Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-09-03
A YOUN6 SAILORS STORY,

age WIS W lIllU, SduuWlCu ISl9uuS ana
back to Puget sound, whence we sailed.
The captain, officers and crew were,
when l joined, Americans and West
India men; but, as another hand was
wanted besides myself, pursuaded Jack
Chester, an Englishman with whom
had become friendly, to fill up the
vacancy. Jack was fne-looking fellow,
a jovial companion, and had lots of in
formation, which he knew how to use !;
but although he dressed and talked like
q sailor. ne had not been long on board
ship before it became plain that he had
not been brought up salt.
Our captain was Tartar, and 10 mis-
take; and as he had the eye of hawk,
no fault committed by man or boy es-
capped him. This was especially unfor-
tunate for my English shipmate. He
had shipped on able seaman's wages,
but his deficiencies were so many and
elaring that our captain, who seemed to
watch his movements more carefully
than those of the rest of the crew, often
inflicted upon him punishments painful
to witness. [ had a strong attachment
to Chester, and stood his friend when
ever ! could, by taking some of his
duties along with my own; but was
not always on hand to help him, so he
fell oftener than others beneath the cap
tain's displeasure.
One night, when I was at the wheel,
the wind rose into gale. The captain
came on deck and set all hands to reef
the top-sails. The men were manning
the halyards to hoist away, when poor
Chester, instead of letting 60 the reef
tackle, let 60 the weather fore-top-
sail brace, and away went the yard
fore and aft, By lufing up smartly,
however, we managed to get checked
without carrying anything away. But
Captain Phillips, frothing at the mouth,
swore he would tan the foolish lubber's
hide who had done so clumsy thing.
Saying which, he rushed at Chester with
a piece of ratline, which he brought
down upon his neck ard shoulders, Civ
ing them fearful cut. He was in the
act of raising it again, when voice from
aloft roared out, "Hold your hand!"
The voice was wonderfully loud and
clear, seemingly coming from the main
top. The captain fell back, and, looking
up, cried in great rage, "Aloft there!"
"Halloa" was the answer back.
"Come down on deck" was the cap
tain's imperious order.
"Come up here and see how you will
like it," was the contemptuous response
"Come down, say, on deck" foamed
the captain.
"Come up and fetch me-" returned
the voice from aloft.
"Who is up there, Mr.. Rassom?"
cried the captain, appealing to the first
officer.
"No one, sir" was the reply, $50 far
as can see. All seem present on deck, T"
The captains rage was now terrible to
witness. Cali seem present, Mr.. Ras-
som? What do you mean by that, sir?
/ ask you again, who is up there?"
"No one known to me-" returned the
man. All are present. All are on deck,
in sight"
Such was the case. But the second
mate, without awaiting orders, sprang up
the rigging and looked over the top-rim,
then made the circuit of it, looking all
around the masthead, and then reported
himself alone.
"Then the ship must be haunted!"
cried the chief mate.
The captain hereupon dropped the
ropes end which ne had held in his
hand, and went below. 1t was evident
that he was strangely affected by what
had occurred. And so my fellow coun-
tryman escaped further punishment that
night.
But, in few days, our skipper had
forgotten his fears, and, looking out for
another object upon which he could vent
his spleen, had the ill-fortune to feel his
wrath. He ordered me to make a knot
in the end of an old tagged rope to be
used for lashing. In little while
returned, saying that I had made the
best job l could of a rope which was
auite tagged out.
"Well," said he, if that's your best,
you are as much of luhber as your
friend Chester. But I'll dock you both
to ordinary seameu's wages
I tried to show him that the rope was
too much worn to make a neat piece of
work of it.
Indeed" I said, cit is sadly agged."
Gagged, is it?" cried he scornfully
- then Pll finish it over your lubberly
back"
"No, you WON'T" roared out voice
from behind the long boat. The captain
rushed in the direction of the sound, but
he failed to discover the speaker.
Who was that?" he cried, adding,
Let me know who it is, and Pll thrash
him within an inch of his life"
" Will you? hah! hah! hahp was
the hooking reply, dropping seemin ely
from the maintop.
1t was broad daylight when this took
place, SO every one could see that there
was no one up there. [ was as much
startled and mystifed by the occurrence
as was the captain; but neither he nor
I, nor any of the crew to whom he ap.
pesled, could throw light thereon. But
whoever or whatever uttered the words,
any purpose was served, as was Chester's s,
on q previous occasion. The irate cap
tain went below filed more with fear
than rage, throwing behind him, as he
stepped up the cabin ladder, the ropes
end which had so vexed him.
Sailors in general are superstitious
neinos Whctever cannot he easily m AIDE