Connecticut western news., 1873-08-29
VOL. III.

| 16lG sure GQaG ne would n1mS6lI nave aG- tributed such thing, had it been the case, to its true cause and the more l thought of it, the more convinced be- came that there must be something of serious and practical nature to have such 8 powerful effect on man pos sessed of such healthy nervous organ ization.
 was not, however, so much alarmed as curious. There arose in me deter imitation 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. I had no clue to work on ; but still I 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 I 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 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 went into the lower depths of the ship, thinking to myself that now l should know what it was. Here or no- where must be concealed-what? !? I didn't know, but thought must find something but no, nothing rewarded my toll. looked everywhere. I 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 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 just as wise as when started. ...
 Lieutenant Jones was clearly in bad temper when returned on deck.
 "Where have you been all this timer" he demanded. -..5- ~.-,.
 Going the rounds, sir" replied
 MT. Jones, however, would not be- ieve had taken so long toperform this duty, and made some unpleasant re- marks about "skulking." .' ~" +.''- was hurrying on deck when, just as I reached the top of the hatchway, saw what arrested my footsteps, and rooted me to the spot in amazement.
 The captain had come up the after ladder, which was close to his cabin door, and was advancing quickly for ward-a bright streak of moonlight, from whicE I was shaded by the sails, throwing light as strong almost as day over and around him. His coat was open, as if thrown hurriedly on, his feet were slippered, his.cap was pushed back on his head, exposing to view a face on which the signs of horror were strongly marked, eyes starting forward and bloodshot, lips apart and quivering, 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 out light that had been report ed on the weather bow. =.
 "Quick, the carpenter !-quick p I heard the captain shout as I-came up the ladder, and his voice was strangely agitated.
 ''What can be the matterp One would think the ship was sinking. She must have sprung bad leak in his cabin" I thought.
 "Quick-the carpenter ! Send for him p he shouted again, catching sight of me.
 And I sent two men after the two or three who had already gone in search of that officer.
 Presently the carpenter came up rath- CT astonished, as may be supposed, by such an unusual and hurried summons, and not little alarmed.
 "What is the matter, sir?" he whis- pered as he passed me.
 s'I'm sure I don't know" I replied {; dreadful way about something or oth- er." -'
 The bell struck four times, signifying started at the sound, and again called for the carpenter.
 "Coming, sir replied MT. James, as he sprang on the bridge.
 "Bring that case on deck," said the captain. --ss s.. .-.
 "What case, sir?" said MT. James.
 |, 1oo .le- side of your store-room, is case, mark ed 'Ware-room Oficer.' Bring it on deck, quick"
 < There was no disobeying this peremp- tory order-there was no questioning it; but it was a very odd one to give. What could the captain want to do with case, the property of the ward-room off cers, in the first place? and, in the sec ond, how came he to find. out, in the middle of the night, that it was there, in place where it certainly had no right to be? and, then, why was it there at all, and not in the proper store-room? It IS strange, too, most of all, that a case of ward-room stores could have agi- tated the captain in the way it appeared to have done, and have actually brought h1m on deck in the middle of the night, TOT no otner purpose seemingly than to send down for it. Why could he not have waited till the morning, at least, if he was determined to have it brought up? What could it contain? That was the puzzling question could not settle; and the carpenter could give me no in- formation.
 "I don't know what it is, he said. cit came on board just before we left Beyrout. The captain was out of the ship at the time, I remember, and the paymaster asked me to stow it away in my store-room, as they had filled theirs up. I thought it was only pickles or jam; but we shall soon see what's in it."
 The case came on deck, and somemen U