Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-07

HJacEs Courtship," .sMy Watch Be-
 lo,c. The Lady Maud Etc.
 There was so little of the goblin in this ap- peal that it resolved him. The crew hung in the wind, but he addressed them perempto- rily. l heard him damn them for a set of CUTS, and tell them that if they put him aboard they might lie off till he was ready to return, where they would be safe, as the devil could not swim; and presently they buckled to 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. Iran up to him and seized his hand with both mine.
 "Sir," cried I, speaking with difficulty, so great was the tumult of my spirits and the joy and gratitude that swelled ny heart, "I thank you thousand times over for this visit. I am in the most helpless condition that can be imagined. I am not astonished that you should have been startled by the appearance of this vessel and by the figure I make in these clothes; but, sir, you will be much more amazed when you have heard my story"
 He eyed me steadfastly, examining me very earnestly from my boots to my cap, and then cast glance around him before he made any reply to my address. He had the gauntness, sallowness of complexion, and deliberateness of manner peculiar to the people of New Eng land; and though he was a very ugly, lank, uncouth man, protest he was as fair in my sight as if he had been the ambrosial angel described by Milton.
 "Well, cook my gizzard," he exclaimed, presently, through his nose, and after another good look at me and along the decks and up aloft, Eff this ain't miraculous tew Durned if we didn't take this hooker for some ghost ship rig from the sea, in charge of a herman rigged out to fit her age. " are all alone, air you?'
 "All alone," said l.
 "Broach me every barrel aboard if ever I sec sich vessel" he cried, his astonishment rising with the searching glances he directed aloft and allow. ''How old be she?"
 ''She was cast away in 1753," said I.
 "Well, I'm durned! She's froze hard, sir rec! I reckon she'll want hot sun to thaw her. Split me, mister, if she ain't worth sailing home as show box.'
 I interrupted his ejaculations by asking him to step below, where we could sit warm while related my story; and l asked him to invite his boats crew into the cabin that might regale them with bowl of such liquor as, I ventured to say, had never passed their lips in this life On this >he went to the side, and, hailing the men, ordered all but one to
 
 lonesome sailor they had come across. The word "Crin1" acted like a charm; they in- stantly hauled upon the painter and brought the boat to the chains and tumbled over the side, one of the negroes remaining in her. They fell together in a body, and surveyed me and the ship with a hundred marks o1 astonishment.
 "My lads," said I, "my rig is strange one, I,,4 o11 .I>o Tl,1 11o was cast away in are below, and I'll show you them. I'm specter, but real as you; though have gone through so much that, if 1 am not ghost, it is no fault of old Ocean, but owing to the mercy of God. My name is Paul Rodney, and I'm a native of London. You, sir" says I, addressing the long man, ''are, presume the master of the Susan Tucker!'
 "At your sarvice-Josiah Tucker is my name, and that ship is my wife, Susan."
 ''Capt. Tucker, and you, men, will you please step below?' says I. 'The weather promises fair; have much to tell, and there is that in the cabin which will give you pa tience to hear me-"
 descended the companion stairs, and they all followed making the interior that had been so long silent ring with their heavy tread, while from time to time gruff, hoarse
 
 perssition lay strong upon their imagination, and they were awed and quiet. The day light came down the hatch, but for all that the cabin was darksome.
 waited till the last man had entered, and then said "Before we settle down to bowl and yarn, captain, I should like to show you this ship. It'll save me deal of de- scription and explanation if you will be pleased to take view.'
 "Lead on, mister" said he; 'but we shall have to snap our eyelids and raise fire in that way-for durned if I, for one, can see in the dark"
 fetched three or four lanterns, and light ing the candles distributed them among the men, and then in procession, headed by the captain and me, We made the rounds l had half cleared the arms room, but there were weapons enough left, and they stared at them like yokels in booth l showed them the cook house and the forecastle, where the deck was still filtered with clothes and chests and hammocks, and after carrying them aft to the cabins gave them sight of the hold. l never saw men more amazed. They filled the vessel with their exclamations. They never offered to touch anything, being too much awed, but stepped about with their heads un. covered, as quietly as they could, as though they had been in a vault, and the influence o1 strange and terrifying memorials was upon them also showed them the clothes I had come away from the Laughing Mary in; and that might submit such an aspect t. then as should touch their sympathies, whipped off the cloak and put on my own pilot clotE coat.
 There being nothing more to see I led then to the cook room, and there brewed great hearty bowl of brandy punch, which I sea sored with lemon, sugar and spices into a. relishable a draught my knowledge il that way could compass, and, giving every man pannikin, bade him dip and welcome myself first drinking to them with brie | speech.
 This ceremony ended, began my story beginning with the loss of the Laughing Mary and proceeding step by step. tole them of the dead body of Mendoza, but saic nothing about the Frenchman and the mat and the Portuguese boatswain, lest shoul| make them afraid of the vessel, and so ge no help to work her. As to acquaintin, them with my recovery of Tassard, after hi stupor of eight-and-forty years, I shoul, have been mute on that head in any case, fo so extraordinary relation could, from suc people, have earned me but one of two opin ions-either that was mad and believed i an impossibility, or that was @ rogue an