Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-25
aWHAT WAS 1T ?"

In the year lS5-I was in command
of the Dolphin, fine bark of six hun
dred tons. We had been on whaling
voyage, and had obtained an unusually
good cargo of oil, both in quality and
quantity. With our course laid fol
home, the crew in good health, and a
fair prospect of per centage money on
the cargo, what more could we want to
keep the song aud the jest on the lips OF
the crew.
Time passed quickly along, Home
ward bound has an irtsdsified meaning
to the whaler's crew, and as we bowled
along with a good breeze, each day get
ting nearer and nearer to our homes
and fresides, there were few on the ves-
sci who did not feel their spirits rising
with each day q progress.
One night, about eleven o'clock, ! was
sitting at the upper end of my cabin ta-
BILE, consulting a. chart on which the
vessels course was laid down. / had
been reading Dante's Inferno" and the
horrible nature of the work had aroused
my sensitive feelings to such an extent
that had determined to try how far a
cigar and walk on deck would steady
my nerves. Just as ! was about rising
from my chair to 60 on deck l noticed a
figure descending the compsuionway
before me. A single glance told me that
it was not one of the crew. No one Of
my well-fed, sleek men could possibly
look as miserable as this figure looked,
even at the distance at which | saw him.
Slowly be descended the steps, grasping
the handrail to support himself, as if
he were too feeble TO descend without
support.
His back wRs bent, and his head lay
for,-ard on his breast as if he was care
fnllv watching bis footstepsi his feet
were hare vile bis head was enVeloped
in a niece of old sai!!-eloth in place Of a
cap. His left arm hung down by his
side. carefully rolled up in his coat,
which had evidently been taken Off for
that purpose; and the arm Itsalt ap-
peared to be broken. Quietly and With
out uttering word he approached me,
and at last he sat down at the opposite
end Of the table to that which was my
accustomed place. .F.
He then slowly raised his head, and a
sight was presented to my astonished
gaze, the like of which l hope ] may
never see again. A fine, noble face it
was; but attenuated by disease and suf-
fering, or perhaps both. The features
had been good and regular, but now the
cheeks were sunken and hollow; the
teeth, white and even, were firmly set
together, while the thin, parched lips
were drawn back from them. The eyes
we're as black as coal, but sunk far back
into the head, aud | saw that they we're
at once fixed on me with a dull, un-
meaning stare. The figure now stood
up just opposite to me, and | felt myself
spell bound to my seat without the power
to address It.
Having looked at me fxedly for some
time, the figure then walked up to my
side till it touched my shoulder. Reach
ing out his arm, he laid bony finger on
the chart which was on the table, and
before could muster courage 10 articu-
late, 10, he had disappeared
Recovering my composure somewhat,
/ sprsng with bound up the companion
way, and shouted for The mate. He
speedily replied TO my call, and came
aft, dragging something behind him
which kept up q Continual hoWiing. As
he came nearer to me ! saw that Il was
my Labrador dog, Caspar, and | in
quired the meaning Of what he was do
ing.
"Why, SIR he replied, Athe dog lay
on the companion-hatch until few mo-
ments ago, apparently sound asleep,
when all Of q sudden he sprang up with
horrible howl, and ran to his kennel
forward with his tail between his legs.
then went after him, and found him in
his kennel shaking with fright, and when
put my hand in 10 pat him he at
tempted TO bite me. Hearing you call,
/ dragged him aft with me BY the collar,
10 see If he had not been hurt in some
manner, for / never saw him act 80 be-
fore"
did not examine my terrified dog.
is'' that be had seen my visitor as vel