Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-02-26


trading between Liverpool and st. John,
N. b. On one of her voyages bound
westward, being thenFfive or six Weeks
sout and having neared the eastern por-
ton of the banks of Newfoundland, the
captsin and mate had been on deck at
noon. taking an observation Of the sun
after which they both descended to cal
~slofe their DAYS work. Tho cabin, q
small one. was Immediately at the stern
of the vessel. and the short stairway de-
scending to it ran athwartshiDs. Imme-
djatsly opposite to this stairway, inst De
yond small square landing, was the
mates state room; and from that lansi-
ing there were two doors. close to each
other, the one opening aft into the cabin
the other ftonting the stairway into the
state room
THE VISION.
The desk was in the forward part OF
the room. close to the door; so that any
one sitting at it looking over his shoulder
could see into the cabin. The mate alb
sorbed in his calculations, which did not
result "a he expected, varying considerably
from the dead reckoning. had not noticed
the captains motions. Having completed
mis- calculations. he called out, without
looking around, Il make our latitude
ard longitude SO and so. Can that be
right? How is yours?- AS there was
no reply, he repeated his question,
rlancing over his shoulder and seeing, as
BE thought. the captain busy writing on
his slate. Still no answer. Thereupon
he arose, and, as he fronted the cabin
door. the figure he had mistaken for the
captain raised its head and disclosed to
the astonished mate the features of an
entire stranger. Bruce was not coward !;
but, as he met that fixed gaze looking
upon him in grave silence,.andi became
assured it was no one be had ever seen, il
was too much for him he rushed up to
the deck in such evident alarm that it in
stantly attracted the captains attention.
"Why, Mr.. Bruce" said the latter.
.swhat in the world is the matter with
you ?"
1.-THE matter, sir? Who is that at your
desk?-
'No one, that know Of"
"a stranger Why, man. You must be
dreaming. You must have seen the
steward there or the second mate. Who
else would venture down without Or
ders?n
"But. sir, he was sitting in. your arm
chair, fronting the door, writing on your
slate. Then be looked mp full in my face;
and. if ever saw man plainly and dis
tinctly i'm this world, | saw him."
Him. Who?",
Sod knows, sir; don't. / saw a man.
and man | never in my life saw before"
lyon must be going crazy. Mr.. Bruce.
A stranger, and We nearly six weeks
outln
81 know. sir; but then saw him.
go down and see who it is"
Bruce hesitated. 81 never was a be-
lever in ghosts, he said, s-buS if the
truth must be told, sir, I'd rather not face
IL alone"
"Come. come, mar. Go down at once,
and don't make fool of yourself before
the crew."
sI hope you've always found me will
ing to do what's reasonable" Bruce re-
piled. changing color; but if 1t is all the
same to yoa.sir. I'd rather We should go
down together"
SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED.
The captain descended the stairs. and
the mate followed him. Nobody i'm the
cabin. They examined the state rooms.
Not-a soul TO be foundi
"Well, Mr.. Bruce" sail the captain,
did not tell YOU You had been dream
ing ??
didn't see that mn wiring on your
slate, may never SEEM home and fami-
IL again :"
-Ah, writing on the sIatel Then it
should be here stili,'' al.l the captain
took up the slate.
my God.r lie exclaimed. there's some
thing sure enough, Is that your writing,
Mr.. Bsuce?"
The mate took The. slate; and there, in
plain, legible characters, were the words,
..Steer to nor'west."
Have you been trifling with NE, sir?"
inquired the captain sternly.
s'On my word as a man, sir" replied
Bruce, II know no more of this matter
than you do. have told you the exact
truth. -
The captain sat down at his desk i'm
deep thought, the slate before him. At
last, turning the slate over and pushing
it toward Bruce, he said: ''Write down,
Steer to nor'west' :,
The mate complied; and the captain,
after narrowly comparing the handwrit-
ing. said: MIR. Bruce, go anil tell the sec
ond mate to come down here" He came.
and, at the captains request. he also
wrote the words. So did the steward.
So, in succession., did every man of the
crew who could write at all. But not
one resembled, in any degree, the mystic
ri0us writing. After the crew had re-
tired. the captain sat in deep thought.
s'Could any one have been slowed away?"
at length he said. 1.-The ship must be
searched; and if don't find the fellow,
he must be good hand at hide and seek.
Order up all hands, Every nook and
corner of the vessel, from stem to stern.
was thoroughly searched, and that with |
all the eagerness of excited curiosity
for it had gone out that a stranger had
shown himself on boar.l; but not liy-
ing soul beyond the crew and the offic-
ers was found.
Returning to the cabin. after their
fruitless search, "Mr. Bruce said the,
captain. sWhat the devil do you make of
all this 20
.s'Can't tell, SIR, I saw the man write :
you see the writing. There must be
something In it,
SWELL, it-weuld seem 80. We have the |
wind free, and have great mi id to
keep her away and see whit will come of |
it.
81 surely would, sir, if were in your
place LIS only afew hours lostat the
well, we'll see. Go on deck and give
the course n0r'west. And, Mr.. Bruce.
he added, as the mate arose to go, f'have
a lookout aloft, and let it be hand you
can depend on"
a DISCOVERY.
AT about 3 O'Clock he lookout reported
an iceberg nearly ahead. and shortly af-
terwaru What he thought was vessel I
close tolr As they approached, the cap
tams glass disclosed the fact that it was
a dismantled ship. apparently frozen to
the ice, and with many human beings ON
it. Shortly afterward they hove to. and