The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-09-03
you would be particularly distinguished

81 frankly confess that should not .
mo. sir" he resumed; land you
would want to get away from the curse
aud if ever there could be moment when
your heart would expose its anxiety. it
would be when the opportunity of escape
was at hand, but not secured, when your
chances were hanging in balance. and
you knew not which way the beam would
turn You want man to help you sail
your ship am that maD. | have been
unfortunate, but, mercy do you imagine
my misfortunes of the past can hang me
on the blue sea =
finally resolved to take the man, and
run the risk | gave him the berth of
my frs; late, and forthwith prepared for
sea. He entered at once upon the dis
charge of his duties, and was not long in
proving himself thorough seaman.--
Within six hours from the time of install
ling Gilbert Carboy into his cffce, my
ship had passed Mobile Point, and was
dashiug through the waters of The Gulf
before fair wind
For a week | overlooked my mates
movements pretty narrowly, but saw
nothing directly out OF :he way. | never
knew better seaman, or more accom-
pli>hed officer; aud yet there were times
when | did not feel wholly easy There
were times when Mr. Carboy seemed
wandering and lost, as though some dread
incubus hung upon him. The longer |
was with him, aud the more | watched
him, the more convinced did | become
that sonnet hing more than the memory OF
creditors weighed upon his mind One
day. as We SAT III the cabin alone, | spoke
to hin, upon the Subject.
"Carboy." said i. you want friend. "
He started, aud looked eagerly into my
face.
You have scme secret upon your ml' d
that yuu had better emtru>t IN the keep
ing of secuud party" | resumed.
He turned pale as death, and grasped
the edge of the table to steady himself.
"A secretl' he whispered chow do
YOU know that | have secret p
because | can see it in your looks and
actions | replied "Come Caibo oy,-you
need not feal to trust me. There was
something beside debt. Am not right
There was a quiver Of the frame-a
convul>ive effort,-and then my mate was
calm and quct,-a little paler than usual,
and with more of the strange look in his
large black eye e;-but still calm. Then
he laughed, aad said 4:
My dear Captain, you are entirely mis-
taken. Mortal man could not be more
so. There is no secret-none, | assure
you,-none such as you Imagine. What
have | done, since came on board your
ship. to offend your
Nothing" | answered him.
And in &ha. have failed to do my
dury 2
"In nothing"
sin what, SO far as my Office is con-
cerned, have disappointed you p
Again l had to answer him-''in
nothing"
Then" said he, Il pray you trust me.
Let no pecul,arity of my disposition
trouble you When l fail in nay duty, or
when l give you cause of offence, then let
NE know it"
At this point we were interrupted by
the entrance of third person, and the
conversation was dropped
From that time uuIIl We had entered
the Mediterranean said no more to my
mate upon the subject of his secret; but
yet | was not easy. There were times
VIII n | really fe; red to rust Carboy on
the watch; and when asked myself why
| feared could not tell. 1t was curious
very curious. 1t was, I thought, fool
ish but | could not hei pit. | could see
that he tried to please me-that he even
discommoded himselftU accommodate NE.
Ii never hesltated to move when | spoke,
and never questioned any ot NY opinions.
This was the more strange because such
was evidently not his nature He was
naturally proud and independent, aud i'm
patient OF restraint; and was it not d
legitimate conclusion that some powerful
II. olive led him to restrain himself 80
wonderfully before me!
But the secret was couirg to the sur
face.
On the evening of the fourth day after
leaving Gibralter, the sun went down IN
leaden cloud. and before eight o'clock
the wind was blowing furiously from the
south west but | did not apprehend any
trouble, as we took it very near a>tern,
with plenty of opeu sea ahead, AT u4id
night called Gilbert Carboy, aud gave
the shlD into his charge. TIE course 10
&C kept through the night was east north
east. The main sail was turIed, aud a
double reef in the fore sail, with close
reefed topsails. | remarked to my mate
after had given him all needed directions,