The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-02-08
THE RESCUE,
A TRUE STORY OF THE
SUPERNA NATURAL.

SUPERNATURAL.
Mr.. Robert Bruce, originally descend.
ed from some branch of the Scottish
family of that name, was born in humble
circumstances, about the close of the last
century, at Torbay, in the south of Eng
land, and there bred up to seafaring
life.
When about thirty years of age, to
wit: ir the year 1928, he was first mate
of bark trading between Liverpool and
st. Johns. New Brunswick.
On one of her voyages bound west
ward, being then some five or six weeks
out, and having neared the eastern por-
tion 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 calcu-
late the days work.
The cabin, small one, was imme date
ly at the stern of the vessel, and the short
stairway descending to it ran athwart-
ships. Immediately opposite to this stairs
way, Just beyond small squsre landing,
was the mates state.room; and from that
landing there were two doors close to
each other, the one opening aft into the
cabin, the other fronting the stairway into
the state-room. The desk in the state
room was in the forward part of it, close
to the door; so that one sitting at it and
looking over his shoulder could look into
the cabin.
The mate, absorbed in his calculations,
which did not result as he had expected,
varying considerably from the dead-reck-
oniug, had not noticed the captains mo-
tions. When he had completed his cal
culations, he called out without looking
round, "I make our latitude and longi-
tude so end so. Can that be right?
How is yours?"
! Receiving no reply, he repeated his
question, glanclng over his shoulder, and
perceiving, as he thought, the captain
busy writing on his slate. Still no an
swer. Thereupon he rose, and, as he
fronted the cabin.door, the figure he had
mistaken for the captain raised its head
and disclosed to the astonished 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 became assured that il
was no one whom he had ever seen be.
fore, it was too much for him; and in
: stead of stopping to question the seem
ing intruder, he rushed upon deck in sucf
evident alarm that it instantly attracted
the captains attention. why, Mr.. Bruce
said the latter, ''what in the world is tht
matter with your"
The matter, sir? Who is that at you
:. desk?'
> No one that know Of
a But there is, sir; there's stranger
there
. . "A stranger! Why, man, you must b.
dreaming. You must have seen tn
!, steward there, or the second mate. VIII,
else would venture down without orders?
But, sir, he was sitting in your arm
!! chair, fronting the door, writing on you
slate. Then he looked up full in my face
and if ever saw a man plainly and dis
tinctly in this world, saw him.
Him? Whom?'
God knows, sir; don't. I saw
man, and a man 1 mad never seen in m
life before
You must be going crazy, Mr.. Bruce
A stranger, and we nearly Six weeks out
10 i know, sir; but then saw him.
N Go down and see who it is
Bruce hesitated. i never was be
lever in ghosts;' he said, 'out if the trut
must be told, sir, I'd rather not face
alone
:; Come, come, man. Go down at one,
and don't make fool of yourself befor
the crew. ls
I Il hope you've always found me willin
20 to do what's reasonable Bruce replies
changing color; 'bu. if its all the same
you. sir, I'd rather we would both 6
g; down together
The captain descended the stairs, az
n, the mate followed him. Nobody in tt
cabinl They examined the state-yoom
Not soul to be foundl
well, Mr. Bruce said the captain
. did not I tell you you had been dream
ing?'
IT'S all very well to say SO, sir; but
: didn't see that man, writing on yol
slate, may never see my home and fan
lily again
.Ah! writing on the slate! Then
should be there STILL And the captai
OF took it up.
r. by God!' he exclaimed, 'here's SOM
OF thing, sure enough! Is that your writinl
. Mr.. Bruce?'