Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-12-02
A REMARKABLE DREAM.

ID HtLt hthS, ana there fecane ac-
quainted with the following circum-
stances. The story itself was related
one Winters eveniug-for even in Chi
ma there is Winter-around n glow.
ing fire that put one in mind Of home.
The conversation during dinner had
turned upon dreams, and some very
curious theories were advanced in sup
port of the Interpretation of them
Our number consisted of eight persons;
ard after protracted discussion, in
which the number for and agains. there
being any truth in dreams stood about
equal. Capt. Toplam proposed to settle
the question by telling us story Of
what actually happened to himself
few years previously. The cloth was
removed, and at the invitation of our
host we each drew our chairs round
the fire, lit our cigar or pipe; and after
mixing for himself glass Of punch,
the Captain related the following tale
as nearly as | can remember:
1t is now, gentlemen, some ten wears
since l was first mate of the opium
Schooner WILD Dayrell. We were living
in Hong Kong barbor at the time, pre-
paratory to sailing the next morning
for Formosa. .Then-and, for the mat
!. ter of that, now--there was a. great
deal cf smuggling done in that beauti-
full island OF the Chinese. Our cargo
consisted Of $50. .0OOi in specie, $50 chests
Of Patna, and goo chests of Malwah
opium. besides few sundries. which
could lie bought cheap enough in Hong
Kong or Sharghae, but upon which
we turned n good round sum. Capt.
Wiikcs-whom l think Won all know.
gentle men commanded her, and had
made any voyage and run many a
risk fer his owners to the same place.
AT about 4 III the afternoon the Cap
tain left ne TO so or shore, but just rs
lie was stepping iuto the boat LIE cried
out:
"Tol ham, Upon second thoughts,
sbaEts stay on shore tonight, as |
intended. am going to old Douglass
TO dine; and as, in all probability, it
will he noisy party, l shall slip away
early; 80 you can lock for ME about
H."
Very well. Sir" I answered; and
then turned to see that everything was
all right for the morning
AT 6 o'clock and the second officer
had tea; and after tea, lie ard l had
quite n confidential chat about our
voyage, the value Of our cargo, and the
immense risk that was run in not ship
ping EnShshmen, in place Of the mon
grel crew we then had. Our crew con-
sisted. by the way, of fourteen persons.
including TIE captain. The captains.
myself. second officer. and two sailors
were Englishmen; Lascar. two Manil-
In men. two Malays. and two Chinamen,
us seGmsn; u Chinese cook and Chinese
st,ward-in oil. fourteen souls. At
about eight o'clock the second officer
had retired for the night. and had left
me alone on the poop. l we'll remem-
Der how my thoughts then ran. re-
volved in my mind the conversation
ond. officer. respecting the immense val
ue Of our cargo, and the risk that
We ran, both from our own crew,
should they turn traitors and also from
the hordes of pirates that continually
infest the China seas. notwithstanding
our gun. boats, and the havoc that they
make of them whenever they come
within range.
Well, gentlemen upon that evening
my thoughts were especially turned
upon home. and to dear mother from
whom had received letter by the
last mail. and who was then in very
delicate state of health. / had all
-swered her letter only that morning.
must have been on the poop about
thrce-quarters Of an hour after Mr..
Spencer had left me. and was thinking
of returning TO the cabin to look over
some papers connected with the ship,
when observed sampan. or Chinese
boat, lowering round the stern. /
called out 20 the men in the boat. and
inquired what they wanted there; but
their only answer, when they found they
were observed, was to pull away from
the ship in tie direction of the middle
of the harbor. Their movements did
not at all like, and leaninsso on the taf-
frail, watched them until they were
lost in the darkness, Isuppcse l must
have remained in this position-that is,
with nv arms on the taffrail about ten
inmates, when, without warning. l felt
myself lifted OF nv legs. and some one
behind me endeavoring TO throw me
overheard. am ky no means = light