The true northerner., 1876-03-10
A REMARKABLE DREAM.

Some few years ago | was a resident
in Hong Kong, and there became ac-
quainted with the following circum-
stances. The story itself was related one
winters evening-for even i'll China
there is q winter-around a glowing fire
that put one in mind of home. The
conversation during dinner had turned
upon dreams, and some very curious
theories were advanced in support OF the
Interpretation of them. Our number
consisted of eight persons ; and after q
protracted discussion, in which the num-
ber for and against there being any
truth in dreams stood about equal, Capt.
Topham proposed to settle the question
by telling us story of what actually
happened to himself few years pre-
viously. 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 otter mixing ourselves a
glass of punch, the Captain related the
following tale as nearly as l can remem-
ber:
alt is now, gentlemen, some ten years
ago since was first mate of the opium
schooner Wild Dayrell. We were lying
in Hong Kong harbor ut the time, pre-
paratory to sailing the next morning for
Formosa. Then-and, for the matter of
that, nowhere was n great deal of
smuggling done in that beautiful island
of the Chinese. Our cargo consisted of
thirty thousand dollars in syce, one
hundred and fifty chests of Patna and
two hundred chests of Malwah opium,
besides few sundries, which could be
bought cheap enough in Hong Kong or
Shanghai, but upon which we turned a
good round 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 the same place. AT about 4 in the
afternoon the Captain left me TO go
ashore but just as he was stepping in
the boat, he cried out
"'Topham! Upon second thoughts,
I shan't stay on shore tonight, as / in
tended. am going to old Douglas to
dine; and as, in all probability, it will
be a noisy party, shall slip away early;
so you can look for me about eleven.
"'Very well, sir, answered; and then
turned to see that everything was all
right for the morning.
cat 6 o'clock / and the second officer
had tea; and after tea, he and l had
quite confidential chat about our voy-
age, the value OF our cargo and the i'm
mense risk that was run in not shipping
Englishmen, in place of the mongrel
crew we then had. Our crew consisted,
by the way, of fourteen persons, includ-
ing the Captain. The Captain, myself,
second officer and two sailors were En-
glishmen; Lascar; two Manila men;
two Malays and two Cinnamon, as sea-
men; a Chinese cook and Chinese stew.
ard-in all, fourteen souls. At about 8
o'clock the second officer had retired for
the night, and had left me alone on the
poop. l well remember how my thoughts
then ran. revolved in my mind the
conversation that / had with Mr.. Spen-
Ger, the second officer, respecting the
immense value 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 in
fest the China seas, Notwithstanding our
gunboats, 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 dear mother from whom
had received letter by the last mail,
and who was then in very delicate state
of health. l had answered her letter
only that morning.
=" / must have been on the poop about
three-quarters of an hour after Mr..
Spencer hsd left me, and was thinking
of returning to the cabin to look over
some papers connected with the ship,
when / observed sammpan, or Chinese
boat, lowering round the stern. called
out to the men in the boat, and inquired
what they wanted there but their only
answer, when they found they were OBJ
served, was to pull away from the ship
in the direction of the middle of the har
Dor. Their movements | did not at all
like, and leaning on the taffrail.
watched them until they were lost in the
darkness. [ suppose / must have re-
NAMED in this position-that is, with my
arms on the taffrail-about ten minutes.
when, without warning, | felt myseli
lifted off my legs, and some sne behind
me endeavoriug to throw lne overheard.
j am by no means a light weight, gentle
men, as you can see-weighing, should
say, then sixteen stone but the person
evidently depended upon the sudden