Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-01-02
l saw that my old friend was deeply

moved by The memories recalled by this
part OF bis story, and partly as a relief
to him and partly to CRAFTY my curiosity.
| asked him if any of the articles which
adorned the room were mementoes OF
these voyages.
Every one of them has a story"
he replied. II myself caught that al
batross in tho Straits OF Magellan with
dolphin-line trolling astern. should
have let him 60 again, but he beat him.
self to death before we could get out the
hook, and amused myself by preparing
and mounting the skin. That paper
knife has sad history. | had it made
in London. The blade is cut from a
walrus's tooth given to me by o whaling
captain at Hawaii, and | bought the
coral which forms the handle from q
diver whom | saw bring it up on the
Corsican coast lie made wager with
one Of my crew that he could bring up
another piece of equal value by diving
from the ship, went over. and was
seized by shark as he reached the sur
face. heard the cry OF horror from the
men. and rushed to the ships side just
in lime 10 see the water crimson with
his blood"
"Iu the spring of 1882 ! accepted
very advantageous offer for charter, and
with several passengers sailed for Cape
Town on what proved TO be my last
voyage excepting the return trip as q
shipmaster. We had rough weather
most of the way out. and long passage,
but nothing occurred which would inter-
est sou now. The season was disas.
ferrous one 10 shipping on that route, and
before leaving the Cape / had the vessel
thoroughly overhauled. and was iortu-
nate enough 10 secure three or four
good seamen to make up full crew.
NV frs. officer was an old salt, q strict
disciplinariau, but kind 10 the men and
fayori.e with them all. Like most Of
his class, he was given to profanity in
private conversation; but he never
swore at the men. and always encour-
aged them at their work with CHEEKY
words. The weather was lovely when
we sailed for home and continued so nm
Ill we were tour days out The ordinary
routine OF masters duty was simple
enough, and had plenty OF leisure for
watching the beautiful Cape pigeons
which followed the ships wake. my iay-
oriie amusement when tired Of reading.
We were a little out OF the common
track Of vessels in those seas and sighted
very few sail, none OF which passed
within hail. On the morning of The fifth
day out INDUCED myself little, having
been up quite late the night before stud
ying the charts, and it being the first
mates watch. man in whom | had
great confidence. When turned ont
| found the ship becalmed. We were
not yet in the calm lalitudes. .and did not
altogether ike the looks OF the weather.
The sea was as smooth as an immense
expanse of blue steel; there was long,
low swell, like the memory OF yesterdays
breeze, but not ripple could be detected
by the glass in any quarter; the sky had
An almost coppery glow, and the sun
blazed down with force which made
all the seams OF the deck-planks sticky
with melting pitch. Still the barometer
was rising, and there was nothing to in
dicate danger. Although competent to
perform skillfully all the duties OF my
profession, had not, as you know, that
long experience which alone can give
seaman thorough knowledge OF all his
perils even before they are apparent.
felt no apprehe nsions. therefore and
when l saw how Mr.. Kelson was over
hauling every rope and sail and spar, and
making everything snug below and aloft'
| only congratulated myself on having
an officer who kept the mon too busy 10
get into mischief. and lost no opportuni-
ty for putting and keeping everything
in order"
now knew that Uncle Joseph was
"iairly wound of" on bis yarn, for nev-
er before had heard him use 80 many
sea- phrases. All OF them did not fully
understand; bat he was evidently think
ing very little of me, aud did not stop to
explain.
1t was about four bells when the look
out in the cross-trees sung out, Sail ho!"
Where away ?" / asked.
Broad on the port-beam," was the
answer.
81 made out the vessel with my glass
very easily from the deck. but paid no
more attention to the matter until |
came up from breakfast an hour later.
Not ripple was stirring nor ghost OF
a breath of wind. but the two ships were
several miles nearer, and evidently ap.
preaching. though their relative position
was somewhat different. She was slow
ly drifting on one current, and we as
slowly on another diagonally across her
track Tho stranger was large Clyde
built ship. and carried far more canvas
than was necessary in calm, but |
thought she might be drying her sails, |
was waiting fol her to get within hail,
but her captain anticipated me and
Il .;iat frat