The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-09-15
w.. tbunderstruck The croan ofthe corps

was thunderstruck The groan ofthe corps
was scarce out of my ear before the body wa
rore. and vet YOU couldn't think of us ashaw
no, drowned him either, for nothing could
have seemed deader than did this old Jacs
Nhan took nv last view of him. However
no purpose could be served by making afusS
h was one of those breaches of dis
.ipline that defy your cool reason thongn
you may handle them as you will IN q pas
sion. Besides, a moment or twos rehectlon
coupled with look round. satisfied me tha'
the men would be easier in their minds for be
ing quit of the body, and So telling the mate
to send the hands forward, went 70 my
rahin: but more mystifed, under hive 81
of mind, in short, than !
would suit me to admit to everybody. IL
was idle 10 talk of tricks. | might have rec
onciled myself to some notion of that klnd
had made one or two or three spectators
but there had been forty or fifty of us al
Jumped together, and the reality of the thing
came out in the sincerity OF the fright, for the
morning panic was much greater than have
put it. whilst the terror in the afternoon
might have shown as wild had the fellows Mt
tho grating let fall the body again amongst
tine men,
well, at 10 O'Clock that night left the
deck to lie down. All was quiet, The iniu
enee ofthat days work was expressed in the
manner ofthe men. who had moved and talked
very soberly, with subdued gestures and
tones and in dog-watches l had noticed
them hanging together in knots, converslng
like people fresh from an execution. | was
aroused from my sleep by the second mate,
who had charge of the deck. There the
whole watch below, sir, come aft to complain
that they can't get any rest. What's the
matter, said |, starting up. Why, they say
they can hear old Jack $ voice calling to then,
down in the forepeak.' old Jacks voice"
| cried, and with that | followed him on deck,
where, sure enough, found all hands massed
together on the quarterback. What's the
matter, mem | called out, leaning over the
rail at the break of the poop to speak to
Them The carpenter spoke up There's old
Jack hailing us in the forepeak. sir. Nom
sense man. 'Smite me, sir, If it ain t thd
blooming truth; not only hating, but cuss.
ing of us for having drowned him.. But you
must know that that can't be- said |; he's
leagues astern and fathoms deep n
voice answered; He's cussin' us all the same:
He swears he'll haunt US all overheard l
told the second mate to 60 forward and re.
port if he could hear of this strange voice: a
shadowy group of men went with him; indeed
| doubt if he would have had heart to drop
into the fore-castle alone. Presently he re-
turned, coming aft with n run and speaking
with a broken breath: It's true, sir, he
gasped, if it isn't old Jack it's the devil. l
heard him say an punish all of We foi
drowning, of me. Head as you will tits old
Jack rs is at the hellum now, and so stand
byl"' But, good thunderl' cried |, how IL n
mans voice going to sound in the torecastle
out of the forepeak? Answer me that, you
fool We'll, come forrards and hear 1t your
self, sir, he exclaimed, sullenly.
81 instantly assented and walked forward,
followed by all hands; and not without beat
ing heart admit, but with good air ofcare-
essness upon me stepped into theforecastle.
1t was topgallant forecastleentered hytwo
doors abreast of the windlass ends; n slush
lamp swung under the beam, and the light was
very weak, entered with the second mate,
and stood listening. For some miutues moth
ing sounded but the hard breathing OF the
seamen, who filed the doorways, squeezing
the foremost in, though these pressed back
like u wall, making such jam as migl ac'
count for louder snorings. Queer creaElngs
and groanings arose ont of the slightly sway.
ing hull in the silence, with the faint sound OF
the bow wave softly washing from the cut
water Then on sudden j heard dim,
hoarse voice-weakened, as it were, by the
deck between, with note of rage IN 10 as
though the fellow could scarcely articulate
for his teeth being fiXed-exclaim: curse the
ship, l say! curse all hands in her, says |. I'm
a murdered man. and I'll haunt We all
There, sir, cried the second mate, backing
to the men, whose breathing was now stormy
with emotion. Scarce was this SAID when
one of the seamen, who had apparently been,
forced toward by the pressure OF the Others
was run almost up to me by the long arm OF
the chief mate; who, unpercelved by
me, had worked his way into the cr0Wu
to learn what was going on. rms
mate stood over six feet high and was II giant
in strength, and the head ofthe fellow whom hin
shoulder-of-mutton fist grasped by the scruii
of the neck was on level with his chll.
Here's the ghost sir said he. The sailors
now came bundling in in swarm. This 10
| the ghost repeated the mate, giving the lei,
| low shake which threatened to throw ms head
| off his neck "Tis deuced clever my lad, but
| it's q joke that wants sea room, another
| shake. own to it, own to it, he cried, be.
| fore / screw your neck off, 1 own to it.
said the man. Own to what ! asked.
'Why, sir answered the mate, he has the
| trick of throwing his voice, and wonderfully
well he does it, too. had my eye on him
f, this afternoon and suspected him. I'm sure
ofit, now, for he didn't know stood close
behind him. -,
"Some of the men muttered. | instantly
perceived that they looked upon this an con-
spiracy between me and the mate to ailay
| their fears, and clearly seeing that IT must be
| as the mate said. and heartily dcspislng NY
self for the alarm had felt throughout the
day, l Immediately formed q resolution. Your
names Andover? said l to the man.
'Yes, SIR he answered. You confess
it was you who made old Jack
talk on the grating and down hereE
| / do, sir, he answered, with wrlthe, for the
shoulder of mutton chung to him as wise.
HProve it to the mel, said |, and Ill forgive
YOU. You can let go of him, Mr.. Moore. The
man coughed; moment after we all heard
old Jack cursing us all in the forepeak; Inc
| detention was exquisite; in sober truth, my
admiration of the skill of the fellow was aiCo'
gether to great to suffer me to punish MN,
even had not promised him forgiveness a
few further examples of his genius sutficed 10
reassure the sailors, and | went aft, leaving
them to deal with him as they choose. How
| ever he managed to make his peace by enter
| tanning them with his art as ventrlloqulst
| Indeed, after the first spasm of temper they
were too well pleased to believe that old JACK
was really dead and gone, and too much as
4 fonished by Andover's cleverness to feel muct
resentment. / often had this man IN the Dii
| efterward to amuse me. He had the face OF
born comedian, and strongly advised hln
to start as ventriloqust ashore, where
don't doubt. under proper training, he migh'
have proved a fortune for himself or 1or al
employer But, unhappily, he got INTO some
scrape at our first port of call, and had tc
leave him behind me; and when, long aiter
ward, inquired after him, gathered tha'
he had taken to drink and died in hospital
Yet recall him with gratitude, for he quit
| cured one of my superstitlOns,