The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-10
she bulwurks again to watch them. Bio
was Yankee beyond doubt; had rather met

the bulwurks again 70 watch them. She
was Yankee beyond doubt; had rather met
my own countrymen; but, next to British, l
would have chosen an American ship 70 meet.
Somehow, despite the Frenchman ! felt my
self TO have been alone throughout my ad-
venture, and SO sore was the effect OF that
solitude upon my spirits that it seemed twenty
years since had seen ship, and sine had
| held communion with my own specie. ! was
| terribly agitated, and shook in every limb
| Life must have been precious always. but
| never before had i; appeared 80 precious as
| now. while | gazed at that homclr ship,
with her maintopsail to the mast. 80 nging
stately upon the swell, the faces OF TIC soa-
| men plain. the smoke of her galley fire
| breaking from the chimney, the sounds Of
| groaning blocks and creaking par"!s steal
| ing from her Such fountain OF JOY broke
| ont Of my heart that my whole beng was
| flooded with il. and had that mood lasted
believe should have exposed the treasure Ill
| the run. and invited all the men Of the whaler
| 10 share in IL with me-
They stare tixedly-little wonder that they
should to astounded by such an appearance
rs my ship exhibited! One OF the several
| boats which hung at her dayits was lowered,
the oars flashed, and presently she was near
enough 70 be bit with biscuit: but when
there the master. as l supposed him TO be,
who was steering sang out, "Nast row
ingn the boat came TO stand, and her peO-
pie to man stared at me with their chins
upon their shoulders as if had been n fiend
IL was plain as a pkestaf that they were
frightened. and that the superstItiOns Of the
forecastle were hard at work in them while
they viewed me. They looked queer COM
pany: two were negroes, the others pale
faced bearded man, wrapped up in clothes TO
the aspect of scarecrows The fellow who
steered had a face as long as n wet hammock,
and il was heightened yet 10 the eye 10y
beard like a goats hanging at the extremity
of his chin.
He stood up-a tall, lank figure with legs
like pair Of compassionate hailed me
afrcsh. but the high swell, regular rs the
swing of n pend alum, interpoSed Its brow
between him and ne. so that at one moment
he was a sharply lined figure against the sky
of the horizon, and the next he and his boat
and crew were sheer gone out Of sight, and
this made an exchange Of sentences slow and
troublesome
Say master" he sung out, what dye
say the schooners name isF
The Boca del Dragon" replied.
And who are you, mateyf
"An English sailor, who has been cast
away Oh an island Of ice. ] answered. talk
ing very shortly that the replies might fol-
low the questions before the swell sank him.
Gay, ay, says he, that's very well. but
when was you cast away, bully
] gave him the date.
That's not a month ago" cried he
Its long enough, whatever the time
said l.
Here the crew fell a-talking, turning from
one another 10 stare at me, and the negroes
eyes showed is big as saucers IN the dismay
of their regard.
"See here, master" sung out the long
man. III you han't been cast away morcn "A
month. how come you clothed as men went
dressed q century sin, heyN
The rasOu of their misgvinge flashed
upon me 1t was not SO much the schooner
as my appearance The truth was. my
clothes having been wetted, had ever since
been wearing such thick garments as ! met
with in the cabin keeping my legs warm
with Jack boots and had becon 40 used to
the garb that forgot had it Va. Yen will
Judge. then, that | must have presented
figure very nicely calculated 70 excite the
wonder and apprehension Of q body OF men
whose superstitiOus instincts were already
sufficiently 1uttered by the appearance Of
the schooner, when ! tell you that il addi-
ton 10 the Jack boots and a great fur cap.
my costume was formed Of a red plush
waistcoat laced with silver, purple brceches.
coat Of frieze with yellow brailing and
huge cuffs, and the cloak that / had taken
from the body Of Mendoza
Captain cried l. If so be you are the
cantain, IN the name OF God and humanity
come aboard, sir" Here | had TO wait TIL
he reappeared. My story is an cxtraordi-
nary one You have nothing 10 fear am
Il plain English sailor, my ship was the
Laughing Mary, bound in ballast from Cal
lao TO the cape Here had to wait again.
pray. sir, come aboard; there Is nothing o.
20 fear. am alone, in grievous distrcs. and
in want of help. Pray come, sir
There was 80 little Of the goblin in this ap-
peal that II resolved him The crew hung IN
the wind, but he addressed them percmpto-
rily | heard him damn them for set Of
ours, and tell them that if they put him
aboard they might lie off till he was ready
to return where they would be safe, US the
devil could not swim, and presently they
buckled 10 their oars again, and the boat
came alongside. The long man. watching
his chance, sprang with great agility INTO
the chains and stepped on deck. | ran Il. TO
him and seized his hand with both mi.c.
"Sir" cried |, speaking with difficulty. SO
great was the turuult Of my spirits AID the
10y and gratitude that swelled my heart. Il
thank you thousand times over for this
visit. | am in the most helpless condition
that can be imagined l am not astonIshed
that YOU should have been startled by tie
appearance of this vessel and by the fl -uro |
make in these clothes. but, sir, you wl.l De
much more amazed when you have hoardry
story"
He eyed me steadlastly, examining Iaeycrr
earnestly from my boots 10 my cap, ana Chen
cast n glance around him before be made a.y
reply TO my address. He had the gaun,n-ss,
sallovness of complexion, and de.ibcr-tc .e,s
of manner peculiar tothe people OF Ne" ll5-
land. and though he was very ugly, lank,