The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-12-15
SLOWING A MUTINEER.

BY ROGER sTARBUCK.
MY friend Hinton often relates the
following story:
While our ship, the Condor, was
lying in the harbor of Valparaiso, we
heard that Guy Locke, mutineer, had
escaped from the calaboose, and that
hundred dollars were offered for his APP
prehension. When we sailed, two weeks
later, the mutineer had not been discov-
cred; in fact, there were many who be-
lieved that he had quilted the harbor in
little schooner which had sailed on the
night of his escape.
"About a month after, on dark,
stormy night, while we were rolling
along through the Pacific, we heard a
strange cry proceeding from the fore
castle, and rushing from under the
roundhouse, where 1 had been stationed,
we met one of the watch, who had
jumped from his bunk and come up,
half frightened out of his wits by bad
dream, in which, according to his own
story, he saw his ghost sitting astride
the main-yard, and pointing into the
sea.
He thought he then walked to the
rail and looked into the water, where,
sure enough, he beheld his chum-a
young sailor by the name OF Harry
Clyde-lying upon his back, with closed
eyes and pale face. Then there was a
loud noise and he awoke.
1--WE all united in calling him 'su-
perstitious goose'-not man among us
who had not at some period of his life
had worse dream than the one related
"'What do you expect is to happen
on account of your dream, that you
should be so frightened?' inquired one
Either my own death, or that of
one of my chums, was the solemn re-
sponSe.
"Of course we secuted this idea. 1t
was not at all to our taste, as almost
every man among tho crew often dream
ed of his death. Warren, however
shook his head, and said he felt quite
certain that his dream would come true,
or that something would happen to put
him strongly in mind of it. Pale anG
trembling he then returned to the fore
castle. The seas again drove us aft, and
we soon forgot our shipmato and his
dream. The vessel was now rolling
fearfully, and burying at intervals both
rails, and shipping great torrents of
water that must have swamped the
craft had Wo not battened down the
matches and closed the companionway.
Suddenly, CHANGING to glance to-
| ward the main rigging, L thought /
could discover through the darkness the
outlines of q human figure going aloft.
Soon, however, / lost sight of it, and
half fancying that my ina. 'ination had
deceived me, moved into the waist and
scanned the main shrouds. No sign of
any person was visible. / mounted as
high as the top, and pcered over the
edge; but | saw nothing except piece
of canvas-an old maintopsail, which
had been stripped from the yard on the
previous day.
"Now, feeling quite sure that l had
been deceived, joined my shipmates,
avoiding all mention Of the vision by
returning evasivc answers to their queS-
tiOns.
Suddenly we all heard a wild, pierc-
ing cry, and some of the mon declared
that they saw something drop from aloft
from the main) into the sea,
ave rushed to the rail and peered
through the darkness, but could see
nothing except the angry rushing wat
ers, all kissing and boiling around the
craft.
What could it have boon?' was tn,
oft-repeated question +; but no one aboarc
could even give a guess.
For my part was strangely puzzled
felt certain that had scrutinized tn,
main rigging carefully; that at the
time did SO Notwithstanding the Wis
ion l had seen) there was no person
aloft.
"Who, then, or what, had fallen int
the sea?
81 vainly racked my brain for some
solution of the mystery; my snipmate
were equally at fault.
Gas the dawn slowly crept around
US, however, we noticed that the pile
Of canvas which had been placed in thu
top was missing.
"'That was it,! cried an old sailor
that was what we saw fall into the sea
although it doesn't account for the cry
} which was heard at the same time
wI have it, mates! cried another
the noise we heard was made by SOM
bird flying past-that was ALL
SIN fact this soon became the genera
opinion; still there were two or thro
men who refused to be convinced tha
the voice was not that of Il human being
"To set the matter at rest, the crew
was called aft and ranged On the lee sid
of the quarteI'detA.
"All hands were present.