The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-03-03
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wife, that one of the ships crew-an
old Tar, by the name of Bill Butier-
came towards ~, holding a few little
shreds Of torn cloth in his hand.
~ found these, ere hanging on hook
on the outside Of the bulwark," said
Bill in mournful voice.
"It is part of Lilian's dress =
shrieked the captains voice.
The Captain buried his face in his
hands Wits a groan, and We looked at
ore and another in sad silence. There
could no longer be any doubt about the
matter. Lillian bad fallen over board.
The few remaining hours Of the nigh,
wore away. The gale subsidized. Mira
,ulously, as it seemed to US, the ship
had escaped being stove; and as the
sea had gone down with the gale, there
was now no more danger. Overwhelmed
with grief, yet feeling it his duty to
console his wife, the captain descended
10 the cabin, leaving the management
of the ships affairs in the hands Of the
mate.
Presently the steward came on deck
He wished to know if any Of the hands
had seen Blnsco that morning. This
was the name Of large Newfoundland
dog, which had been a great favorite
with Lillian, and she had taken especial
deli ght in feeding HIM. The dog had
grown extremely fond Of his young
mistress, and would show his attach
ment in many ways peculiar to his
kind. Now that their darling was lost,
the captain ordered the steward to
bring Blusco to them-thinking that
the sight Of him might afford melan.
choly consolation to his wife.-Having
searched the cabin through without
being able TO find the animal, the
stewart came on deck, as we have said
to inquire if he had been noticed by
any Of the hands. We all answer cd in
the negative. None of us had seen the
dog si.ce the previous night. There
upon the ship was ransacked fore and
aft for the missing animal; and though
We searched every nook and corner, be
was not to be found.
While we were all wondering what
had become Of him, the man at the
! mast sung ont that there were whales
| a>tern. The mate instantly ordered
the boats TO be lowered, and before We
had scarcely time to divest ourselves Of
the idea that we were still looking for
the dog, we were padding swiftly in
the wake Of great fat bowhead. The
whale made straight for a field Of ice in
distance and went down when he got
in the midst Of it. We followed him
almost to the spot where he had disap-
pered, and then lay motionless and
silent waiting tor .he next rising. Large
masses Of Ice fash gloriously in the
early rays cf the sun and moulded into
thousand different shapes, surrounded
our little craft on every hand, floating
by with majestic slowness, and now and
then crashing against each other with
i force that caused some Of them to be
rent assunder. Strange, beautiful
monuments are these fashioned by the.
hand Of naturc-monuments OF the
frozen mariners that sleep below,
"There it goes again. said gid Bill
Butler in whisper.
"What?. asked the mate.
"rhat barking noise" replied Bill;
"I've been hearin' it ever since we lef,
the ship, sir"
The mate leaned upon his stcaring
oar and listened.
ut is seal,' he said
"Eeg your pardon, SIR replied Bill,
"but l never heard q seal bark like
that"
"Good heavens = exclaimed po, tu-
geese, SO loud that the mate was OBJ
liged TO rap him IN the head with his
knuckles. Good hea,cns !" he added
in alower tone, "me think that one
dog"
"Good heavens, Mixed, me tink'e
same, remarked another portngcese--a
little fat fellow by the name Of Pat
Piunket.
"Pokce (suppose i) doge, a miki y
good said q Kanska.
1T does sonnd mighty like dog
said the mate, as the barking became
more distinct.--'.Perhaps it is Busco,
on the ice cake"
Turning the boat arouad with his
stearing oar, until her bows pointed in
the direction OF the noise, the mate now
ordered us to paddle ahead. We oh.
eyed, ard the float shot fo,wrd With