The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-03-25
,ent than have lived in a haunted ship,

presence, or whatever IL mlBnt De.
The captains angry passions were tc
some extent checked by it; though,
now and then, they broke forth so sud
denly that the object Of his fury re-
ceiycd q blow before it could interfere.
We had arrived within a couple of
days sail of the English coast, when,
becoming exasperated at some blunder
of Hastings he hurled belaying.pln,
which struck him in the head. The
poor fellow suddenly clapped both
hands to the spot, with n wild yell, and
rushed in to the forecastle. The cap
tain, after having thrown the missile,
appeared, as / thought, surprised at not
hearing anything, and ! noticed him
glance nervously aloft. But, still hear
ing nothing, he recovered his courage,
and ordered Mr.. Raynor to "call that
man to deck agsin." ;.
The mate getting an answer to his
call, went below, and found Hastings
delirious. He reported that he believed
the man to be in n critical condition,
and the captain directed him to do
whatever he thought best for his re-
lief. think Captain Phelps, like some
other hard cases that have sailed
with, did not dare to venture into the
forecastle himself, for fear he might
never got out again alive. -,
That night it became necessary to cal
all hands out TO reef again and while
we were on the yards, II thrilling cry
arose from the bows, such as we'll
might have been raised by maniac:
A human form was seen by several OF
us erect on the rail, near the fore
swifter, and then loud splash was
heard in the water under the lee,
Mr.. Raynor and the captain, who
were on the decR, rushed to the side,
hat was seen for moment, bobblng up
on the crest of the sea, and tho same
dreadful veil OF insanity was repeatea'
even more shrill than before. Captain
Phelps echoed the Cry, but family, and
fell insensible to the deck. =,
Mr.. Raynor hailed us on the top'sall
yard with q voice like trumpet blast
!" Lay down from aloft Clear away
the small boat "
We thought the mate was quite as
mad as the poor suicide, and SO he was,
for the moment. BY the time we
reached the deck he was ready to couh-
termand the order. Everything was
hidden in darkness, the wind and sea
fast increasing, and it was impossible
even then for the clumsy little boat to
live. The captain, still unconscious
was carried below, with many NUT
tered wish that he might never come
up again, and bitter were the oaths OF
vengeance mingled with kind WORDS
and tears for our departed messmate
that went round our wakeful little CIR
Gle during the stormy, dismal night.
When the Hull pilot boarded us,
Sorty-eight hours afterward, Capta,,
Phelps was at his post trying to loot
like himself, but still pale and trem
bling. The mate told us that he shoul'
have him arrested as soon as we arrives
in port, But | think he must hav'
relented, and conniyed at his escape
for he was missing before the ship wa
fairly secured | don't think he wa
ever brought to Justice, though L dlt
MT wait to see. | was glad enough ~
shake the dust of the Norway on my
| feet, and to forget, if possible, the MS
tory of the voyage.
Strolling along the streets at early
evening, ready for anything in the way
of amusement that might turn up, my
attention was caught by a poster an
nouncing the performance OF trol'
Holbrook. the unrivaled and world-re-
nowned ventriloquist. L had never
seen performance OF that sort, put
after reading the bill | resolved to CO.
7 was lust in time when | reached the
hall OF exhibition, and taking ticke,
| entered and took seat. though,
the entertainment the most wonderlu
had ever witnessed or heard. Ate
variety Of sounds and voices ha'
been initiated with marvellous skill, III
informed us that he would hold con
versation with an ordinary person III
the chimney. When the responsive ma
hal came down, | was startled to sucl
a degree as to rise from my seat. L
was the same voice in precisely the sam'
peculiar tones that / heard 50 man.
times from the Norway's main-top.
A minute later the professor, havlnl
finished his part, came forward to th'
foot of the stage; and spite OF MI
flowing beard and other disgulses,
recognized one whom / had supposed
to be dead five years before.
"Jack Hastings, said L aloud, 1of'
getting in my excitement where L was.
"Sit down. Put him out, cried a
dozen voices at once.
I subsided, of course, but not before
T had seen sign of recollection from
the yentriloallist. When the perform
ance was over he beckoned to me, anu,
in the privacy of his own room, Srasped
nv hand with hearty pressure. =,
"Hastings," I asked, show IN the
name of miracles were you savedE
"Saved? Where? p
"When you jumped overheard raw
ing mad" ,..o,
"I never jumped overheard, Ashton
said he. "and | was no more mad thal
lam now. twas only plan to frlghttel
old Phelps, and think it succeeded
but too we'll If he had been tired o
| life. and had thought him in danger,
could have appeared in court and fright
ened him again to save his life. Blu
he could not be found, and l neve
heard of him since. My madness wa
all sham, and the man overheard wa
only bundle of old duds surmounte
by my old hat. 1 slipped down IN tn Il
fore-peak, and lay concealed TIL I'll
night after the ship arrived. when
stole out and went ashore. OF cour'
you understood the cries you heard.
, "Certainly; and the other stranf
sounds on board. Your ventriloquis
| explains the whole matter"
: 81 performed in most OF the clti'
o and large towns in England before
!, knew you, but was then disslpated
}. my habits and squandered all that
# made. While on one OF my sprees'
g shipped and went to sea, and that
n how you found me in Cronstadt; b'
N vas never stock to make sailor Q