Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-10-05
THE MYSTERIOUS LEGACY.


hot Il mere claimant IF the title
hL" the Waterman of the lakes an,
| IL" coast -kirl"rs who newer got Gu
Il siSht uf Land, and WHO. if they go
there, could never get back-bui
genuine "Old salt" trained from boy
hCod under tarpaulin hat. and a
familiar with Tie paths of the sea.
~ shepherd is with those Of ih
~hccrMalk. Spending his life on ok
tcn~lvr voyages. le was seldom a
home long enough AZ u tine for tn,
salt pray tO dry un his swcathcrbeatei
cheeks: and there WAS LardI v a per
on the labitahle globe in which h,
could ret shake hands with an ol,
acquaintance. civilized or savage.
OF course his history was crowded
with curious accidents. Most of these
at winch my childish tears tinglet
and my eyes dilatod, have become sc
faded IN memory a. to be incapabl,
81 tulerahle narration. The follow
ing, however. made a more lasting
impressions:
During the calm between the Ol,
French war and the American Revo
luton. Il large ship was lying at ,
wharf IN the town Of New York
loaded with valuable cargo anC
ready to sail for Liverpool, anc
thence To whatever part Of the globe
the chances of commerce might die
tate.
Tins was my Srandfather's ship
onl! waiting for her papers and fan
wind. The papers We're soon ready
and shortly after them came a breeze
Presently everything on board was
in active motion--the casting off and
coilinS of ropes, the unfurling of can
vas and the running up of saior boys
along the ratlines like spiders on
their webs: while the sharp, impera
tive orders of the mate and the hearty
"ye-hoy ye.' of the cheerful crew
echoed over the ripping waters of the
harbor, which looked in the rays Of
the setting sun as if it was covered
with cream of liquid gold.
just before the last plank was
hauledin stranger stepped hurriedly
on board and inquired FOR the cap
tain's stateroom. Being conducted
hither he entered. and. with a slight
bow, accosted the captain, who sat
writing at his desk:
"You are for Liverpool, l believe,
SIR"
"Yes. sir"
Il am in poor health, and, intend
ing to spend the winter in Italy, wish
to get passage in the first ship that
sails for Europe. Will you take a
passenger"
Yes. sir, if my accommodations
will suit you?'
NO matter about accommodations
captain. l am an old sailor and know
how TO accommodate myself. Besides,
the trim of your ship suits my eye.
The illnsion to his i'll health at
tracted my grandfather's scrutiny,
and the introduction Of himself as an
old sailor touched his heart. On
noticing him more particularly, he
was struck with an undetinable feel
ing of curiosity and sympathy at his
appearance. Tall. straight and rather
slender, he was dressed in fine black
broadcloth. with a sort Of Spanish
cloak Of the same color and quality
A two edged sword, common on ship
board at that time, and improperly
called cutlass, was partly covered
by his cloak and hung by his side
without sheath. His hair was quite
gray, and his manly features would
have been handsome had they not
been SO emaciated as to give unpleas
ant prominence to half dozen deer
scars on his face. His eyes were
blue and full Of expression, bnt rest
less mt times. showing sudden alb
straciion. The loos eness of one OF
his black gloves gave evidence that
he had lost a finger or two from his
left hand. These observations were
made by tho captain while the
stranger was looking at a beautiful
scxtant on the table. Turning. as il
startled at his forgetfulness, he re.
sumed:
Name the price, captain, and ]
will pay it now"
Ny grandfather had already fixeo
the price in his mind, and replied:
You are sailor, sir, and sick
The accommodations of my ship. az
well as my services, are at your free
command"
The language of a sailors heart
cannot be misunderstood, and knows
no Interpreter; ;and the stranger knew
| that remonstrance would be ungener
ous on his part. He made no reply
but eagarIy extended his hand, ant
my grandfather. as he shook it
Thought he saw a tear in the stranger
eye. But noble hearts are inpatien
of exhibitions Of gratitude. and h,
quickly added:
Il am ready to sail. sir Is you
baggage Oh boarlY
This Is all my baggage. SIR" h'
replied, showing him a small blacl
satchel under his cloak.
Leading him to n statcroom th'
captain left hln and went on deck
and found the ship already undal
way. the sails filled with stiff breeze
AMI wharves. warehouses and spec
tatorr las; growing small in the dis
tancc. At length. the darkness shn
~ Tia" view. tie wind increased to ;
gale. anl from gale to a tempest
aud for ten days and nights the nobl
ship. which had plowcd the seas o
every latitude. from Spitzbergen t
New Zealand. underwent such a con
ilici with the elements as she ha,
never before encountered. Durin;
ell tins time the stranger had beel
confined below with an apparent,
RAPID consumption, which rou2
weather had swiftly matured.
During the storm the duties of tn
captain were So urgent that he conl'
only make snatched and hasty visit
10 the sick man: and although the,
could have been spared from thei