The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-10
my lads said I, my rig Il strange one,
mt III ovplain all shortly Tho clothes

|
that, If 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 q native Of
London. You, sir" says ], addressing the
long man. ARE, presume, the master Of the
Susan Tucker
| AT your saryice-Josiah Tucker is my
name, and that ship IS my wife, Susan
Capt Tucker, and you. men, will you
please step below says l. THE weather
promises fair. | have much to tell, and there
is that in the cabin which viii give you pa
thence 10 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
/ whisper broke from one Of them. But SUI
| perstItion 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 10 bowl
and yarn. captain, | should like to show
you this ship It'll save me deal of de
scription and explanation if You will IL
pleased 10 take IA view"
Lead on, mister said he; but We shall
have 10 snap our eyeids and raise fire in that
way-for burned If |, 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 10y the
captain and me, We made the rounds. had
half cleared the arms room, but there were
D i. II . 4. .4..,.. . hon,
like yokelS in a booth | showed them the
cook house and the forecaStle, where the deck
was still Uttered with clothes and chests and
hammOcks. and after carrying them aft 10
the cabins gave them sight Of the hold |
never saw men more amazed. They filed the
vessel with their excamations. They never
offered 10 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 Of
strange and terrifying memorials was upon
them also showed them the clothes | had
come away from the Laughing Mary in; and
that might submit such an aspect 10 them
as should touch their sympathies, | whipped
off the cloak md put on my own pilot cloth
coat
e. the cook room. and there brewed great
hearty bowl Of brandy punch, which sea
soned with lemon. sugar and spices into as
relishahle "A draught as my knowledge IN
that way could compass, and, giving every
man pannikin, babe him dip and welcome,
myself first drinking 10 them with brief
speech
This ceremony ended. began my story,
beginning with the loss Of the Laughing
Mary and proceeding step by step. | told
them of the dead body Of Mendoza but said
nothing about the Frcnchman aud the mate
and The Portuguese boatswain, lest ! should
make them afraid of the vessel, and sd get
no help 10 work her As 60 acquaintng
them with my recovery of Tassard. after his
stupor of eight and forty years, | should
have been mute ON that head Ia any case. for
50 extraordinary a relation could, from such
people. have earned ute bat one ot two opin-
ious-either that | sees mad and believed ln
an impossihiity. or that ! was rogue and
dealt in magic. and 10 be yehemently stunned
Yet there were wonders enough IN my
story without this, aud r,cited II T. a run
ming commentary Of all sorts of queer Yam
kee exclamation.
They were q good deal puzzled when told
them Of the mines had made and sprung nm
the ice They reckoned the notion fine, but
could not conceive how had, single handed
broken out the powder barrels, got them over
the side, and fixed them.
"Whv." said |. twas slow, heavy work,
Of course: but man who labors for his life
will do marvellous things Il is like the jump
Of a hunted stag
True for you. says the captain. "A swim
Of two miles spends me ia pleasurin. but
I've swum eight miles 10 save my lite and
stranded fresh as IA new hooked cod. What's
your intentions, ,lr|
"To sail the schooner home. said /, eff !
can get help She's too good 10 abandon.
Shell fetch money IN England.
"Ay, as "A show"
Yes, and as a goldman. Rig her mod
ernly. and carry your forecastle deck into
the head. captain, and shes brave ship, liz
for Baltimore eye
lie s;roked down the hair upon his chin
dip. captain; dip, my lads, thorHs
enough Of this TO drown We in the hold, said
|. pointing TO the bowl Come, this is a
happy meeting for me, let it be n merry one.
CAPTAIN. drink 10 the Susan Tucker
"Sir. your servant. Here's 20 your sweet
heart. bo she wife or maid Bin. jump on
deck and take look around See 10 the
boat
One Of the men went Out
Captain said |, you are full ship"
That's so.'
Bound homer
Right away
you have men enough and TO spare.
Lend me three Of your hands 10 help me to
the Thames. and I'll repay you thus: There
should bc Lclr lCO tons of wine and brandy,
of exquisite intagc and choice with ace be
wound lau-uage. in the hold Take what you
will Of tina, freight. thc.eIl J., ten time the
value OF your lay ia your r.ctinss. modest as
y0u may prove Help yourself % the clothes
In the cd .n aad for,caatlo. tlCv Will turn 20
account rc~ the men you val spare, and
who vii volunteer 10 help me, this viii be
nv undertaking: the ship and all that IS in
her b be sold on her arrival, and the pro
| ceeds equally divided Shall We call 1t Il go
apiece! Captain, she's well found-her in
ventory would make list as long as you;
IA ,,op,o "a l.igceaf. surp INIT here She it.-gOu