The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-04-23

i j
the mud, and one of the men had been sent
upon the wharf to cast off the bowIine, when
wagon drawn by one horse came rattling
down to the spot. The driver, rough-look-
ing country man, got out upon the wharf, and
then assisted a middle-aged woman from tie
vehicle. The lady's first inquiry was for
! Commodore Tucker. he was pointed out to
her, and she stepped upon the schooner's
deck, and approached him.
| Commodore, she asked, when do you
sail from here?' .a--r :
We sail right of, as soon as possible,
madam
'Ob, then, know you will to kind to
me, the lady urged in persuasive tones.
My poor husband died yesterday, and /
wish to carry his corpse to Wiscasset, where
we belong, and where his parents will take
care of it.
But, 10y good woman, 1 shan't go to Wis
casset.
IF you will land me at the mouth of the
| Sheepscot, will ask no more. l can essily
find boat there to take me up
Where is the bOdy2' asked Tucker.
In the wagon returned the lady, at the
same time raising the corner of her shawl to
wipe away the gathering tears, 1 have a
sum Of money with me, and you shall be
paid for your trouble. o.
Tut woman if l accommodate you,
there won't be any pay about it.
The kind hearted old Commodore was not
the man to refuse you favor, and though he
liked not the bother Of taking the woman
and her very strange accompaniment on
board, yet he could not refuse. When he
teld her be would do as she requested, she
thanked him with tears in her ey es.
Some of the men were sent upon the
wharf to bring the body on board. a long
buffalo robe was lifted off by the man who
drove the wagon, and beneath lay neat,
black coffin. Some words were passed by
the seamen, as they were putting the coffin
aboard, which went TO show pretty plainly
that the sffsir did not exactly suit them. 1t
may have been but prejudice on their part
bat then sesmen should be allowed a pre-
iudice once in a while, when we consider the
many stern realities they have to encounter.
Hush, my good men, said the Commodore,
ae be heard their murmurs. Suppose that
you was to die from bome-would you not
wish that your remains might be carried to
your parentsf Come, hurry nOw.
The men said no more, and ere long the
coffin was placed in the bold, and the woman
was taken to the cabin. In less than half an
hour the schooner was cleared from the
WHIT dud stduuiuk Oub lEOlu buo DAls
The wind was light from the eastward,
and Tucker had no fear of the frigate now
that he was out of the bay.
In the evening the lady passenger came
on deck, and the Commodore assured her
that be would be able to land her early next
morning. She expressed her gratitude and
satisfaction, and remarked that before she
retired she should like to lock and see that
her husbsnd's corpse was safe. Thir request
was Of course readily granted, sod one of
them lifted of the hatch that gae might 90
down into the hold. slsr--
i declare, mutiered pan Carter, an old
sailor, who was at the Wheel, she takes on
dreadfully.' j.
Yes, poor tbiugl' said Tucker, as he heard
her sobs and groaus. ..r
Dye notice what an eye she's gOt3' con-
tinued Carter.
No, said Tuclsr, only it was swollen
with tears
my eyesl hut they shOne, though, when
she stood here loking at the compass.
Tucker smiled at the mans quaint earn
estness and without further remark he went
down to the cabin.
When the woman came up from the hold,
she looked about the deck of the schooner
for few moments and then went ST, There
was somsthiDg in her countenance that puz
Eled Carter. he had been one of those who
objected to the cofin's being brought on
beard, and hence he was not predispOsed to
Look very fsvorsbly upon its owner. The
woman's eye ran over the sehoOner's deck
with strange quiCkness, and Carter eyed
her very sharply. Soon she went to the
taffrail aud looked over at tine stern boat
and then she came and stood by the binns-
Gle again.
Lock out or you'll jibe the bOOm.' ut
tered the passenger.
Garter started, and found that the main
sail was shivering. He gave the helm a
couple of spokes apOrt, and then cast his
eyes again upon the woman, whose features
were lighted up by the binnacls lamp.
'Tbsnk'e ma'am, said Dan. 'Hs, hold
on-why, bless my soul, there's big spider
right on your hair. NO-not there. Here
-Ill-Ughl
This last ejaculation Dam made as he
seemed to pull something from the wODan's
hair, which be threw upon the deck with
the 'ughl' above mentioned.
Shortly after, the passenger went below,
and ere long Tucker came on deck.
Commodore said Garter, with a remark
able degree of earnestEess in his manner, is
the oman turned in?'
4 rather think so, said Tucker, looking at
the compass. Look out, look out, Carter
Why, man alive, you're two points to the
southwark of the course. s,-..
"Blow me, SO l am, !" said the man, bring
ing the helm smartly sport. "But say,
dido't ye notice anything peculiar about the
old 'oman?'
"Why, Dan, you seem greatly interested
about her
80 l am, Commodore, an so am about
the coffin too. Wouldn't it be well for you
and to overhaul it7''
"Pshawl you are as scared as child in
graveyard" :" 5re-..-ss ..-s =.
mo, not a bit. That oman ain't no
oman
The Commodore pronounced the name of
his Satanic Majesty in the most emphatic
manner ''
''It's the truth, OOmmO4ore-I can swear
to it. 1 purtended there was spider on
her hair, and l rubbed my hand agin her
face. By Sam Hyde, if it wasn't as rough
and bearded as an holyston. You see, she
told me as how I'd let the boom jibe if l
didn't look out. know there wash mo
oman there, and so / tried her. Call some
body at the wheel, and let's go and look at
that cofin." 5E- ...ss sIos.ri
The Commodore was wonder struck by
what he had heard, but, with that calm
presence of mind that made him what be
was, he sat cOOlly in thinking. In few
minutes he called one of the men aft to re-
lieve Carter, and then he went down to
look after his passenger. The latter had
turned in and seemed to be sleeping. Tucker
returned, and took Carter one side.
mo noise now, Garter; follow me as
though nothing had happened.
"Ssrtin. r. LEsslE an
The two approached the main hatch,
stopped 10 raise it, when Dams hand touch
ed a small ball that seemed to have been
pinned up under the after break Of the hatch
"h's a ball of twine," said he.
"Don't touch it, but run and get lantern, :"
replied Tucker.
Carter sPraDg to obey, and when he re-
turned a number Of the men had gathered
about the spot. The hatch was raised, and
the Commodore carefully picked up the ball
of twine, and found that It was made fast to
something below. He descended to the
hold. and there he found that the twine ran
10 beneath the lid Of the coffin. He had no
doubt in his mind now, that there was mis-
shief hoXed mp below, and be sent Carter for