Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-07-20
too much worn to make a neat piece O {

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| back"
mo you won'tr' roared out voice
from behind the long boat.
The captain rushed in the direction
of the sound. but failed TO discover the
speaker.
WHO was thatp" he cried in storm
Of wrath. LET me know who it is. and
I'll thrash him within an inch of his
lifer'
''Will you' Ha! ba! har' was the
mocking reply. dropping seemingly
from the maintop.
II was broad daylight when this took
place. so we could sec that there was
no one up there. l was as much staril-
ed and mystified by the occurrence as
the captain; but neither he nor |. nor
any of the crew TO whom he applied,
could throw light thereon. But who
ever or whatever uttered the words,
my purpose was served rs was Mar
! tyn's on prev Gus occasion. The irate
captain went below. filed more with
fear than rage. throwing behind HIM.
as he stepped from the cabin ladder.
the ropes end which had so vexed
! HIM.
Sailors. in general, are superstitious
beings. Whatever cannot easily be
made out or accounted for on natural
| principles is laid to the account of the
supernatural. Our captain was no bet
ter in this respect than his crew, for he
was as illiterato as they, except in the
matter of navigation, and as rough
and untutorod. He evidently believed
his ship was haunted. and that Il spirit
from the vast deep had mind TO tor
ment him by its interferences. His
fears were increased not many DAYS
after On returning to rest at the end
of his evenings watch his slumbers
were disturbed by a loud and fearful
cry. which seemed to enter the cab
by the side light. which was left open
for ventilation. The cry was heard by
the Sc cond officer on the quarterback
and by Martyr. who was at the wheel
Neither of them could throw any light
upon the incident TO the captain, who
had rushed on to the deck in a state of
terror. and dema nded in vain for the
production of the oife nder.
From that day it was clear 10 all
hands that Capt. James was tormented
by apprehensiOns of coming disaster.
An idea was fixed N his mind that his
ship was Visited by a spirit from the in
visible world, which preferred to make
itself heard rather than seen. And
this idea was strengthened b. the fact
that when be was on deck and became
angry at the conduct of any Of the men,
especially when his anger was made
manifest in Oaths or blows, the unseen
but ever Wig liant visitor from the affair
world, perched apparently on the top
NJ a in mo Mt 10 it.s.
laugh or solemn warning. On these
occasions the poor man would rush of
to his cabin with blanched cheek and
lettering limbs. and there abide until
the gale in his moral sensiblitieS
should subside That it was angry
with no one else but the captain was
clear. from the fact that it never took
notice OF the conduct of any other per-
son. The mate or the boatswan
might act as they liked or the men
might give and call each other hard
names; no matter-the voice was not
heard-neither laugh nor moan fell up
on our ears.
But N ost of those who lived in the
forecastle were far from being happt;
many OF them shared the fear of our
skipper. and | saw that they would
rather have braved his wrath than to
be tormented as they were bv the
voices OF the night" or day. Martyr
and myself were exceptions. What his
opinion was | could not say; he met ali
my questions By adro eyasious. As
for myself, / had no explanations TO
give. Thus matters went on until we
were within two DAYS sail Of the is-
lands. All the while our captain had
been kept from tyranny bv h fears Of
the voice; but now exas perated by some
fault in seamanship on the part Of
Martyr, and being the worse for liquor.
he hurled belaying-pin at him which
struck him on the head. Clappng his
hands TO his head. he rushed To the
forecastle. 1t was evident that the
skipper expected to hear the voice. for
he looked nervOusly aloft. but all was
silent in that direction. His courage
returned ana he desired the second Of
ficer TO call Martyr back to the deck.
Getting no answer to his call the mate
went below. where he found the poor
fellow delirious. Returning to the deck
he reported him To be in dangerous
condition. This filled he captain with
fear. He ordered that every attention
0hONiN w pau nun, NiliNit hhN uOut.
That nigh. it became necessary TO have
all hands on deck to reef. and while
we were on the yards an awful cry.
like that Of n maniac. arose from the
bow OF the vessel aud the next moment
several of us saw human form on the
rail near the forecastle and then a loud
splash was heard i'm the water under
our lee. The capita and chief officers
who were on deck rushed to the side.
A hat was seen for moment bobbing
on the crest of IA wave. the maniacal
cry was repeated. when Capt. James.
himself uttcring loud cry. fell sense
less on the deck. The mate then
hailed us who were on the topsal yard.
Come down from aloft! Clear AVA
the small boat!
We thought he was as near beside
| himself as was the captain; and so hc
was for the moment. for when we gain
eel the deck he was ready TO counter
mand the order. Everything was aw-