San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-07

60 tear. ram afone, IHgrievous distress and
in want of help. Pray come, STRIP
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 set of
curs 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, 80
great was the tumult of my spirits and the
joy and gratitude that swelled my heart, 81
thank you a thousand times over for this
visit. l ain In The most helpless condition
that can be Imagined. am not aStonished
that you should have been startled by the
appearance of this vessel and by the figure l
make in these clothes; but, sir, you will be
much more amazed when you have heard my
story
He eyed me steadfastiy, 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, elf this amt miraculous tew! burned
if we didn't take this hooker for some ghost
ship riz from the sea, in charge of a norman
rugged out to fit her age. Y are all alone,
air yOu!'
cali alone" said /.
"BrOach me every barrel aboard if ever 1
see SIGH vessel" he cried, his establishment
rising with the searching glances he directed
aloft and allow. "How old be she?"
"She was cast away in l753," said l.
"Well, I'm burned! She's froze hard, sir
rec! | reckon she'll want a hot sun to thaw
her. Split me, mister, if she amt worth
sailing home as a show box"
| interrupted his CALCULATIONS by asking
him to step below, where we could sit warm
while related my story; and | asked him to
invite his boats crew INTO the cabin that
might regale them wit h bowl of such liquor
as, l 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
come aboard and drink to the health of the
lonesome sailor they had come across The
word ''drink" acted like a charm; they in
stantly hauled upon the paIpter and brought
the boat to the chains and Jumbled 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 of
establishment.
"My lads" said I, "my rig is strange one,
but I'll explain all shortly The clothes
was cast away in are below, and I'll show
you them. I'm no specter, but as real al
you; though have gone through so much
that, if l 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 l, addressing the
long man, "are, presume, the master of the
Susan TuckerP'
"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 l. "The weather
promises fair; have much to tell, and there
Is that in the cabin which will give you pa.
thence to hear me.n
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
l waited till the last man had entered, and
then said: Before we settle down to bowl
and yarn, captain, 1 should like to show
you this ship. It'll save me a 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 burned if l. 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. had
half cleared the arms room, but there were
weapons enough left, and they stared at them
like yokels in booth. I showed them the
cook house and the forecastle, where the deck
was still Uttered with clothes and chests and
hammockS, apd after carrying them aft to
the cabins gave them a sight of the hold. l
never saw men more amazed. They filled the
vessel with their EXPLANATIONS They never
offered to touch anything, being too much
awed, but stepped about with their heads I'M
covered, as quietly as they could, as though
they had been in a vault, and the influence Of
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