The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-03-29

From ovens "F0otfills'
THE RESCUE.

Mr.. Robert Bruce, originally descehd-
ed from some branch Of the Scottish
family of that name, was born, in hum
bic circumstances, about the close of the
last century at Torbay, in the south Of
England, and there bred up to a seafar-
ing life
When about thirty years c. age, TO
wit, in the year 1898, he was hrst mate
Of a barque trading between Liverpool
and st. Johns, New Brunswick.
On one Of her voyages bound west
ward, being some five or six weeks out,
and having noared the eastern portion
of the banks Of Newfoundland, the cap
tain and mate had been on deck at noon,
taking an observation Of the sun; after
which they both descended to calculate
the days work.
The cabin, a small one, was immodi-
atelY at the stern of the vessel, and the
short stairway that descended to it ran
athwart-ships. Immediately opposite to
this stairway, just beyond a small square
landing, was tho mates state-room; and
from that landing there were two doors
close to each other, the one opening aft
into the cabin, tho 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 sit
ting 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
reckoning, had not noticed the captain 5
motions. When he had completed his
calculations, he called out without look
ing around, CT make out latitude and
longitude 50 and so. Can that be right
How is yours?'
Receiving no reply, he repeated his
question, glancing over his shoulder
and porcoiving, as he thought, the cap.
tain busy writing on his slate. Still nc
answer. 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 astonisheC
mate the features of an entire stranger
Bruce was no coward; but, as he mel
that fixed gaze looking directly at him
in grave silence, and became 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
seeming intruder, he rushed upon deck
in such evident alarm, that it instantly
attracted the captains attention.
"Why, Mr. Bruce" said the latter
"what in the world is the matter with
you?'
"The matter, sir? Who is that al
your desk?'
"No one that know oil"
"But there is, sir; there's a stranger
there"
"a swangorl Why, man, you must
be dreaming. You must have seen the
steward there, or the second nate
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 I saw man plainly
and distinctly in this world, 1 saw him.
"Him2 Whom2"
"God knows, sir, I don't. I saw ,
man, and a man I never saw in my liit
before"
"You must be going crazy Mr. Bruce
A stranger and we nearly six weeks
outl"
"I don't know, sir, but then I saw
him"
"Go down and see who he is.
Bruce hesitated. 81 never was be
lever in ghosts, he said, "but if tn,
truth must be told, sir, I'd rather no
face it alone"
"Como, come, man, 90 down at once
and don't make a fool Of yourself befor'
the crew"
81 hope you have always found MI
willing to do what is reasonable" Bruce
replied, changing color; "but if it's al
the same to you, sir, I'd rather we shoult
go down together"
The captain descended the stairs, 9nt
the mate followed him. Nobody in thu
cabin! They examined the stato-roOms
Not a soul to be fOundI
"Well, Mr.. Bruce said the captain
"did not 1 tell you you had been dream
/ ing2'
"Its all very we'll to say so, sir: bu
if I didn't see the man writing on you
slate, may I never see my home AM
family again. VI
"Ahl writing on the slatol Then i
should be there still And tho cap
tain took it up,
The captain exclaimed, "Here's some
thing sure enough! Is that your writ
ing, Mr. Bruce2
The mate took the slate, and there il
plain, legiblo characters, stood th
words, "Steer to the nor'west."
"Have you been triAing with me, sir2
said the captain, in a stern manner.
"On my word as a man and a sailor
sir, " replied Bruce, "I know no NOR
Of this matter than you do. hav
told you the exact truth.
The captain sat down at his desk, tn
slate before him, in deep thought A
length, turning the slate over and push
ing it toward Bruce, he said, "Writ
down, "Steer to the nor'wost.
The mate complied, and the captain
after narrowly comparing the two hanC
writings, said, "Mr Bruce, 60 and te