Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-21
THE aDnSgiE.,S STORY.
q N steriOHs sea Yarn Told at Christ
mas.


longing TO squadron stationed on the west
coast OF Africa, cruising there for the suppress
sion OF the Infamous slave trade. This v
was a stanch, Old-faShioned deep-waisted sloop
of war Of nearly 500 tons burden, carrying
twenty guns, with a complement of more than
200 souls ia her ships company. She had been
built years previously, during the regime of the
navy commissioners. bat at this time, from the
many pairs that had been made upon her hull.
there was scarcely stick of the original timber
remaining. although her model had been sacredly
preserved.
"Thrpuyh an the changes Of the changing years"
There a report current in naval circles
relative 10 the modelling of this vessel and of her
sister siiips-fJr We had six OF these naval beau
ties I'm our seryice-that the said navy commits
siOners. when they had assembled together for
the purpose of examining plans and deciding
upon the model by which the vessels should be
constructed. had selected that one from which
they wrTe afteTward built, by first reducing
their 'Cnrth of keel, as on the original plan
from 100 to 100 feet. and this reduction i'm their
length was made by cutting those thirty feet
square OFF from the afterpart Of the model. As
the V had very full quarters. and anything
but Il Clean run. this current report was in all
probability correct.
Notwithstanding this reduction Of length. the
V was comfortable ''old tub" that could
run along from six to eight knots under favor
able conditions of wind and sea, while with
Quarterlng gale she could 90 ten.
Our captain was a tall. thn nervous old gen.
tlefnan. who had not seen much service aflOat,
and consequently was not a practical seaman
He had crave doubts as to the stability of any
ship of war when under canvas. and was par
ticuIariy fearful that this one which he COM
mauded wOuid. either be capsZed during some
squa'l or else wrecked by running upon rocks
or shoals. These dangers to navigation al
though not laid down upon our charts. never
theiess existed, in his Imagination, on every
mile of the broad Atlantic 1t was his standing
order that the officers of the deck should reduce
sail whenever. in their opinion it was necessary
to do so. reporting the facts afterward But no
one. not even the first lieutenant, could make
sail the captain. and the captain only could
order sail 10 be made. after it had once been
order. the officers were very chary in reducing
sail, and did so only when, in their opinion it
was absolutely Necessary.
In the wardroom we had six line officers and
four idlcrs "a messmates- The former were ''old
Sea dog. each one Of whom, from long exDe-
Renee. knew how to handle a ship under any
and every occurring circumstance and the lat
ter were Jolly fellows, who always kept the first
watch when at sea under the starbOard side of
the tonaallant fOrecastle. there smoking their
pipes ard spinning their yarns.
After = very warm day hot even for the Afri-
can coast. the sun had disappeared behind the
horizon, leaving breeze which seemed to US
smokers. who were forward enjoying our pipes
to be delicously cool; then, as
star after star appeared, there was
every promise of a lovely night. Eight
bells were struck. and the watch was called as
went aft to relieve the officer Of the deck
WfO. after passing me the orders, the sail set
and the courses to be steered started forward
for my vacated seat. there to have a
Whit from his pipe, ard to enjoy the lovely
night ere turning in ! walked around the
deck, examined the weatherhead braces the
trim of the yards. and the set of the sails After
sati>iyin" myself on each of these points l
looked ut the compass. and went upon the poop
To scan the horizon as to the present and future
prospects Of the weather Everything appear
Iag to to- fair, L settled myself into steady
walk. which was to continue. as l supposed
during the four hours was to be guardian of
the ship and her crew. The weather at this
tine was delightful, the stars were shining with
remarkable brilliancy: indeed. they were 80
very brilliant that each particular star appeared
to be tn star that OutshOne all the Others and
to be the one that singly and alone CAV all the
light illuminating the heavens.
Not cloud could be seen In any direction
there was nOught to mar the brightness of the
sky above and the waters beneath were scarcely
rufieti 10y the gentle breeze that silently moved
our ship over their surface. Under ROYALS aud
flying jib with the wind abeam our ship sailed
over this summer sea- almost as nOiSelesSly
and gracefully as an albatross Swimming the
oceans crest.
1t was the custom on board, owing to the ex-
ceisiye heat during the daytime, to grant the
smoking until o'clock. which is an hour later
than the time usually allowed on board ships of
war WHEN at sea. This hour having arrived. or
ders We're given to pipe down and for the watch
TO lie aft on the quarter deck. and stow them
selves an the weather side, between the guns
the To-, VAS hove and the lights reported out;
fiye knots was the speed of the ship. Every
thing ticn became quiet about the decks. and
there was at this time no appearance. in any
quarter. Of any change either In wind or wea-
Their The night was very beautiful and the
stars very bright that 1 could not refrain
from repeating to myself:
"If yon bright stars which gem the night
BE etch a bSsful dwelling place,
Where kindred spirits reunlte
AMI live to meet the loved OF this
Thus far only had spoke n, when q voice his
pere,i gently in my ear:
Yen mad better shorten SAIL"
Thi, words were spoken very distinctly. and
turned around expecting to see the speaker;
but | Was alone at the break of the poop and
there Was no one near me. As was certain
that ! iad heard the words. 1t was some time
before ] could satisfy myself that might have
been mistaken, for If was not, from whence
could the voice have proceeded? Resumng my
walk ard cogitatng over the matter the time
passed quickly, and four bells were reported
and struck, then gave the usual orders to
"RcieVe the loOkOuts! Heaye the log, Muster
he watch Report the 10 O'Clock lig hts outl''
The log again gave five knots as the speed
and there was still no change of wind or of
weather. After this / took a stroll around
the deck, felt Of the weather-head braces and
locke! at the yards; finding everything taut
and trim. / went upon the poop and stood
ut the siarboard quarter scanning the horizon.
and while in this position looking to windward
the same gentle voice again whispered in my
ear
''You had better shorten sail"
This time there was no mistake, and I looked
around. a. HAD upon the previous occasion.
expecting to see the speaker but there was no
enc In sight who could possibly have spoken;
Indeed. the only person on the poop besides
myself vas the lookout. stationed at the life
buoy OF the port quarter. and he was standing
facing 10 leeward. watching the phosphOr-
essence OF the sea, utterly ObviOus of every
thing save Of his own thoughts.
Heccitanly was not the mysterious speaker
Who was? am not easily startled nor am I
superstitiOus, but Is 1t to be wondered at that I
felt 10 say the least queeriy knowing mystic
rious beings were around who could make them
selves heard, yet could neither be- seen nor felt?
Ihen argued to myself, this whisperer is evil
IDENTITY friendly. as accidents do not result from
being under short sail. while many terrible ones
have resulted from carrying too much: reasoning
thus ali hough the stars were still as brilliantly
shining. the wind gently blOwino apa ~,