Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-08-13

into THE I3recastle. They dared not
remain whg enough with the corpse
to SeM fYup, nor even to attach it to
a sSnki e weight, but throwing over
it a siNg1e blanket, they managed to
get it upon deck and lay it across
the bulwark of the starboard bow.
A moment Capt. Johnson hesitated-
he opened his lips, breathed a prayer
for the soul OF the departed, and
then, while a shudder ran over his
frame, he let the cold form Of Walter
Addison slide into the blue water!
Instinctively he cast his eyes over
the side as the deed was done, and
by the pale phosphorescent light he
could just see the corpse sink, then
rise and sink again, and then with a
heavy step and still heavier heart he
walked aft.
The first watch had been set, but
the other watch dared not go below.
and budding themselves beneath the
long boat they sought the repose
which they feared to seek where their
companion had died; buteach seemed
to fear his neighbor, for none knew
where the cont agion might be. At11
O'Clock the slight breathings of the
air, which seemed tor the last few
hours to have had no settled point,
began to gather more force from the
northward and westward, and ere
long a good fresh breeze filled the
ships canvas and started her through
the water. The wind continued to
increase, and before midnight all
hands were called to take in the top
gallantsails. At II o'clock the mid
watch was set, and all hands we're
for a few moments brought in con-
tact with each other. No further
symptoms Of the dreaded pestilence
had appeared, and they began to
take hope.
1t was half past - o'clock. An
old seaman named Bill Shipper had
the helm, while the remainder of the
watch were either in the gangway or
else forward. The wind continued
fresh, but yet steady and the old
ship was close hauled upon it, lying
some two points off from her true
course. The ships bell was suspend
ed over the pinnacle, and old Ship
pen reached over and struck the first
half hour after midnight. He had
just resumed his position, and was
gazing intently at the compass,
when he felt a hand laid upon his
shoulder, and on turning around he
beheld by the struggling beams of
the pinnacle lamp the pale, deathly
features of Walter Addison!
For an instant the old sailor re-
manned rooted to the spot, and then,
uttering a sharp cry of fear, he let
go the wheel and darted forward.
In a moment the ship began to fall
off, and as she brought the fiat sur
face OF broad canvas to the wind
she heeled over alarmingly; but soon
the pale specter that had frightened
the helmsman from his post caught
the wheel, and laid the helm hard
down, and ere long the ship was once
more to the wind.
Shippen's cry had started all hands
from their listlessness, for they
thought the cholera fend had as
sailed him, but from his broken
CALCULATIONS they soon learned what
was the matter, and in q body they
crowded aft, and by the dim light
from the pinnacle they saw the spec
ter beldsmen! Every knee trembled,
and every tongue Glove to the roof
of it's mouth. None dared to ap-
proach him, nor did any move back.
At this iuncture the captain came on
deck. His eve caught the corpse like
form that still held the wheel, and he,
too, was riveted to the spot where he
stood.
"Shipmates, relieve me from here,
or l shall faint. l am cold and
weak!" at length came from the lips
of the seeming specter, in faint,
agonized tones.
Capt. johnson hesitated an in
slant, and then he rushed forward
and laid his hand upon the trem-
bling form before him. 1t was cold
and wet, but he knew that it was a
living man. One after another OF
of the men gathered about, and be-
fore long all knew that young Wal
ter Addison still lived. The captain
had him conveyed to the cabin,
where everything that could be
thought OF was administered for his
comfort, and it was not long before
he sufficiently revived to give an &C
count of his strange escape from the
cold. deep grave to which he had been
consigned.
1t seemed that young Addison had
fallen into that deathlike lethargy
which not infrequently results from
sudden cholera, and which, as all
who are acquainted with the disease
must be aware: SO nearly resembles
death that even the best physicians
have been deceived by it. The sud-
den immersion in the cold water had
revived his dormant senses, and as
the ship had but a slight motion at
the time he came to a partial realiza-
ton of his situation before she had
passed him, and by considerable ex-
ertion he managed to get a hold on
the rudder chains. He tried to call
+ y