The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-12-16
A CURIOUS CASE.

In that quiet time of year when none
of the dangerous and treacherous little
storms so frequent in the Mediterranean
known TO sailors by the name of white
squalls-disturb the serenity of It's deep
blue waters; when by day the warm and
brilliant rays of the sun make the crest
of every little ripple glitter and sparkle,
till the surface of the sea resembles a
dewy meadow at sunrise; and when at
night the moon always rises closely and
brilliantly into q deep blue expanse OF
cloudless sky, studded with myriads OF
stars that shine with a softer and purer
radiance than they ever do when seen
through the foggy, misty atmosphere OF
our beloved England.
It was at such time and such night
as this, somewhere between Beyrout and
Malta, that the noble frigate Aster was
cleaving her way through the dark wa
ters-so quietly and smoothly that, but
for the phosphorescent line of light that
she left i'll her wake, and the ripples OF
brilliant foam which she scornfully
dashed, with a murmur as of protest at
their unwonted disturbance, from her
shapely bow, could an observer have
been near her he might have thought he
gaZed'on some beauteous vision of ship,
with all her bellying sails cleaning white
In the moonlight against dark back
ground of sky, instead of solid reality
OF oak and canvas, freighted with living
men.
Capt. Richard Montague had left his
orders for the night, and had turned in
no atol
had been mustered, and were stretched
about the decks, among the ropes and
between the guns, seeking such repose
as the hard planks afforded their weary
hmbs-lulled to sleep by the almost i'm
perceptible motion of the ship, and the
soft, cool breeze which was just suffi.
cient to fill the swelling sails. Lieut..
Jones, the officer of the watch, was
pacing up and down on the quarter
deck, keeping a watchful eye on the
sails and the helmsman, his hands buried
deep in the pockets of his loose, easy
fitting monkey-jacket, aud whistling
softly to himself Home, Sweet Home.
For myself, was listlessly swinging my
legs ON the capstan, in Il peaceful and
contented frame of mind, drinking in
the placid beauty of the star-spangled
sky, and letting my thoughts idly roam
away to my far-off English home, in
which direction they were probably car.
RED by the soft, low W.. sitting of the
Lieutenant.
A tinkling sound was suddenly heard
from below, and Mr.. Jones stopped in
his walk and his whistling to listen.
"The Captains bell, sir" said /,
jumping off the capstan.
And SO it was, as the sentry informed
us in due time, with the additional in.
formation that L, the Midshipman, was
wanted in his cabin. SO down | went.
wondering not little what he could
possibly want.
Now, Capt. Richard Montague. who
was in command of her Britannia Ma
Iesty's ship Aster, was not crotchety or
fidgety man; nor had he any of those
bullying propensities that, alas too
many of our otherwise inestimable Cap
tains VIGOROUSLY evince. He was kind,
courteous, gentlemanly man, firm, and
straightforward very different from the
old school of clustering, swearing, rough
and ready old sea dogs that every reader
of Marryatt's wonderful stories is in
clined to associate with the idea Of a
"navy Captain" He was one who
maintained strict discipline in his ship,
without the exercise of any undue sever
ity. On shore he was jovial and aifdble
to all, keen sportsman, and an enthusi-
astic promoter of athletic sports, shoot
ing matches, dramatic performances,
and games for the amusement of his
men-inciting both officers and men to
q wholesome rivalry in such diversions,
at all ot which he himself was an adept.
He was man habltually cool and cour-
ageous m time of trouble and danger,
and won honors and distinctions for per-
sonal gallantry from grateful country.
But when L went into his cabin on this
particular night, he was not himself.
Something appeared TO have shaken the
equilibrium of his habitually steady in
tellect, and I knew that il must be an
affair of great Importance, for his hand
shook as he beckoned me to come
closer, and he was looking pale and
agitated in the extreme.
He was In his dressing gown, sitting
by table on which light was burn
ing, and beside him was placed glass
of strong brandy and water.
He seemed about to communicate
something; but, after some hesitation
appeared to change his mind, and ash &c
abruptly il l went the rounds OF the
ship below regularly during my watch,
according to his orders.
L replied that did.
"That's right" he said, APPARENT 1
little relieved. And then, after pause
he asked me, with considerable oarnest
ness Of tone and manner, if / had dol
so in that watch.