The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-03-26

A TALE OF THE NORTH PACIFIC.

In the year 1S5-l was IN command or
the Dolphin, fine bark Of 600 tons. We
had been on whaling voyage, and had
obtained an unusually good cargo of oil,
both in quality and quantity.
With our course laid TOR home, the crew
in good health, and fair prospect of per
icentage money on the cargo, what more
would we want to keep the song and the
| Jest on the lins of the crew? Time passed
quickly along "Homeward bound" has
an intensified meaning to the whaler's crew,
and as we bowled along with a good breeze
each day getting nearer to our homes and
fresides, there were few on the vessel who
did not feel their spirits r.Ning witn ca.
days progress.
One night about eleven o'clock | was
sitting at the upper end of my cabin table
consulting chart on which the vessels
course was laid down. had been reading
Dante's Inferno, and the horrible nature
of the work had aroused my sensitive feel
! Iings to such an extent that | had deter
mined to try how far cigar anl a walk
on deck would steady my nerves Just as
| was about rising from my chair to 90 on
deck | noticed a figure descending the com,
panion way before me. A single glance
told me that it was not one of the crew.
Not one of my well-fed, sleek men could
possibly look as miserable as this figure
looked, even at the distance at which saw
him. Slowly, he descended the steps,
grasping the hand-rail to support himself
as if he were too feeble to descend without
support. His back was bent, and his head
lay forward on his breast as if he was care
fully watching his footsteps: his fe Were
bare, while his head was enveloped in a
piece of old saiI-cloth in place of a cap.
His left arm hung down by his side care
fully rolled up in his coat, which had eyi
deutly been taken off for this purpose; and
the arm itself appeared to be brnken. Qui
etIy and without uttoring word he ap-
preached me, and at last he sat down al
the opposite side of the table to that which
was my accustomed place. He then slow
| ly raised his head, and a sight was presen-
ted TO my astonished gaze, the like Of
which hope l may never see again. a
| fine, noble face it was; but attenuated bv
disease and suffering, or perhaps both. The
| features had been good and regular, bnt
now the the cheeks were sunken and hoI
low; the teeth, white and even, were firm
ly set together, while the thin, parched Iip>
were drawn back from them. The eyes
were as black as coal, but sunk far back in
the head, and saw that they were at once
! fixed on me with a dull, uumeaning stare.
The figure now stood up just opposite to
me, and | felt myself spel-bound to my
seat without the power to address it.
! Having looked at me tixedly " for some time,
the figure then walked up to my side til
it touched my shoulder. Reaching out
his arm. he laid bony finger on the chart
which was on the table, aud before | could
muster courage to articulate, 10! he had
disappeared.
Recovering my composure somewhat,
sprang with bound up the companion
way and shouted for the mate He speed
lily replied to my call and came dragging
something behind him which kept up Il
continued bowling. As he came nearer L.
me | saw that it was my Labrador dog
Ca par, and | inquired the meaning OF
what he was doing. "Why sir" he replied
"the dog lay on the companion hatch unit.
few moments ago, apparently sound asleep
when all of sudden he spraug up with IA
horrible how, and IAN to his kennel for
ward with his tail between his legs. |
went forward after him, and found him in
his kennel shaking with fright, and when
put my hand in 10 pat him he attempt
ed to bite me. Hearing you call, l drag
ged him aft with me by his collar, to see II
he had not been hurt in some manner, for
| never saw him act SO before"
l did not examine the terrified dog.
felt that he had seen my visitor as we'll as
myself. With some difficulty | soothed
him, and then went down below. Walk
ing up to my table, cast a glance down
at the chart. At the exact spot where my
visitor had placed his attenuate finger l
saw dull red mark, and on closer ex-
animation | perceived that it was drop of
blood. The mark indicated a position in
| the chart which was about day S sail from
and at right angle to cur course. For two
hours | paced the deck wondering at what
had happened. The visitor was surely no
creation of my own imagination, for the
dog had seen the figure as well as myself,
and thespot on the chart was plain evidence.
! What could it mean! | half determined to
ask the mans advice. He was a firm be
Iieyer in spiritual manifestations, and wolld
endeaver to solve the enigma in some way
or other. But then had always ridiculed
the notion, and it was too calling to my
,. pride to ask his advice now on that OF
which l had always denied the exlstance
save in a heated imagination; so l deter
mined to keep my own counsel. Turning
in soon after l slept we'll and awoke re
.