The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-06-04

confess l felt dull sensation of
dread. That some calamity was pending
l felt sure. shivered, not with cold,
though, and looked steadily ut Dobson.
Then, affecting cheerful manner, re-
piled:
But there's no prospect of a storm
vet, and there's plenty of time for any
ship to get an offing if the skipper can
read the sky as well as you. At any rate
I'm quite safe here"
"Aye, aye, for that matter, safe
enough. But We see, Mister Emery
well, it's all right-come inside"
We went i'll again and descended the
spiral stairway in the solid basement to
the storeroom and thence to the kitchen.
Everything app ,ared clean and tidy. A
stovepipe passed through the ceiling,
doing duty for n chimney, rs the small
stove did for kitchen range, and knew
that We would not starve. But Dohson's
remark respecting the approaching tenn
pest had affected me in spite of my de-
termination to see the adventure through.
WAS anxious to have something to wean
me from the sombre retrospection had
been lately indulging, and so L shook off
the feeling of strangeness, and tried to
feel us if even ything was Just rs had in
my mind pictured (which everything
was not
We assembled through the bedroom.
There were three beds between the win
dows, n cuckoo clock, an almanac, the
stovcpipe tending upwards, some clothing
and two telescopes and some other nauti-
,.al nj "A ~
The bedroom Was plainly and rather
scantily furnished. Some books were on
the single table, and in cupboard were
some blue lights. 4 pair of pistols,
three cutlasses and bayonets were also
noticed 10y me, and wondered why fire
arms were kept there.
As / gazed around the room the
/ cuckoo" burst open the little wooden
door with tremendous energy and
"cuckoO'd' ten times, retreating again,
only just in time to escape blow from
the door.
4 sailor descended from the upper
hDJr. He was rather astonished to see
me, | think but III moment he touched
his cap, and profcssed himself glad to
see ga friend of his mates, who was
friend Of his. and welcome-so he said.
mister Enerys goin' to take berth
here tonight, Judkins," said Dobson.
You and me will arrange about a shake
down. It's my watch ut midnight, SO he
can turn in rs soon rs he likes"
II should prefer being up with You,
Dubson," said - want to see the
sea and how things look in the dead of
night. 1t must be very weird and very
grand here III storm?"
aye, aye, sir. You'll have storm
enough. Better sleep while You can and
let the sea take care of itself.
BAT | came TO sit up, and unless you
object"
"Mc, Mister Emery! Not bit of it.
Come aloft if yc like; I'll keep We conf
plny."
We went to the gallery again, and l
stool leaning over, gazing steadily, halt
dreamily, at the rising water. The sea
WAS evidently rising, and yet the long,
heavy, booming swell rolled i'll without
breaking till close upon the rocks. Then
the roar arose, the spray dashed up Ill
vain attempts to reach the cleaning
beacon, and fell back exhausted Oh the
whitened sea.
As continued took across the moon
lit waves a strong sensation of the I'M
reality of it all came upon me. | could
fancy it was all unreal. | knew and felt
that / WAS III the lighthouse, that all was
right. that | was i'll good health and
spirits, and yet all the surroundings
seemed as if l were in dream. l could
see Il shape i'll the water beneath, n dark
form, and 10! suddenly it was clad III
90 MI SharAn Assembling
gallery. / knew the face III the lantern
light. 1t was Agnes. Strange illusion
| called out; the form vanished; the
, spray splashed heavily down III the
water; and Dobson approached me quick
. ly and anxiously.
"Did you call Mr.. 'Enery?"
"Yes / did" replied. 1.-THE spray
, very nearly came up into the gallery. Ii
frightened me-"
THAT'S nothing" replied Dobson
"Youll have il over the lanterns afor'
tomorrow. Hold up your hand-d'yt
feel the salt on it q
} / put up my palm to the wind, anC
then touched my tongue with it. 1t wal
> quite salty to the taste.
e "You'Il excuse me, sir; but yOu's look
ing pale and worn out. Turn III, ant
g come up ut daybreak. That's the time
to see the sea, and sunrise, too"
v knew the well-intGntiUned sailor wa
- quite right / was overweight; IN.
, nerves were highly strung-l wante'
rest.
, "Will you call me early, or if anything
turns up?"
: 81 will, sir; you shall know. One o
r my mates is goin' ashore at dawn; II
z call you then for certain sure.
: So we babe each other good night, ant
/ descended to the sleeping room il
r semi darkness. In ten minutes l mus
- have been sound asleep; the noise of tn
Il waves dashing outside, and the rushing
:, of the wind, far from keeping me awake
were soothing to my troubled spirits.
o slept, nor did the restless cuckoo in tn
| clock, that whirred and chirped tn
l. hours through the stormy night, awak
:, me from my dreaming.