Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-06-26
ga stranger! Why, man, you must

out orders:?''
"But, sir, he was sitting in your
armchair, fronting the door, writing
on your slate. Then he looked full in
my face, and if ever saw a man plain
ly and distinctly in this world, | saw
him"
"Him, Whom"
"God knows, sir: | don't. | saw a
man, and a man | had never seen in
my life before
You must be crazy, Mr.. Bruce. A
stranger, and we nearly six weeks
out.r'
Il know, sir; but then | saw him.
go down and see who it is
Bruce hesitated.
Il never was believer in ghosts, .
he said; "but, if the truth must be
told, sir, I'd rather not face it alone.
'Come, come, man, 90 down at once,
and don't make a fool of yourself be-
fore the crew"
Il hope you've always found me
willing to do what's reasonable, :
Bruce replied, changing color; "but,
if it's all the same to you, sir, I'd rath-
er we should both go down together :
The Captain descended the stairs,
and the mate following. Nobody in
the cabin. They examined the state
rooms. Not soul to be found.
"Well Mr.. Bruce" said the Captain.
did | not tell you, you had been
dreaming:'
''lt's all very we'll to say so, sir; but
if | didn't see that writing on your
slate, may | never see my home and
family again"
'Ah. writing on tie slate. Then it
should be there still And the Cap
tain took it up. ..By heaven" he ex-
claimed, 'here's something. sure E.
nough, Is that your writing, Mr..
Bruce"
The mate took the slate, and there
in plain, legible characters, stood
"Steer to the nor'west.'
Have You been trifing with me,
SIR" demanded the Captain, in stern
manner.
'On my word, as man and sailor,
sir, ''replied Bruce" | know no more
of this matter than you do. have
told the truth"
The Captain sat down at his desk,
the slate before him, in deep thought.
At last, turning the slate over, and
pushing it toward Bruce, he said:
"Write down Steer to the north
west"
The mate complied, and the Cap
tain, after narrowly comparing the two
handwrltings, said:
"Mr. Bruce, 90 and tell the second
mate to come down here"
He came, and, at the Captains re-
quest, wrote the same words. SO did
the steward. SO, in succession, did
every man Of the crew who could
write at all. But not one of the vari-
Gus hands resembled, in any degree,
the mysterious writing.
When the crew retired, the Captain
sat in deep thought.
"Could any one have been slowed
away" at last he said. 1.-The ship
must be searched; and if don't find
the fellow, he must be d good hand at
hide-and-seek. Order all hands up"
Every nook and corner of the vessel
from stem to stern, was thoroughly
searched, and that with all eagerness
of excited curiosity, for the report had
gone out that stranger had shown
himself on board, but not a living soul
beyond the crew and officers was found.
Returning to the cabin, after their
fruitless search, "Mr. Bruce" said the
Captain, "what do you make of all
this?"
'Can't tell, sir. ! saw the man
write; YOU see the writing. There
must be something in it,"
"Well, it would seem so. We have
the wind free, and have great mind
keep her away and see what will come
of it,
81 surely would, sir, if | were in
your place; it's only few hours lost,
at the worst"
"Well, we'll see. Go on the deck and
give the course nor'west. And. Mr..
Bruce" he added as the mate rose to
60, have a lookout aloft, and let it be
hand you can depend on
His orders were obeyed. About
three o'clock, the lookout reported an
iceberg nearly ahead, and shortly af-
ter, what he thought was vessel of
some kind close to it.