Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-05-01
THE RESCUE.
From OWENS {" FOOTBALLS. y

from OWenS tOOlldilS.
Mr.. Robert Bruce, originally de-
scended from some branch of the Scot
tish family of that name, was born. in
humble circumstances, about the close
of the last century, at Torbay, In the
south of England, and there bred up
to a seafaring life.
When about thirty<years of age, to-
wit, In the year 1923, he was first mate
of barque trading between Liverpool
and St. Johns, New Brunswick.
On one of her voyages bound west
ward, being some five or six weeks out,
and having neared the eastern portion
of the banks of Newfoundland, the cap
tam and mate had been on deck at
noon, taking an observation of the sun;
after which they both descended to cal
culate the days work.
The cabin, a small one, was immedi-
ately at the stern Of the vessel, and the
short stairway descended to it ran
athwart-ships Immediately opposite
to this stairway, just beyond small
square landing, was the mates state
room and from that landing there
were two doors close to each other, the
one opening aft into the cabin, the 9TH
er fronting the stairway into the state
room. The desk in the state-Toom was
in the forward part of it, close to The
door so that one sitting at it and look
ing over his shoulder could look into
the cabin
The mate, absorbed in his calcula-
tions, which did not result as he had
expected, varying considerably from
the dead reckoning, had not noticed
the captains motions When he had
completed his calculations, he called
out without looking around, II make
out latitude and longitude so and so.
Can that be right2 How is yours?
Receiving no reply, he repeated his
question, glancing over his shoulder,
and perceiving, as he thought, the cap
tam busy writing on his slate. Still no
answer Thereupon he rose, and as he
fronted the cabin door, the figure he
had mistaken for the captain raised It's
head, and disclosed to the astOnished
mate the features of an entire stranger.
Bruce was no coward, but, as he met
that fixed gaze looking directly at him
| in grave silence, and became assured
that it was no one whom he had ever
seen before, it was too much for him
and instead Of stopping to question the
seeming intruder, he rushed upon deck
in such evident alarm, that it instantly
attracted the captains attention.
"Why, Mr.. Bruce" said the latter,
"what in the world is the matter with
your .
'The matter, sir2 Who is that al
your desk 2"
"No one that I know of.
'But there is, sir; there's q strang-
er there"
GA strangerl Why, man, you must
| be dreaming. You must be dreaming
| You must have seen the steward there
or the second mate. Who else woHl6
venture there without orders z"
'EBut, sir, he was sitting in you1
arm chair, fronting the door, writing
on your slate. Then he looked up ful
| in my face; and if ever [ saw a maj
plainly and distinctly in this world,
saw him.
"Himi Whom2" ...-.s
''God knows, sir, I don't. / saw
man, and a man never saw in my lif'
| before"
''You must be going crazy, Mr.
Bruce. A stranger, and we nearly si7
weeks out u
"I don't know, sir, but then I saw
him.
"Go down and see who he is"
Bruce besitated. "I never was be
lever in ghosts" he said, but if the
truth must be told, sir. I'd rather no
face it alone. "
'Come, come, man, go down At once
and don't make a fool of yourself befor
the crew"
Il hope you always found me will
ing to do what's reasonable, Bruce re
piled, changing color but II It's al
the same tolyou, sir, I'd rather VIC shoul'
both go down together"
The captain descended the stairs, ant
the mate followed him. Nobody in tn
cabin They examined the state rooms
Not soul to be found
Well, Mr. Bruce" said the cap
tain, " did not [ tell you you had beel
dreaming
It's all very well to say so, sir; bu
if [ didn't see the man writing on you
slate, may [ never see my home ant
family again"
"Ah writing on the slate! Then i
should be there still" And the captain
took 1t up.
The captain exclaimed, Here
something, sure enough! Is that you
writing, Mr.. Bruce 2''
The mate took the slate, and ther
in plain, legible characters, stood th
words, q Steer to the nor'west.
Have you been trifing with m
SIR" added the captain, in a ster
manner.
On my word as a man and a sailor
: sir, ' replied Bruce, 81 know no MOI
of this matter than you do. have tol
tyou the exact truth