Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-10
HIST AsIHAD DREAMED.
BY EDWARD EARLE.

rben brother Joe was lost. L was very
ronnc then, but the face she wore in
;hose wretched days comes up before
me at this moment. Morning, noon
and night, it was the same-no sweet
smile came to that dear face.
I used to think she could have borne
II better had she known he was lost
had she seen him lying dead. But she
I'D rot know it-she knew only that
he did not come.
No one ever gives up friend lost at
rea, the time and manner of whose
death are unknown. But it is the most
]readfal OF all mourning. A certainty
would steady the soul, so to speak. as
breeze steadies ship.
With my mother it was dead and
hvful calm. There was always off at
distance a ripple upon the water, but
never reached her.
The reader will wonder how / could
70 to sea after all this; and I wonder
too-but went. I suppose mother
locked upon it as kind of fate that
Ehe must submit to. When boy is
,-azy for the sea he will go, and tina.
all there is aDOut"lt.
The night before we set sail, 1
dreamed that l had been, and got
back, and that Joe was with me. 60
trg up the yard to the house. l didn't
hare to tell mother of that dream-I
didn't dare to say word about Joe
but somehow it gave me hope of
something, don't know what.
Our craft was the ship Eagle, of
New York, and we sailed from that
ort for Smyrna, at the further end of
he Mediterranean Sea. She was a
rood vessel Of four hundred tons, and
Is there was at that time great danger
70 the American traders to the Medi-
erranean from the Algerine pirates,
he went heavily armed and very
trongly manned.
i. gave one a sense of security to see
he ten long mines, five ON side, that
kere confined by tackles to our bull
PARKS; and not less SO to look upon the
Tenty four stout fellows who trod the
pain deck. 1t would now be thought
eposterous for ship of this size to
ar.y so large a crew, but the sequel
|I show that we had not one to spare.
Nothing of much Importance occurred
p the outward passage. We arrived
htely at Smyrna, where we loaded for
lone with cargo Of wool. which was,
ld still is, one OF the chief articles of
cmmerce at that place.
| remember the Joy I felt on the
borning when We got under way for
lew York. 1t seemed to me as if we
!ere already going in past Sandy
look
| thought what l would say to my
Pother-just as if were to get home
hat same forenoon-just as if there
|ere not five thousand miles between
lyself and her!
But while [ was upon the main top
Rllant yard, casting loose the sail. it
Feulred to me that poor Brother Joe
lght have thought the very same thing
hen he set sail from Trieste, three
Ears before, in the old ship Rcbecca.
Pc thought occasioned me momenta-
rang, but this was soon lost in the
cltement OF the hour.
We got down the Mediterranean
pwly against the westerly winds
fllch generally prevail there. but at
myth we were almost in sight of the
asst OF Spain. Oh. how we longed to
the Rock of Gibraltar looming up
er the waves!
But in the Mediterranean Sea voy-
er bound to the United States must
ae his time. He can not hurry mat
rs. His ship maybe weeks and even
pnths at the back Of Gibraltar" with
west wind every day and every
ght heading her off from her proper
urse.
We We're three weeks between the
asts Of Spain and Barbary, but at
one morning the breeze became
As the sky lighted up, however, an
Pect was discovered which gave us a
eat deal Of anxiety. This was sail
On our weather-beam. The vessel
p was very large brig standing at
on course parallel with our own,
Which she soon changed, heading
Eectly toward us.
ooch maneuver showed her to be
merchant craft, but still we hoped
! She might be nothing worse than
lench or English cruiser bearing
TO See what we were.
= a few minutes, however, this hope
10 be given up. Her bulwarks
: not very high, and our officers
"a see with their glasses multitude
'arband heads showing above it.
decks appeared to be swarming
p men.
ane,s Barbaly pirate" said the
p'aln; there's no doubt of it. We're
oad fix, but this ship shall go to
pottom before III be taken"
nefe was grimslook on his face as
oiaered us to'double shot the nine
n''efs and get all the small arms on
y, he was brave man, and we
a ,nat he would fight while plank
alned afoat.
Jon the stranger sent,a shot across
iore1oot as a hint that we should
TO- But to this we paid no at
e ppn, further than to send up the
,lcan ensign to the spanker peak.
NJ .In mere came asecond shot, which
- me water few yards to wind