The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-02-24

hI- hOOeTt bruce, originally cescendtd
from some branch of the Scottish family
of that name, was born in humble circum-
stances. about tho close Of he last century
at Torbav, in tie south Of England, and
there bred up TO a ssafaring life.
When about thirty years Of age, to wit,
in the year 1925, he was first mate Of a
bark trading between Liverpool and St.
Johns, New Brunswick.
On one Of her voyages bound westward,
being then some five or Six weeks out, and
having nearel the eastern portion Of the
banks Of New FOuudland, the captains and
mates had been on deck at noon, taking
an observation of the sun /; after which
they both descended to calculate their
days work.
The cabin, small one, was immediate
ly at the stern Of the vessel, and the short
stairway descending to it ran athwart ships
Immediately opposite to this stairway, JUS.
beyond small square 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
80 that any one sitting at 1t and looking
over his 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 reck
oning, had not noticed the captains mo-
tions. When be had completed bis calcu
lations, he called out, without looking
round, make our latitude and longitude
go and SO. Can that be right2 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
Thereupon he rose, and, as he fronted the
cabin door, the figure he had mistaken for
the captain raised his head and disclosed
10 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 1t
was no one whom he had ever seen before,
it was TOO much for him : and Instead of
stopping to question the seeming intruder,
he rush upon the deck in such evident
alarm that it attracted the captains atten
ton 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 know Of"
But there is, sir; there IS 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
tinctly in this world, saw him"
Him. whom"
Good knows, sir-I don't l saw a
man, and man | had never seen in my
lie before"
You must be going crazy, Mr.. Bruce
A stranger, and sc nearly six weeks out. !"
= | know, sir, bat then | saw him"
"Go down and see who it is. .
Bruce hesi:atcd Il never was a be
lever in ghosts" he said; but, if the truth
must he told, sir, Ia rather not face il
alone
Come, come, man. Go down at once,
and don't make fool of yourself before
the crew
Il noro you've always found me willing
to DO what's reasonable" replied Bruce,
changing color; but if it's al 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 soul to be found
DWELL, Mr. Bruce" said the captain,
add not tell you, that you had been
dreaming" 2"
I" It's all very well to say so, SIR but if
| didn't see that man writing on your slate
may never sec my home and family
again"
"Ah! writing on the slate Then it
should be there still" And the captain
took it up.
by Cod - be exclaimed, " here's
something, sure enough Is that your
writing, Mr., Bruce 2"
The mate took the slate, and there, IN
plain, legibe characters, stood the words,
STEER TO The NoR' WEST :"
Have you been tritllng with me, sir:
aided the captain in a stern manner,
"On my word AS man and as a 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 1t to-
ward Bruce, he said, Write down, Steer
TO the nor west +"
The man complied, and the cartain, al
ter narrowly comparing the two hand
writings, said, "Mr. Bruce, go and tell the
second mate to come down here"
lie came, and, at the captains request,
also wrote the same words. So did the
steward. 80, in succession, did every man
Of the crew who could write at all. But
not one Of the various hands resemb!ei in
any degree, the mysterious writing.
When the crew retired the captain sat
deep in thought. " Gould any one have
been slowed away at last lie said. "The
ship must be searched /; and if don, find
the fellow he must be good hand at hide