The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-10-07
THE PROPHECY.
A Sailor Yarn.

The Black Eagle had been taken up
by the company rs transport To con-
vey troops to Calcutta. We had nearly
two hundred rank and file on board;
the major. who commanded the party,
three lieulenants. and a doctor. We
are now about leaving Cork HarbOr;
the chain comes in merrily to the songs
of the seamen.
"The anchor is right up and DOWN.
shouts the boatswain.
..Heavc and haul' says the mate.
"l.oose sailsr' "All readyw is shout
cd from the respective yards. LET
fall-sheet home to the tOpsails-Over-
haul that starbOard clewline-let go
that starboard buntline-that will do.
The sheets belay-man the halliards."
The halliards are manned. and tho
three topsails mast-headed ut the same
time. In few minutes the ship is one
crowd of sails from her decks to her
trucks; the starbOard main-braces are
hauled in, and the larbOard:: fore braces,
to cast the ship the right way. Tho
jibs are loosed ready for hosting. tho
windlass is again manned, again the
chain comes in, but now it comes moro
slowly-thcy are breaking the anchor
out of the ground. Il is away; tho
ships head falls off heavily from the
light breeze. the jibs are run up. tho
after-sails fill, the fOre-yard is hauled
round. the anchor Gated and fished,
the good ship Black Eagle gathers way
through the water, and is now standing
calamity out of Cork Harbor.
We were scarce clear of the harbor's
mouth. certainly not three miles from
it, when fearful change came DER tho
heroes composing the gallant severn
tie,h. The night before, while ut
anchor, they had sung many songs.
nautical; among others. one whose ev-
cry verse terminated with
''Hurrah for II life Of war and strife, and a ri.
For we nre the pirate kings, tho demons Of tho
sa.
All the rcd-jackcts had given chorus
to this song. Scarce twenty-four hours
had passed since these words were flow
lug from their lips. yet how changed
were their feelings. Now they utterly
abhorred the life they had been signing
for; repentance had come suddenly,
like u thief in the night. and the edo
mons of the sea" mi ght have been seen
in every part of the deck. in every
possible attitute expressive Of sea-sick-
ness.
will now pass over few weeks,
and bring the Black Eagle close to the
line. During this time she has had her
share of fair and foul winds; the ''pi-
rates" have quite recovered from their
sca-sickness. and seem again TO have
acquired taste for that rowing life, for
nightly do they sing the same bold
song, with the same stentOrian chorus.
The weather each day becomes warmer
and the trade winds lighter.
Among the men belonging to the
SEVENTEEN was a young man named
Palmer; he was tall and well-made,
and, report said, not slight favorite
among the fair sex. He had been mar
ried a week before sailing, and had
tried all he could TO desert, but he had
no luck; he was caught. and brought
on board the Black Eagle with the rest.
From the time of his arrival he spoke
to no one, and from his wild way and
flushed cheeks YOU would almost haso
fancied he had been drinking. OF an
evening, dancing. boxing, single-stick
went on among the soldiers. sailors,
and officers; yet he who used 10 be the
first in all these exercises now took no
part in them. Each day no grew thin
ner; but the doctor of the regi ment.
whose ideas were never extended be-
yond the necessary duties of eating.
drinking, and sleeping. said there could
be nothing the matter with him, or he
would complain.
At last the heat became SO Oppres-
sive between decks that the sick were
brought on the sparleck to enjoy the
/ air during tho cool part OF the day.
One morning the corporal reported to
| the doctor that Palmer could not rise
| from his hammock. Tho doctor went
down to him, and found him in high
state of fever; he was deliriOus, and
knew no one; he talked alternately of
home, his wife, and his brothers. He
was carried on deck. that he might en-
| Joy tho fresh breeze and cool air; at
least SO the doctor said; but such q
thing was impossible, so near tho line.
and under nearly vertical sun. The
sick man laid in his hammock beneath
tho spars away from all his former
friends, and there was no one by to
moisten his black and parched lips. with
drop of water, for even his own mess
mates seemed to shun him.
Invent to him and said, palmer, can
get you anything?" but at that mo-
ment he was deiriOus. and made no
answer, but rambled on in his own wild
| manner about home. Poor fellow! no
was dying, and dying fast. Some of
| the soldiers were playing cards under
| or near his hammock, some throwing
dice, and others playing ut pitcl-farth.
ing.
Toward evening he seemed to get
better, and the doctor held out hopes
| of his recovery; but the ships surgeon
shook his head, and declaring 1t impos-
sible. However, he passed q better
night, and toward morning became
sensible.
Daylight broke-it was dead calm,
and the ocean lay like sheet OF mol
ten lead. In vain the eye was stretched
across the wide expansc OF water In
hopes of detecting q breeze; the SOL
diers, who suffered from heat more
than the sailors, were strewn about the
deck, gasping for breath; the children
were begging for water, and the women
were heaping abuse on their husbands
for having brought them to sea.
turned away from the sight OF their
distress, and as / did SO heard the
following conversation between two
soldiers who were standing next to
poor Palmcr's hammock.
"By the powers. and Palmer has
had . narrow escaper' said one OF
them.
"lndccd, Dcrmot, and you may say
that" responded the other.
"rll bet you that he is well In
week." said the first speaker.
"And would bet you. were it not q