National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-08-22

him sufficiently well to he sure that h,
would not be frightened by fancy. ii,
was II sensible, well.educated man ant
had heard him romctimes, when til,
conversation had happened 10 turn OF
such subjects, ridiculing in an unassum
ed manner the foolish supersttons o
the ignorant and timid. | could no
think that he was suffering from night
mare, brought on by indigestion, for he
was always exceedingly temperate. II,
had not been entertaining that evening
and he was in good hoai,n. Besides,
felt sure that he would himself have at
tributed such thing, had it been the
case, TO its true cause and the more
thought of it, the more convinced L be
came that there must be something ol
u serious and practical nature to have
such q powerful effect on a'man pos
sessed of such healthy nervous organ
ization.
! was not, however, so much alarmed
as curious. There arose in me deter
mination to solve the mystery-to dis
cover if there was really anything wrong
in the ship, and what it was. Conjec-
ture on conjecture fitted through my
puzzled brain, all equally wild and un-
reasonable. had no clue to work on ;
but still felt a burning desire to find
out The meaning of it. So, briefly tell
! ing Lieutenant Jones that the captain
| had been talking about the rounds, and
/ that | thought had better go over the
vessel again, | started off on my voyage
OF discovery, with corporal and two
lanterns, in quest of knew not what.
felt as if on the eve Of some Won
derful discovery, as began to go along
| the decks, peering with my lantern into
the dark shade between the guns,
/ through the mems messes, and into
every dark hole or corner large enough
to conceal a rat but nothing rewarded
my search. A large cat jumped out
from under the muzzle of gun, and
startled me once but that was all.
Everything was quiet; only the heavy
breathing of the watch below disturbed
the stiffness of the night between the
decks.
Down I went into the lower depths of
the s p, thinking to myself that now |
sho' Id know what it was. Here or no.
whe e must be oncealed-what /
didn't know, but thought | must find
something but no, nothing rewarded
my toll. looked everywhere. turned
over everything, peered into the water
tanks, tried the store-room doors, crept
into dusty recesses that, perhaps, no
one had ever thought of trying to get
into before since the ship was built but
the only result was as might have been
expected. to send a score or two of rats
scampering in alarm over the deck, and
get myself covered all over with dust
and whitewash. so at last had to give
it up, hot and tired with my search, and
lust ns wise as when | started.
Lieutenant Jones was clearly in bad
temper when | returned on deck.
"Where have you been all this timer"
he demanded.
"Going the rounds, sir, " I replied.
Mr.. Jones, however, would not be-
lieve had taken so long toperform this
duty, and made some unpleasant re-
marks about "skulking.
was hurrying on deck when, just as
reached the top of the hatchway, saw
what arrested my footsteps, and rooted
me to the spot i'll amazement.
The captain had come up the after
ladder, which was close to his cabin
door, and was advancing quickly for
bright streak of moonlight,
from which | was shaded by the sails,
throwing a light as strong almost as day
over and around him. His coat was
open, rs if thrown hurriedly on, his
feet were slippered, his!cap was pushed
back on his head, exposing to view
face on which the signs of horror were
strongly marked, eyes starting forward
and bloodshot, lips apart and qulvering,
and cheeks the pallor of which appeared
quite ghastly in the cold blue moon
light.
He evidently did not observe me-
though / could see him sufficiently well |
to note every detail of his appearance
but, with hurried footsteps, made
straight for the officer of the watch, who
was standing on the end of the bridge,
with his back turned to him, trying to
make Ont light that had been report |
ed on the weather bow.
"Quick, the carpenter quick y l
heard the captain shout as | came up !
the ladder, and his voice was strangely |
agitated.
"What can be the natter One would |
-hink the ship was sinking. She must |
nave sprung bad leak in his cabin" l
thought.
Quick-the carpenter Send for
lim p he shouted again, catching sight |
IF me-
And / sent two men after the two or
hree who had already gone in search Of
hat officer.
Presently the carpenter came up rath-
II astonished, as may be supposed, by
'uch an unusual and hurried summons,
md not a little alarmed.
''What is the matter, sir'" he whis-
,ered as he passed me.
I'm sure / don't know" / replied
but make haste. The captains in
lreadful way about something or 9TH
r."
The bell struck four times, signifying
hat it was two o'clock. The captain
started at the sound, and again called
or the carpenter.
Coming, sir, replied Mr.. James, as
lie sprang on the bridge.
Bring that case ON deck" said the
aptain.
"What case, sir?" said Mr.. James.
"In the foremost locker, the starboard
ide of your store-room, is case, mark
d 'Ware-room Officer Bring it on
leck, quick"
There was no disobeying this peremp- '
ory order-there was no questioning 1t; ;
'ut it was very odd one to give. What
ould the captain want to do with n !
ase, the property of the ward-room Off
ers, in the first place? and, in the sec '
md, how came he to find out, in the
L L. ....xl.4 4l.oA !.