The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-06-08

ueiise log lay on the lace al the ocean. ~ Vi
could discern nothing at ten yards distance
from the vessels side. According to my cal
culations and by the log. VIC should have
been not far from the spot on tile wide sea
where | hoped TO find solution rf the mys-
terry. Toward noon the wind died away,
and at length deserted US altogether. Then
the fog slowly rose. and l at rnce, glass IN
hand, assembled the rigging. WITH cngrr
gazc scanned the horizon ahead IN h,til
bows, hut no welcome object met my eyes.
w"s about to come down when l chanced
to LAX astcrn. Almost directly in our wake
but far astcrn Of us, lay an object which,
by the aid of my glass, made to l5e
an open boat 1 could not see in it. AMI
it appeared to lie like Il log upon the
water. The gig was soon lowered accord
ing to my orders, and mate and boats
crew were dispatched to inspect the boat
as it lay far astcrn. felt quite un-
equal to going myself, so agitated was l. but
1 had the presence of mind to order some
brandy and nourishment, suitable to the
sick and famished, to be brought upon deck.
I felt as assured that my visitor was there
as if had seen him in the boat; but whether
alive or dead, l dared not to speculate
Twice had been summoned, and twice
had neglected the summons. On the third
occasion, my spectre visitor had sunk, to ~
appearance, litclcss ON the floor of my CABIN.
Was lie dead, or was he only in death like
swoong thought over the wonderful Incl
dents which had caused me to fird the bsS
The wind had died away when Y uess.. s..pett
to obey the first summons, nor didit return
until had received the third call. Had it
not again died away when 1t did, Ishould
have passed the boat so far in the fog as not
to he able tn sec it when the fog lifted. As
it was, we were nearly out of sight when the
horizon became clear Half an hours more
wind, and the mystery would never have
been revealed. Scarce could l restrain my
impatience. However, there was no help
for it. must wait until the gig returned.
After hours of suspense at last beheld the
gig approaching slowly with the other boat
in tow. Unable to endure the terrible sus-
pense, went down into the cabin. Soon
heard the gig touch the ships side, and the
mate giving orders to lower away the chair
from the yard arm. Then l thought they
had found him; but he must be too feeble
to climb up the ships side. A few moments
and heard approaching footsteps, and
down the stairs was brought, with the as
sistance of the crew. nv visitor for the
fourth time; but now really and truly in the
flesh. He was supported in the arms of the
mate, but he held on the hand-rail Just as I
had seen him in the three visions His left
arm hung loosely at his side. and was ban
daged up Just had observed on the three
occasions of the spectre's visits.
We gaye him proper refreshments and put
him to bed. He gradually revived, and in a
few days was able to tell his story. He had
been captain of a large vessel trading in the
Pacific. The crew had mutinied and had
cast him adrift in the omen boat. with moth
inp TO eat except a few biscuits, which were
thrown into the boat in derision by one of
,hc r,u,;nocrs Wbo, tboso were eaten he
,ne rr
had triea 10 exc out iiie oy eating MS shCeS,
anu win water runS from us cloth,hg alter
ram ana heavy dcWs, nc lad quchchcu Ill
manner his tnlrst. When 1ound py Tue mate,
lie lay extended Ill the Dottom Oh inc poat'
IN a ieati-ike swo"n, and owed MS recoVe,
ry, perhaps CHIEFLY to the brandy which
had sent him in the gig. In II few days
more we assisted him ON deck. Casper no
sooner saw than he flew at INN, and but Tor
my interference would have torn nm to pie
css: during the rest OF the voyage We were
Obliged to keep the dog chained up. AS