The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-07-10
SENTIMENT AND FUN.
" A little nonsense, now and then,
aA Isrelished by the wisest men,"
The SteWard,s SfOrY.
CONCLUDED.

mates begun to perceive something |
peculiar in the Captains conduct. He |
was usually very reserved and quiet |
man, and after what had happened it
was only natural to suppose that he
should be less lively and talkative
than usual but now he scarcely ever
spoke to any one. He had never been
what is called jolly skipper" that
is, he never cared much about good
eating and drinking, but now he would
hardly taste food oftener than once in
the twenty-fou hours. And from a
few slight expressions | heard let fall
between the officers, concluded that
they thought their superior light
headed, or not quite right in mind, {
8 They might easily consider so, for
his conduct was certainly strange.
He would be onIdeck all day, and a
great part of the night also, his glass
always ir,his hand. This he was cen
stantly using, looking to the wind
ward, Just as he did when we were
working up to the spot where we con-.
sidered the dismasted ship to be. This
at first, did not attract much atten-
ton, but when it became his constant
practice all day long, the officers-ay,
and the men, toO-zbegan to guess how
it was. Indeed, Mr. Gilbert, to try
him, one day said to him, in a CHEEKY
sort of voice, f" don't think you need
look out for the Planet, Captain
Harrisonl Bless your life, sir, she
hasn't got legs to travel with us u s.,
Planetp what Planet?' asked the
poor man, in bewildered way. =
1t was not the PLANET that he was
looking for; it was the laundering
ship, which should never see harbor
more, that was constantly floating be-
| fore his diseased imagination. Did
he not fear that, on that day when
the sea shall give up her dead, the
lost crew would appear to plead
against him before the great judg-
ment seat.
His grief and remorse had fairly
turned his brain. He now never at
tempted to interfere in the navigation
or working of the ship; but the mates
| did not require his assistance in any
way, nor did they trouble him at all,
beyond occasionally consulting him,
for forms sake; they were both first
rate seamen, and Mr.. Gilbert, as be-
came his position as first officer, was
a good navigator, almost as good, ii
was considered, as the captain himself
| But'a first mate in Gilbert's situation
with an incapable commander, is de-
l.cidedly in a false position; he has all
| the responsibility on his shoulders
without being legally in charge of the
ship. M I J FL
So far, however, all had gone on
very well, and we hoped that we were
going to make a smart passage, and
be the first ship of the season, not
withstanding our unhappy delay But
our good fortune was coming to a
close. When we were somewhere
about 36 deg. North latitude, it came
E on to blow very heavily from the
/, West, and the weather was thick, with
a good deal Of rain. | know that this
made Mr.. Gilbert very uneasy, for We
were getting close upon the Western
{ Islands, and / had heard him talkins
to Mr.. Monsell about sighting then
and " taking fresh departure" Blu
in thick weather and strong westerly
gales, there was nothing for it, he con
sidered, but giving them wide birth
and intended to keep well to wind
ward of Flores. And this, presume
he considered he had succeeded il
doing, for the night after I had heart
his conversation with Mr. Monsell
they both came down below togethe
! to. look at. the chart.
They had not much opportunity 70
taking observations, but | suppos,
/ Gilbert was satisfied that we hat
weathered the island, for after prick
ing off the ship on the chart, he de
cided on altering her course tw,
points or so, rounding in the weathe
braces, and shaking a reef out of tn
topsails This alteration in our cours
made almost fair wind for us, and a
we had been hammering away for tn
last two or three days close haule,
under short canvass in dirty weather
it was good news to all on board. Blu
b we were rather premature in our re
joicing. That very night, just as tn
first mate was turning in (for he ha
not been in his berth during the las
two nights, and now that his mind wa
at ease he resolved to have four hours
Sleep the lookout on the forecast
shouted, Breakers aheadl"
Mr.. Gilbert was on deck in an in
slant, and gave his orders prompt
and coolly " Down with the helm
raise tacks and sheetsl" But it wa
too late; the only difference was, tina
the ship went crashing broadside ont
the reef, instead of bows. A choio
of two evils with vengeance. A
she struck, the foremost went owe
4; the side at once, dragging with it tn
main top mast, and there lay tn
bonny "Dryad" almost on her bear
ends, smashing and tearing herself t
b pieces on a reef of the shore of tn
Island which poor Gilbert had flat
tered himself he had weathered $
cleverly. The ship continued beatin
: over her waist; but though there wa
~ Io11oh oh no foT. n 71vrxrr bo7.o tho ono