The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1891-12-25
OCEAN "REMINISCENCES.

Let me recall a trifing incident of my
shipboard life-an experience small anG
brief, indeed, but wildly fresh and OF
clearest and keenest outline in memory
We were on the Mozambique parallels
well to the eastward; the weather hot
the sky copperish and the sea of sal.
lowish blue. with thick, slow flow OF
swell as though the water was heavy
and sluggish with oil; weak breeze of
wind blew off the port quarter, with a
sort of sting of heat in it, like the bite of
the sun himself; and the ship under all
studdingsalls on that side went rolling
forward in a kind of loathing way, as
though alive to the trucks with instinct:
and very well remember the stopping
noise Of the water as it fell from her
bow like flinging bucketfuls of liquid
grease overheard.
1t was about 2 o'clock in the after
noon when the thickness over the star
board bow died out along the horizon
there and showed the sealine clear TO the
edge OF the ocean, with u twisting and
glancing of yellow fires in it from the
sun, as though lines of molten brass were
slowly sinking in it. 1t was then that
sail was made out some three points on
the bow or thereabouts, apparently
large ship, showing to her courses with
her mizzentopmast gone and the spanker
gait naked, with some colors flying at it.
AS we slowly rose she showed like
frlgate upon the water, with her band of
broken ports and her big wing Of stand
ing jib; and | heard the captain tell the
the mate, after taking long view of her
through telescope, that he believed that
she was such and such ship, naming a
well known Indiaman of those days. She
was in distress, it was now gathered; for
it seems that she carried brace of sig
nal halliards at her gaff end, on one of
which was hoisted the English engign,
jack down, while on the other futtered
row of bunting out of Maryatt's code,
signifying that there was serious sickness
on board.
see that ship now as saw her then;
her canvas had the whiteness of froth
touched by moonshine; she rose and fell
very majestically, her ports bristling
and fading as she leaned to the heave of |
the waters. By the aid of the glass,
which furtively employed on the mate
turning his back, could distinctly
make out the white quarter boat swing
ing at her davits. the CLEANS Of the
glass Of her large windows, the hurried
shadowing of her sails as they swung in
and out and the flags lowering in reds
and whites and blues from the peak end.
The helm of our ship was shifted for her,
and we got her right under our flying jib-
in tho foot of the foresail to disclose her
o'clock and my turn to quit the deck, i
strolled forward on to the forecastle to
watch the very noble picture on the sea
line that was rendered significant beyond
expression by her appealing colors and
by the mutilation of her abaft. A group
of our Jacks stood against one of the
catheads, gazing too. ! had not been
looking above three minutes when one
of them exclaimed in hoarse voice:
"What, the blazes! Is that there muck
a-drawing up around her, or is she adds
solving?"
1.-THE Flying Dutchman,' or my eyes
amt mates!" said second man in sub
dued voice of mingled awe and astonish
ment.
Watch her a-dying out! Smite me.
if mortal eyes ever see the like of that
afore"
My gaze was upon the ship as the men
spoke, and sure enough observed her to
be slowly melting out, not as though a
fog were driving down upon her, but as
a rainbow dies, the tints shining and
fading and perishing In few mo-
ments all was blank sea where she had
been.
There was an expression of dismay on
every wart-ridden, whiskered face l
glanced at. The captain, the mate and
number of passengers were moving and
moping like COLLINS over the brass rail
at the break of the poop in search of the
amazing phantasm. 1t was, of course, q
mirage; but it took all hands, from the
skipper down to the cooks mate, some
time to realize it, so marvellous had been
the illusion, so substantial to the vision
that rolling and stately fabric, go exqui-
sitely had the painted mirroring OF her
fitted the line of the sea. With some
fancy that the real object could not be
far off, the captain continued to head in
the direction in which the mirage had
shone until the darkness came, when the
ship was brought to her course afresh.
A few days before we sailed from Cal
cutta we got news of this phantom YES
sell She had been some leagues below
the horizon on which her likeness was
painted, signaling for assistance to an
other ship seven or eight miles distant
from her. Had the quality Of the at
mosphere remained as it was, by which
l mean had the mirage fingered awhile
longer, no doubt we should have brought
the simulacrum of the other vessel into
view. Thus it will be seen that ships as
we'll as men have their ghosts.
This recalls to me another incident,
belonging, however, to no experience of