New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-07


ing their passage had recognized the bat
tered old hulk beyond any doubt-even tn
queer clumsy set of the fore yard-and say
| that the mainsail was set and drawing
There could be no doubt of cur speed,
relief.
At any other time would have awakene,
my companion to share my hopeful assur
ances. Now, however, my sole though
was to keep him asleep until our reecu
might be accomplished. Even on boar,
again, knew that should not be entirel,
safe. l must even there be watchful agains
crafty surprises, which, causing my suddel
disappearance, might be attributed to acci
dent-the missing Of foot-rope or tn,
like. But there was now the present pros
careful not to awaken him who lay q
few feet from me. Therefore l remained
quiet and almost breathless, awaiting
the coming of day and gazing alternately
upon the Southern Cross, now palms
under the light of the moon, and thu
smouldering fire near my feet. Gazing
intently at the latter, there was a mOmen
when thought saw single figure stand
ing at ore side in meditative posture-ap
parently the same figure in sailors dress
which l had previously seen beside the
post. Again l rubbed my eyes-not be
lieving in the reality of the apparition, but
attributing it, as before, to my unwOnted
nervousness. Hardly for an instant did
connect it with the story that Askins had
told me, or, it so, in some confused manner
that made no real impression of the super
natural upon me. Rather did look upon
it as an evidence of again approaching
dreamland, and more than ever 1 deter,
mined to arouse myself from that danger.
But as before my tired nature gained con
| troll over me; and while l imagined that /
was keeping myself awake, my senses again
slipped away from me and I slept.
When for the second time l awoke, the
| full dawn OF day had commenced. The
Southern Cross had entirely faded away,
now radiant and golden-hued, but with d.
| minished orb and lack-lustre lifelessness
The sky was cloudless, and the distant
snow peaks we're tinged with sunlight; the
brig was not in sight. There was a thin fog
upon the water, not rising high, but still
deep enough to shut out the vessel, however
near she might be. But l heard not far off
the gentle, well-turned stroke of oars, and
my heart bounded, for l knew that our
friends were coming with the other quarter.
boat in search of US.
gazed around at Askins, and saw that
he also was awake. He was sitting up,
with his head resting upon one hand, and
an air Of troubled thought upon his face
Evidently he had not yet caught that regu-
lar beat Of approaching oars, and devout-
ly prayed that he might not. But he heard
me stirring, and raised his head and gazed
seaIchingly into my face.
81 was drunk last night was not
Jerry?'
'aather, Bill" answered.
"And did l talk any nonsense, Jerry ~
lou did not talk at ALL Bill. You slept
like top all night"
Still the puzzled look of inquiry, like one
who has indistnct recOllectiOns of mischief.
and is not half satisfied at what is being
told him. Then for the first time that beat
of oars struck his ears, and with it the mnf-
fled sound of outer conversation. He quick
ened bis attention, and his power of appre.
hension seemed to be revived. One look at
myself, in whose watchful and scared face
he seemed to read every thiDg-one CLEAN
of revivitied recOllecti0n-aud then he arose
and staggered toward me. Not with q
quick spring to take me unaware, but
rather with the celebrate pace Of one who
prepares sacrifice. I knew at once by his
steadfast expression what was in his mind,
and he read as surely my comprehension of
the situation and my instinct of defense.
There was, therefore, nothing to be said by
either of us. In mute determination he ap- |
preached and awaited him. Then coming
near, for the first time he fmade his spring |
upon me, feeling for his knife. l gave one |
loud cry fer succor, and with that, borne |
down beneath his weight, we rolled over
and Ove1 in deathly grip.
Round and round in that life and death !
grapple. l was the younger and more |
active; but on the other hand my opponent |
was tough as u bull-ndurated for conflict |
by thousand hardships. In less time than |
l now take to tell it, he had my arms |
pinioned to my side. felt his knee upon |
my breast-I knew that he was once more |
l. = 1-,.S Il
all hope, with his fierce glare and heavy |
breathing within few inches of my face |
then, suddenly, saw a third person stand |
ing few PAGES OF.
One of our own crew, Yves my fret i'm
preston; but when the form turned its |
head l beheld one who was not of our YES
sci. A strange face-youthful, we'll fea-
tured, though sad in expression, and not |
yet hardered by toll or vicious indulgence.
There was bloody bruise upon the side of |
the head: but all else, in person and cos
tune. was unusually neat and proper. At |
once felt it borne in upon me that this was
the face OF no living man, and l connected
it with the fieeting shades that had already
twice appeared to me. Those were seem
ingly eyanescent and impalpable, to be
sure, while this one came with all the
reality Of life; yet knew that it was the
same. And then it approached, not with
uoitdi ettp, out Will d vague mOtlON IDaG
can scarcely be described. At first it stood
at the side of the letter-post, and at that
my opponent had his fingers
around the handle of my knife. Before the
knife was half drawn, however, the ghostly |
appearance stood behind him, having not
so much approached by regular graduation,
as having merely disappeared at the one
place and reappeared at another. Then it
seemed to lay its hand lightly upon Aslzins'
q Hap In ftn apt, MI |
me, it was hardly to be supposed that the
clinch of strong men behind could prevail
upon him to relinquish his grasp; but now,
at the very light touch Of this spectral
shade behind him, he turned and sprung to
his feet in a raroxysM Of terror and dis
may.
1t was all over in minute, but it left
upon my brain picture l can never forget.
Ia the center, the ghcstly shade with the
bloody wound upon the side Of the head
not revengeful in face, but rather sOmbre
and sad-slowly gliding along By some un-
explainable mott on as it faced the murderer.
He, with unutterable terror imprinted upon
bis face, slowly retiring before the pursuer,
one hand over his eyes as though he would
shut out the dreadful visitant, the other
arm thrown wildly into the air-so ever re-
ceding until the limit of the little rocky pen
insula was reached, and then INTERESTINGLY
falling beadlOng into the swift current
below. At the other side our men, clam
bering ashore from the quarter-boat, with
loud and boisterous greeting. Then l fell
back, and for the time knew nothing more,
until awakening found myself lying on
the moss, with three or four of the men
grouped about me, and at q little distance
The second mate, Jumping up and down on
briggs deck, and swearing in a blue streak
against everythipg-at the wind and tide,
1t the sky and the sea, at the men and the
boat. and more particularly at the unlucky