St. Landry democrat., 1878-02-23

IOul tFtit udJ ut WIS AaidSSe'i duu
prosecuted at every turn by an 'invis.
ible presence" which gave him no peace
Of his life Whether on deck or below
he found no escape from it, and espe-
cially when he began to abuse or swear
at any of the ships company the voice
of the hidden champion invariably took
their part, the insolent laugh rang in his
ear on every such occasion, seeming to
come from overhead.
But no such manifestations ever
troubled US in the forecastle, nor did the
unearthly voice ever address any one on
board except Captain Phelps. The more
superstitious part of the crew would
rather have borne his tyrannica! treat
ment than have lived in haunted ship,
while some of us welcomed friend in
this unaccountable spiritual presence,
or whatever it might be.
The captains angry passions were to
some degree checked by it, though now
and then they broke forth SO suddenly
that the object Of his fury received a
blow before it could interfere. We had
arrived within a few DAYS sail of the
English coast when, becoming exas-
perated by some blunder of Hastings, he
hurled Delaying pin at him, which
struck him on the head. The poor fel-
low suddenly c!apped both hands to the
spot and rushed into the forecastle. The
captain after throwing the missile, ap-
peared, as thoug ht, surprised at not
hearing anything, and I noticed him
glance nervously aloft. But still hear
ing nothing, he recovered his courage
and ordered Mr.. Raynor to "caII that
man on deck again.
The mate, getting no answer to his
call, went below and found Hastings de-
lirious- He reported that he believed
the man to be in critical condition,
and the captain directed him to do what
ever he thought best for his relief.
think Captain Phelps, like some other
hard cases that | have sailed with, did
not dare venture into the forecastle him
self for fear that he might never get out
again alive.
That night it became necessary to call
all hands out to reef again, and while we
were On the yards thrilling cry arose
from the bows, such as might we'll have
been raised by maniac. A human
form was seen by several of us erect on
the rail, near the fore-swifter, aud then
a loud. splash was heard in the water
under our bow
Mr.. Raynor and the captain, who were
on deck, rushed to the side; hat was
seen for moment bobbing up on the
crest OF the sea, and the same dreadful
yell of insanity was repeated, even more
shrilly than before. Captain Phelps
echoed the cry, but family, and fell in
sensible to the deck.
Mr., Raynor hailed us on the topzail>
yard with a voice like trumpet~blast
"Lay down from aloft! Clear away the
small boat!"
We thought the mate was quite as
mad as the poor suicide; and so be was
for the moment. BY the time they
reached the deck he was ready to coun'
termand the order. Everything was
hidden in darkness, the wind and sea
fast increasing; and it was hardly pos
sible, even then, for che clumsy little
boat to live The captain, still uncon'
scious, was carried below, with many :
muttered wish that he might never come
up again and bitter were the oaths O
vengeance, mingled with kind words and
tears, for onr departed messmate, tina,
went round among our little circle dur
ing that stormy, dismal night.
When the Hull pilot boarded us, forty
eight hours afterward, Capt. Phelps wa
at his post trying to look like himself
but still pale and trembling, The matt
had told us that he should have hin
arrested as soon as he arrived in port
But think he must have relented ant
connived at his escape, for he was mis-
sing before the ship was fairly secured
[ don't think he was ever brought t
justice, thoughI did not wait to see
was glad enough to shake the dust O
the Norway off my feet, and to forget
if possible, the history of the voyage.
But l often found myself, while ol
subsequent voyages, puzzlipg my brail
to account for the strange phenomena O
which, have spoken. Five years passes
away, and / was none the wiser in tha
respect, when I found myself in Liver
pool, where / had arrived from Soutl
American voyage and had been paid Of
with fifty pounds-a considerable sun
for me to have in my possession at on
time
Strolling along the streets at earl
evening, ready for anything in the wa
of amusement that might turn up, M
attention was caught by poster an
nouncing the performance of "Pro1
Holbrook, the unrivaled and world sre
nowned ventriloquist" I had neve
seen performance of that sort; bu
after reading the bill I resolved to &c.
was just in time when l reached the hal
of exhibition, and taking ticket