The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-06-19


His superstitious fears we're excited,
and he shifted uneasily OH his seat.
Suddenly, the ship, having been
brought nearer to the wind, under the
temporary foresail and mainsail, which
had been put up, began to pitch heavier
than before.
Once, down went her head almost In
trough Of the sea.
Then the lookout man uttered a
horrible cry; for, right before him,
protruding over the bulwarks, he be-
held for an instant, white face with
disheveled hair, and fixed, staring eyes,
the tongue protruding.
1t was the face, or, at least, q SEM
blance of the face of the lost officer
Henry Brandonl
"My Godl" gasped the lookout.
The face, however, now disappeared,
but not before a strange, cultural, un-
earthly cry had escaped his lips.
TO spring from his post and rush aft,
was the work of moment with the
lookout.
81 have seen it'll" he gasped, hoarsely,
as all the men stared wonderingly.
''Seen what, Tom?" cried one.
"Brandon's spirt-aye, aye-the
face of the lost-the drowned manl'
.gasped Tom.
"Nonsenser'
"But all exchanged glances, and
there was Il perceptible struggling of
shoulders as Tom described where and
how he had seen it.
All eyes were turned towards the
bow, but the VISION was no longer
there.
"You are shal1y fellow" said the
first mate. ':Your imagination'
''I swear 1t was not I'M My Godl
there it is againl'' he added, pointing
forward.
A wild cry Of horror burst from the
men, as a face was, indeed, now seen
for all instant protruded above the
bulwarks, forward
AS it again disappeared, the wind,
with a strange, hollow moan swept
through the ship, and a dark cloud
passed over the moon.
The mate called the captain who was
below trying to soothe his child.
He might have doubted the story
told him, but that all were ready to
swear they had seen the vision.
The skipper, Struggling his shoulders,
and like the rest, not little imbuded
with superstitious feeling, walked
slowly forward.
He was more cautiously followed by
the others. =
But ere he could reach the bow, the
ship made another violent lurch, and
up again came that terrible face, pro-
truding over the bulwarks, every linea /.
ment with CHASTITY distinctiveness,
lighted by the moon.
Brandon, sure enoughl' gasped the
captain, staggering back, while low
cry of horror broke from the other
mon.
The vision disappeared again, and the
men stood still, exchanging glances.
The steward, Portuguese, ran into
the cabin, fell on his knees, and cross
ing himself, began to pray.
Martha heard enough to send her
running wildly Oil deck.
"Where is it?" she screamed. "Alivo
OF dead, I cannot fear Henryp'
Even as she spoke, the face again
rose over the bulwarks. She was near
enough to see it, and with wild cry
she staggered towards it, her arms
Outstretched.
But ere she could clasp it, it disap-
peared as before, and with a moan Of
anguish, the girl staggered forward
against the bulwarks.
Instinctively she then peeped over
them into the sea, when cry of strange
JOY escaped her.
'Savedl saved!" she cried, pointing
downward. 'Quicl1, fatherl Oh, quickl
Come herel''
He did 80, and the mystery was ex-
planned.
There was Brandon, hanging to the
broken spar, one Of the ropes Of which,
when he went overheard, had caught
in hook which was driven into this
part of the ship, near the water line.
This had held the spar through the
gale, and, there, during all that time,
Brandon had remained. Subsequently
the occasional heavy pitching of the
ship, causing the head to 90 far down,
had brought the poor fellows face in
sight above the bulwarks, as shown.
He was soon hauled aboard, when it
was discovered that he was very weak,
and that he could not speak. lie had
been severely bruised by knocking
against the ship, and could not use his
hands, which had also been hurt. In
this condition he had only been able to
hold to the spar by clasping it with both
arms. His tongue, badly cut in his
fall, protruded, preventing speech; he
could only utter now and then hoarse,
cultural moan.
The captain also noticed that only
half Of the spar remained. 1t had
broken in two when it fell against the
bulwarks, and it was the other half
drifting away which the skipper had
seen protruding from the sea astern,
and had mistaken for Brandon's up
lifted arm.
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