Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-06-22
mates berth. The chief officer had now

"a word IN confidence, Mr.. Mate" began
the American. $40 you know in what
latitude we are ?"
"No; Pve lost my reckoning" was the
feeble answer. Flows her head? 2"
"North-north-eOst, yards almost squared
and studding sails to leeward."
"Ihen we must be sailing along the
Irish coast, and through the North Chan
nell"
"But this is the eleventh day we have
kept this course"
"The eleventh day !" cried the astonshed
sailor, excitement enabling him to leap out
Of his berth.
"Therc is something wrong with the
captain; Pm sure Of it," whispered the
passenger, anxiously. "Take no notice.
Be on deck at noon, and see that you get
an observation"
The mate was very weak, but he crept
out to the second mate to get his log-book (;
and learned that the captain had kept it
since the illness of the first officer. This
was not quite regular. He went to the
captains room, but the door was locked
and the key gone.
At noon the sun was perfectly clear
and the mate taking his sextant got on
deck, and posted himself in the iorecastlc.
The captain did not notice him but took
his own observations from the quarter deck,
and then, giving the order to strike eight
bells, went below. The mate went below
also and while he was making out his
reckoning the cook came to him.
81 am glad to see you on your legs again,
sir" he said in a low tone. 81 don't know
where we are going; but this is certain
we shall soon see some grizzly bears. And
we shall need them for provisions, for ours
are nearly gone"
"What are the crew saying about it gu
questioned the officer.
t"They say | must make tight the old
bread casks they will be wanted for blub-
ber since Captain Powell is certainly
going whaling" was the cooks answer
and he quietly stole away again. The
mate finished his reckoning, and then con-
suited his chart.
A short while, and the captain was pac-
ing the deck again. The mate came on
He looked at the compass, at the studdng-
sails, and then approached the captain,
speaking in whisper.
"FCr heavens sake, Captain Powell,
where are we sailing TO I"
Don't give yourself any trouble" was
the cool reply; "the bark is in good hands.
We went too far to the SOUTH"
But to-day at noon we were i'll sixty
four degrees north latitude, ard this even
ing we must pass the line Of the North
Cape in Iceland. Where is it you are
going sir?"
Mr.. Metsam," said the captain, coldly,
II have the management of this vessel.
beg you will not trouble yourself with
things that do not concern you"
"But, Captain Powell, l must trouble
myself our supplies are running short
Remember, we carry passengers, sir, and
must keep our time in Liverpool"
LET me advise you to 90 back to youl
BERTH" was the command. 81 take re,
sponsbility of the navigation. Do you
understand"
"What is our longitude, Capt. Powell p
leave the reckoning to me, till you are
perfectly well, said Mr.. Metsam. You ar,
not yourself yet"
The mate noticed the altered appearance
Of his superior, and saw that he was not
himself. What to do he did not know
he was bitterly perpleXed. Too mucf
Frustrated by sickness to act theoretically
perhaps to think so, he lets things be
believing there was no immediate cause
for action. 1t is serious thing to inter
ferc with the commander Of Il vessel.
The wind went round more to the south
but the bark held the same course, now
with studding-sailS on both sides. The
crew were getting dissatisfied. They haC
no objections to a long voyage; it increased
their pay but they had no desire for {
trip to the Arctic regions without suitable
clothing, or apparatus for taking seals
Once more the mate entreated the captain
to put the ship about; but the latte
threatened to order him into irons.
The passengers became seriously alarmed
A suspicion came upon them for the frs
time, that Captain Powell was insane. A
dcputation went to the first officer ant
delivered over to him the charge of thu
vessel
Mr.. Metsam went on deck, and assured
himself that the time for action had come
He ordered the crew aft, and inquired i
they were willing to obey him.
"Sir," said the carpenter speaking TO
the rest, ''it is high time you took tn,
command. Trere are icebergs ahead"
"Wcll, then, my men, in with the stud
ding-sails.'
The crew went to work with will
very rapidly the sh was put about so tina
she headed S., S. i. by East. But tn
tacking caused loud stir and noise, ant
Captain Powell rushed on deck.
"Who ordered the ship about ?" he asked
in a hoarse voice.
Mr.. Metsam answered at once, in cain
tone, hoping to soothe him. lie felt con
WINGED Of his madness.
Il did sir-wthout troubling you.--
There were icebergs ahead aud We hav'
nothing to do in sixty-nine degrees nortl
latitude"
This brought the climax. "Rebelion
Mutlnym Kissed the poor mailman; anc
drawing pistol from his pocket, fired i
off. The mate felt sharp pain in bis side
and Captain Powell was overpowered.
Fortunately the wound was not serious
one, and Mr.. Metsam was able to take full
charge OF the ship. Their position wa
near the coast Of Greenland. Captain
Powell had steered direct for the Polar
Seas.
The next day a strong northwest win'
set IN, which drove the icebergs to tn,
south. But the good ship ran before tn
wind; and nine days later they sighted TIT
Farce Islands. From this point they haC
long voyage, and were detained by vic
lent storm on the Scotch coast.
Finally, after run of sixty-two days il
all, provisions and water all gone, they
reached Liverpool in safety, where the shil