Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-04-06
" What Was 1t :"
A TALE OF THE NORTH PACIFIC.

In the year 1851 was in command of the Dol
phin 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 for home, the crew in good
health, and q fair prospect of per centage money
on the cargo, what more could we, want to keep
the song and the jest the lips of the crew
Time passed quickly along. "Homeward bound
! has an intensified meaning to the whaler's crew,
and as we bowled along with good breeze, each
day getting nearer to our homes and firesde,
there were few on the vessel who did not feel
their spirits rising with each days progress.
! One night about IL o'clock, was sitting at
the upper end of my cabin table consulting a
chart on which the vessels course was laid down.
had been reading Dantcs Inferno, and the hor-
rble nature of the work aroused my sensitive
| feelings to such an extent that had determined
to try how far cigar and a walk on deck would
steady my nerves. Just as was about rising
from my chair to 60 deck, noticed figure
descending the companion-way before me. A
single glance told me that it was not of the
crew. No one of my well-fed, sleek men could
possibly look as miserable as this figure looked,
even at the distance at which saw him. Slow
ly he descended the steps, grasping the hand-rail
to support himself as if he too feeble to de-
scend without support. His back was bent, and
his head lay forward on his breast as if he was
| carefully watching his foot steps; his feet were
bare while his head was enveloped in piece of
old sa-cloth instead of cap. His left arm
hung down by his side carefully rolled up in his
coat which had evidently been taken off for that
purpose, and the arm itself appeared to be broken.
Quietly and without uttering word he approach
ed me, and at last sat down at the opposite end
of the table to which was my accustomed place.
lie the slowly raised his head and sight was
presented to my astonished gaze, the like of
which hope may never see again. fine,
noble face it was but attenuated by disease and
/ ha
been good and regular, but now the cheeks were
Sunken and hollow the teeth, white and even
were firmly set together, while the thin, parched
lips were drawn back from them The eyes
as black coal, but sunk far back into the head,
and saw that they were at once fixed on me,
with dull, unmeaning stare. The figure now
stood up just opposite me, and felt myself spell
bound to my seat without the power to address
it. Having looked at me fxedy for some time,
the figure then walked up to my side till it touch
ed my shoulder. Reaching out its arm he laid
bony finger on the chart which was on the table,
and 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 speedily replied to my call, and
came aft dragging something after him which
kept up a continual bowling. As he came nearer
to me saw that it was my Labrador dog Cd*pdr,
and inquired the meaning of what he was doing.
% Why, SIR he replied, 20 the dog lay on the
| companion hatch until a few moments ago, ap-
parently sound asleep, when all Of sudden he
| sprang up with horrible howl and ran to his
kennel forward, 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 to pat him he attempted to bite me-
Hearing you CALL dragged him aft with me by
his collar, to see if he had not been hurt in some
manner, for never saw him act so before
did not examine the terrified dog. felt that
he had seen my visitor we'll as myself. With
some difficulty soothed him, and then went be-
low. Walking up to my table cast look down
at the chart. At the exact spot where my visit
or had placed his attenuated finger saw dull
mark and on a closer examination I perceived
that it was drop of blood The mark indicated
a position on the chart which was about days
sail from and at right angles to our course. For
two hours paced the deck wondering at what
had happened. The visitor was too surely no
creation of my own Imagination, for the dog had
seen the figure as we'll as myself AID the spot on
the chart was plain evidence. What could it
mean half determined to ask the mates advice.
/ He was firm believer in spiritual manifesto
tions, and would endeavor to solve the enigma in
some way or other But then / had always
! ridiculed his notions, and it was too CALLING to
my pride to ask his advice now on that OF when
] had always denied the existence save in heat
ed imagination so determined to keep my owl
counsel. Turning in after, slept wen dto
awoke refreshed-determined in my o" ~ '
say nothing and think more aboa. H. ,rere he
| When I got on deck found that we W. III.
calmed Not ripple was on on. the nonab mn.. The
passed s%sssa asd sd'ifa
crew slept aeau NE in my chair at the head of
that night Iounu cabin. Caspar, who had quite
oot over his fears, lay on tne na'o" az l.'
ef e1t the cabin stairs could hear the pat pat Of
MS ,a.I % his walk up and down the deck. This
,1s erenne ing my thoughts were tranquil, for was
essd;ne volume of Longfellow's poems, and
was in the midst of EUanyeIine, when heard a
howl from Caspar and the scurry Of his feet as he
scampered forward. Looking up saw my visit
or of the previous night again descending the