The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1875-12-30
4 REMARKABLE DREAM.

's7 Y A REMARKABLE DREAM.
-- some few years ago was resident
in Hong Kong, and there became ac-
quainted with the following circum-
stances. The story itself was related
one winters evening-for even in China
there il a winter er-around glowing fire
that put one in mind of home. The
conversation during dinner had turned
upon deans, and some very curious
theories were advanced in support of
the Interpretation of them. Our num-
Der consisted of eight persons; and af-
tef pr0tracted discussion, in which
the number for and against there being
~ ruth In dreams stood about equal.
Capt. Tepham proposed to settle the
question BY telling us story of what
,Aceaally happened to himself q few
years previously. The cloth was re-
moved, and at the invitation Of our host
we each drew our chairs round the fire,
!it 0ur cigar or pipe; and, after mixing
fcf himself aglass of punch, the Captain
related the following tale as nearly as /
nan remember:
ut is now, gentlemen, some ten years
ago since was first mate of the opium
schooner Wild Dayrell. We were living
in Hong Kong harbor at the time, pre-.
paratory to sailing the next morning for
Formosa. Then-and, for the matter of
that, there was q great deal of
smuggling done in that beautiful island
soft6e Chinese. Our cargo consisted of
@SOO, 600 in syce, 25O chests of Patna
and 200 chests of Malwah opium. be-
sides a few sundries, which could be
bought cheap enough in Hong Kong or
Shanghae, but upon which we turned !
good sum. Capt. Wilkes-whom /
think You all know, gentlemen-com-
manded her, and had made many voy-
age, and run many risk for his owners
to thasdGn6 place. At about four in the
afternoon the Captain left me to 20 on
shore; but just as he was stepping into
the boat he cried out:
Topham! Upon second thoughts,
shan't stay on. shore tonight, as I in
tsAded. al am going to old Douglas
TO dine; and as, in all probability, it
will be . noisy party, I shall slip away
early 80 you can look for me about
eleven.
I = Very well, SIR I answered: and
taer turned to see that every thing was
al right for the morning.
AT six o'clock and the second of
heer had tea; and after tea he and l
sAAd quite tsconfdential chat about our
voyage, the value Of our cargo and the
Immense risk that was run in not ship
pug EngEshmen. Our crew consisted,
~ the way, of fourteen persons, includ-
ingfhe captain. The captain, myself,
nd second officer and two sailors were
Anglishmen; . Lascsr, two. Manila
men. tive nalays and two Chinamen.
= seamen; Chinese cook and Chinese
eward-in all, fourteen souls. At
about eight O'Clock the second officer
nad retired for the night, and had left
ne alone on the poop. / well remem-
oer how my thoughts then ran. l re-
voived in my mind the conversation
nat had had with Mr.. Spencer, the
second officer, respecting the immense
vsiue OF our cargo and the risk that we
IA. both from our own crew, should
s0ey turn traitors, and Also from the
A ~ esA 49, tsA1e CU1AtUU8k1Xt l9k08t
- emma aeaas notwithstanding our
anooats.s and the havoc they make Of
0sn whsnsvsr they come within range.
well, gentlemen, upon that evening
u thoughtS were especially turned
aPon home, s1d to : dear rnothsr 6ona
xhom Z hAd received lettsr w the
~ mail Ind who was then in . very
Ssencate state Of health. / had answered
aer letter only that morning.
= = must have been on the poop about
Sree-quarters Of An hour after Mr..
spencer had left me, and was thinking
9 eeufning to the cabin to look over
one papers connected with the shin. |
snnen observed q sampan, or Chinese
~, sCa1, 'Asvering round the stern. II
A4ea out to the men in the boat, and
MMqolred what they wanted there; but
s.eE 0aly answer, whenthey found they
Ssse observed. was to pull away from
- ssnap in the direction OF the middle
- harbor. Their movements I did
. al hike, and, leaning on the taft