The Democratic advocate., 1869-01-14

y
may have been but prejudice on their
part, bat then seamen should be allowed
prejudice ouce in while, when we
consider the many stern realities they
hive to encounter. "Hush, my good
men," said the Commodore, as he heard
their murmured remonstranccs. "Sup-
pose you were to die away from home
would you not wish that your last re
mains might be carried to your poor
pareots !? Come hurry now"
The men said no more, and ere long
the coffin was placed in the hold, and
the woman was shown to the cabin. In
less than half an hour, the schooner was
cleared from the wharf, and standing
out from the bay. The wind was light
from the eastward, but Tucker had no
fear Of the frigate now that he was once
out of the bay.
In the evening, the lady passenger
came on deck, and the Commodore as
sured her that he should be able to land
her early on the next morning, She
expressed her gratitude and satisfac
tion, and remarked that before she re.
tired she should like to look and see
that her husbands corpse was safe
This was Of course granted, and one of
them lifted off the hatch that she might
90 down into the hold.
81 Declare" muttered Daniel Carter,
an old sailor, who was standing at the
wheel, "she takes on dre'fullyw
"Yes, poor thing!" said Tucker, as
as he heard her sobs and groans.
"D'yc notice what'n eye she's got n
continued Carter
"No," said Tucker, "only twas swollen
with tears" .....
"My eyesl but they shone, though,
when she stood here looking at the
compass"
Tucker smiled at the mans quaint
earnestness, 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 aft. There was something in her
counteuance that puzzled Carter. fIe
had been one Of those who objected to
the collins being brought on board, and
hence he was not predisposed to look
very favorably upon its owner. The
The woman's eye rau over the schooner,
deck with strange quickness, and Car
ter eyed her very sharply. Soon she
went to the taifral aud looked over al
the stern boat aud then she came and
stood by the binnacle again. F.
"Look out, or you'll gibc the boom, y
uttered the passenger.
Carter started, aud found that the
nainsail was shivering. He gave the
helm couple of spokes aport, and then
east his eyes again upon the woman
whose features were lighted by the bin.
nacle lamp.
"Thank'e ma'am," said Dan. "Ha.
hold on--why, bless my soul, there's a
big spider right on your hair. No--not
there. Here-Pll-Ugh p
This last ejaculation Dan made as he
seemed to pull something from the wo.
mans hair, which he threw upon the
deck with the "ughW above mentioned
Shortly after, the passenger went be-
low, and ere long Tucker came on deck.
Commodore" said Carter, with a
remarkable degree Of earnestness in his
manner, sis the oman turned in p
81 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
your course"
"Blow me, SO I am" said the man,
bringing the helm smartly aport. "But
say, didn't ye notice anything peculiar
about the old oman ?"
"Why, Dan, you seem greatly inter.
ested about her"
$50 am, Commodore, an SO / am
about the coffin, too Would't it be
well for you and to overhaul it."
"Pshaw you are as scared as child
in graveyard"
s"No, not bit. Just hark bit
That oman amt no oman"
The Commodore pronounced the name
of his Satanic Majesty in the most EN-
phatic manner.
sits the truth, Commodore can
swear to it, / purtended there was a
spider on her hair, and / rubbed my
hand agin her face. By Sam Hyde, II
it wasn't as rough and bearded as an
holystone. You see, she told me as
how I'd let the boom gibe if I didn't
look out. l know'd there wasn't no
oman there, and so | tried her, Call
somebody at the whcal, and let's 60 aud
look at that coffin"