The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-13

|
"the year, Why, man, what year but l'53P
>, Good Godf' cried !, jumping to my feet
with terror at statement had anticipated
though il shocked me ms a new and frightfu
revelation. "Do you knatv what year this isf
He looked at me without answering
1T is 1901 cried and as / said this / re-
cooled step, fully expecting him TO leap uT
and exhibit q hundred demonstrations OF
horror and CONSERVATION; for this, / am per
suaded, would have been my posture had any
: man reused me from n slumber and told me
had been in that condition for eight and
forty years.
He continued to view me with very
strange and cunning expression in his eyes,
the GOODNESS of which was inexpressibly sur
prising and bcwilderiDg, and even mortify-
ing; then presently, graspng his beard,
looked at il then put his hands To his face
and looked at them; then pulled out his feet
and looked at them; then very slowly, but
without visible effort, stood up, swaying a
little with an air Of weakness and proceeded
10 feel and strike himself all over, swinging
his arms and using his legs-after which he
sat down and pulled his clothes over his naked
feet, and, fixing his eyes on me afresh, said:
What do you say this year is, sirF'
Eighteen hundred and one replied
Bah" said he and shook his head vay
| knowingly. "No matter; you have been
shipwrecked, tool Sir shipwreck shufles
dates as a player does cards; and the best Of
Us will go wrong in famine loneliness, cold
and peril Be of good cheer, my friend, all
will return 10 you Sit, sir, that may hear
your adventures, and will relate mine.n
| saw how it was; he supposed me dc.
ranged-a Notifying construction TO place
| upon the language OF a man who had restored
him TO life, yet few moments reflection
taught me to see the reasonableness of 1t. for
unless ne thought me crazy he must conclude
| spoke the truth, and il was inconceivable
he should believe that he had lain in a frozen
condition for eight and forty years.
have no doubt the disorder my mind was
in helped TO persuade him that had not the
full possession of my senses. He ran his eye
over my figure and then round the cook
room, and said, 81 am impatient to learn
your story, SIT"
"Why, SIR" said |, my story is summed
up in what | have already told you But
that he might not he at a loss-for to be sure,
he had only very newly collected his intel
lect-I related my adventures at large He
drew nearer TO the furnace while | talked,
bringing his covering Of clothes along with
him, and held out his great hands to toast at
the fire, all the time observing me with
scarce a wink Of the eye. Arrived at the
end of my tale, told how only last night |
had dragged his companion on deck, and
how he was to follow but for his posture
"IIam cried he, you might have caused
my flesh to mortify by laying me close to the |
fire. Ii would have been better to rub me ,
with s,low.T
He poked up one foot after the other TO
count ms toes, fearing some had come away !
with his stockings, and then said; "Well, and |
how long should | have slept had you not |
Gomez Another week. By St Paul. | might |
have died Have you my stockings, sirP'
/ gave them to him, and he pulled them |
over his legs and then drew on his boots and |
stood u, the coats and wraps tumbling off I
him as he rose.
II can stand" says he. THAT is good"
But in attempting to take a step he reeled.
and would have fallen had not grasped his
arm.
Patience, my friend, patiencetr he NUT
ttfcu, rs III W fllfIiStll. uilist iic u iANtic
longer, and with that he kneeled and then
lay along the mattress He breathed heavily |
and pointed to the pannikin. | asked him
whether he would have wine or brandy. He
answered "Wine,n so ] melted a draught,
which dose, thought, on top of what he had
already taken, would send him to sleep; but
instead it Quickened bis spirits, and with no
lack of life in his voice, be said: "What is the
condition OF the vesself'
told him that she was still high and dry,
adding that during the night some sort of
change had happened, which ! should pres
entity 20 on deck 10 remark
Think you,n says he that there is any
chance OF her ever being liberated
answered, eyes, but not yet; that is, if
the ice in breaking doesn't destroy her. The
summer season has yet TO come, and we are
progressing north; but now that you are
with me, it will be a question for US to settle
whether We are to wait for the ice TO release
the schooner or endeavor to effect our escape
10y other means
A curious CLEAN Of cunning satisfaction
shone in his eyes us he looked at me; he then
kept silence for some moments, lost in
thought
"Pray," said l, breaking in upon him,
"what ship is this.'
He started, deliberated an instant, and ar,
swered 1.-The Boca del Dragon"
"a SpaniardF'
He nodded.
"She was q piratef said l.
"How do you know thatr' he cried, with
sudden ferceness.
"Sir, said |, 81 am British sailor, who
has used the sea for some years, and knows
the difference between handspike and a
poop lantern. But what matters. She is a
pirate no longer"
He let his eyes fall from my face. and gazcd
round him with the air of one vino cannot
yet persuade his understanding of the reali-
ti"s OF the scene he moves in.
Tut cried he, presently, addressing him
self, what matters the truth, as you sayl
Yes said he, "the Boca del Dragon is
pirate You have OF course rummagcd her,
and guessed her character by what You
foundH