out that
stranger had shown himself on board but
no living soul beyond the crew aud officers
was found.
Returning to the cabin after their fruit.
less search, Mr. Bruce said the captain
what the devil do you make of all this p
Can't tell, sir. Isaw the man write /;
yOn see the writing. There must be some.
thing in it,
We'll it would seem so, We have the
wind free, and have great mind to keep
her away and see what will come of it,
i surely would, sir, if l were in your
place. It's ouly few hours lost at the
worst
well, wen see. Go on deck and give
the course nor west. And, Mr.. Bruce, ;
he added as the mate rose to go, have
lookout aloft, and let it be man you can
depend on ..
His orders we're Obeyed. About three
o'clock the lookout reported an iceberg
nearly ahead, and shortly after, what he
thought was vessel Of some kind close
TO ID.
As they approached the captains glass
disclosed the fact that it was dismantled
ship, apparently frozen to the ice, and with
N rood manv human heinOe IN In Shortly