The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-03-27

biing above tho horizon md catching
the farewell ray Of the setting inminary,
whose light went slipping Level II il
from the brow OF ono swell to apatncr
until it was like drop o. btool il
color, and hung like the red lamp Of n
distant lighthouse, though tho ashen
eastern shadow closed down upon it
swiftly, and melted It into thin, gray
air. while the loftiest Of our own clip
pers sails were still on fire with the
rich hectic of the west, and the ropes,
like gold wire, and the creased top
gallant and royal masts, and whatever
else showed polished surface mp
aloft, twinkling with ruby stars. Dark
ness swiftly follows the descent OF the
sun in these parallels; there was no
twilight, and the night lay in dusky,
spangled fold in the east ere the sun
had fairly trailed the skirts OF his
golden robe OFF the low-down western
sky. The moon would not rise for an
other two hours; but the darkness and
the coolness were wonderfully sweet
after the long spell Of roasting day
light. The dew fell till the stars made
pearly flakes Of it sron the rails and
skylights; and the gentle breeze still
blew, though with an ever-waning
breath. The ripples now ran in lines
Of fire from the ships bow, and strange
green shadows, like the vapor rising
from melted tin, frightened and
dimmed in cloudy puffs in the slants Of
the inky swells, and you saw tendrils
and stalks and leaves OF phosphoric
radiance eddying in the holes of the
ships wake, and glimmering along the
lines which marked the breadth Of the
ebony path she was sailing along. Then,
III armies, the stars overran the velvet
black heavens, with planets shining in
blues and green's, and dropping points
Of quicksilver into tho dark waters,
while above them the glittering dust
of countless worlds lay thick as sand,
and often q narrow space OF the vast
dome would flash out in radiance to
the bursting Of q meteor, whose mo-
mentary bright shining would seem to
find on echo, so to speak, in . dim
violet glare Of lightning down in the
southeast.
Two bells-9 oclock-were struck;
one heard the ringing chimes hollowly
thrown downward out Of the sails. A
dead calm had fallen. the ship lay in .
deep slumber upon the gently breath
ing bosom of the ocean, and nothing
seemed awake but the throbbing stars.
Not above four miles had been measured
since the darkness came down, and now
that the night was breathlcss, with q
threat OF cat's-paw-on no account to
be neglected-on either bow and all
around, the captain gave instructions
for the sternsails to be taken in and
slowed away out OF the road OF such
boxhauling of tho yards as might be
necessary. This made the ship lively
for awhile with the running about and
the racing aloft OF naked-footed mari
ners; but presently all was silence
again, the captain below taking glass
of grog, tho second mate pacing tho
deck aft, the watch coiled up anywhere
for q snooze, a single figure erect on
the forecastle, and tho sen like mirror
full of starlight, yet SO dark that it
was like looking through haze ut the
luminaries over the water-line. Three
bells were struck, and scarcely had the
last vibration died when the second
mate hailed the forccastlc: Forward
there! is there anybody singing be-
low?" Nobody singing here, sir, =
came back the answer promptly. "Non-
sense, man! There's some one singing
somewhere below forward, / tell yon.
Put your head INTO the scuttlc and lis
ten." There was pause, and presently
back came the reply: "All's still in tho
forecastle, sir. There's no singing in
this part of the ship" The second
mate walked up to the fellow at tho
wheel: did you hear mans voice
singing just now, before the hell was
struck?' "Yes, SIR Didn't the
sound come from forward?' 1T seemed
like it," answered the helmsman.
Hush! there it is again." cried the
second mate, raising his hand and
stretching his head forward, with his ear
bent toward the forecastle. The sound
was dist net enough--it was that Of n
husky voice singing-but ut a distance
that made the notes as thin and vibratory
as the twanging of jew's-harp heard
from afar. 1t ceased, and was followed
by faint, uuearthly laugh, that died
out Mt the moment, when q sudden shiv-
cring flap of the canvas up in tho dark
| ness seemed like shudder passing
through the ship. There's some ono
singing and laughing away out ahead
here, sir!" shouted the man on the
| forecastle, in voice that made one
suspect he felt his loneliness at that
moment. What the dickens can it be,
| and where does it come from?" ex-
claimed the second mate, stepping to
the rail and looking over. He pecred
and peered, but the night lay dark upon
the water. spite Of the starlight. and no
deeper shadow stood anywhere upon
the gloomy surface to indicate the
presence of vessel in the neighbor-
hood. Forward there." he shouted
do you see anything?" Nothing,
sir" The watch on deck, aroused by
this hailing, and gathering its import,
clambered OF the bulwarks to look
around, and the captain, hearing the
| second mates voice, came mp from the
cabin. whats the matter?" he asked.
There's been sound Of singing and
kind Of laughing fcllowing-coming
/ from somewhere ahead, SIR responded
the second mate. The captain went to
the side and took long look. pooh
pooh!" he exclaimed. ut must have
been your fancy, sir. Singing and
laughing? Why, We're any vessel neAr
enough for us to hear such noise, we
should be bound to see her." He was
walking over to the compass. "There,
sir, you have it now!" cried the second
mate. Once again the same thin, vail
ing, singing, borrowing supernatural
character from the darkness, came
faint but clear to the ship, followed as
before, 10y the same reedy, croaking
laugh. by heaven, Mr.. Burton, its
no fancy!" exclaimed the captain,
wheeling swiftly around. "But It is a
human voice, think you? II SO, where
in mercy's name can it come from? ]
say, my lads" calling to the men star.