Oxford Democrat., 1878-09-03

aCnn al sailnrs swim ~

fresh quid and prepared for a short yarn
He admitted ne could not swim stroke
himself, though he had followed tho sea
for thirty years, and knew very Few
sailors that could.
'But Lor' bless yer" he said, ats al
way sthem as can't swim what gets saved
and the good swimmers arethe ones that gets
drowned, so what's the use in learning
Tell me about the sailor Of your ship
that swan across the Atlantic
The old salt laughed. We'll, that
were lark, he said, land as the poor
chap is dead and gone this many year,
don't mind spinning the yarn. You
see Jack Carter and | shipped on wye
to Liverpool on the old bark Hyannis.
Jack ne never were over fond Of work,
though when 1t came on for to blow he
would DO his duty like man We were
three days out, going of slick as you
please on IN easy bowline, with ali her
muslin on, when toward sunset there
came up a squsll from the eastward.
Royals and topgallant sails were took in
in a hurry, and as it continued to breeze,
topsais we're reefed Eight bells had
struck, and my watch was below, and at-
ter overhauling my Gunnagc for some
thing dry l says 10 Bill Jones, says l,
Where's Jack CarterF i amt seen
him, Bill says, since he went out on the
topsaii yard with me The matter was
reported to the Captain, and the ship was
hove TO, but It warnt no good, Cor we was
miles from the spot the squall struck rs
So it was put down that poor Jack Car
ter had lost the number Of Ms mess.
Blessed if there amt some curious
noises about this ere craft the second
mate said 70 the Captain a few nights
after poor Jack disappeared. It's rats
said the Captain. Rats don't sing
"Huut the Buffalo" which were iay-
orite song OF Cartersl. said the second
mate Now, the shin we're not gong over
with a heavy cargo, and a good portion
we're American knick-SnsokS 10 the way
Of eatables and American wines as they
was atrying 70 introduce. The Captain
had two friends aboard Who was interest
ed in the cargo. There was . light bulk
head which shifted from the forward part
of the Captains cabin 50 a, the main
cargo deck could be got at They vas
livin ike Grhtin' cocks al. the Way over,
ana the way the camPagne suffered were
= caution. One warm night | we're a
spinn,n' a yarn on the torechains with
Bill Jones. when heard a voice the im-
age of Jack Carter's a singing ehoruseS
as il he were awful lush, which he were
ouce in q while. ike all on Us How
them cabin chaps are goIn' IL, said Bill
Jones. The mate be says nothing, bat
looks very queer aud reports 10 uojsc
forward The Captain came forward
with his chumS, and says ne, There's
some one drunk In the iolkscl 'as Rolling
Home in the Morning Boys" was trollei
out. lie made R dive below with
haDdspikc, but not q thing could he see
But We had made up our minds ihst the
ship was haunted, and laid our plans 70
leave her the minute she reached Liver
pool docks Every night now until We
sighted the Needles the internal racket
continued, and grew worse and worse, 50
that even the Captain, who was a bold
man, was disturbed, and as Tor his guests,
they lost their appetite
Its curious how all these stores are
goirS, with no one eatin' Of EN- said the
Captain one day, and evidently suspic-
ioned the crew. where he was wrong, as
none Of them had a show 70 get below ex-
cept through the Captains cabin
I'VE was all mighty glad TO take
pilot and in Liverpool docks the noise
ceased suddenly n it begun. One night
BIZ Jones and | was takin a little stuff
ashore for the Captain, aud little Tor
ourselves, being a few pounds OF tO5ack-
er for friend TO save duties. We
stepped into 3 tavern to take drop
and a tidy place il were too. Blessed If
there warn't Jack Carter's ghost, a talk
ing 10 the lsndiady rs lively as a cricket.
We WAS that cut up tor 4 moment that
We was about 70 cut and run, bein' ht-
lie conscience-strickeu on the tobacker
smugglin' business 'Back. yer mAintop-
SAL. aud take . nip, said the ghost,
cheerily; and sure enough it turned out
70 be Jack Carter after ali How on
earth did yer ever come hereg We asked.
'SwUm, said ne, and he stuck to il The
story soon spread and Jack for days was
the hero OF Liverpool Leastwise, ne
Wa until cargo had been commenced 20
discharge, aud then the whole thing
came out. Il seems as how he never
tUmbled overheard az a. IN the social,
but quietly slid down the halysrds to the
deck, and knowing OF the passage through
the bulkheai, slowed himself for pleas
ant passage over. Such e sight you never
saw when the steved0res came 10 break
cargo where Jack had slowed himself.
Empty vine and beer bottles aud empty
cans. ham bones and sich layin around
no end. The Captain swore vengeance,
but the Joke was TOO good on hin, and ne
forgave JACK who made me return pas
sage. sing ler 70 relate,he fell overheard
IN ;he return TIP in a heavy westerly
gale He couldn't swim a stroke, and. Of
course was drownded bu; 10 this day
the Captain don't believe but what he
stowod himself away again and most OF
tht crew thinks il we're never Jack Car
ter We saw in Liverpool at ali, but Cnly
Oh -.L d