The morning call., 1893-05-25
A SEA MYSTERY

We had once more talked ourselves
weary over the inexhaustible subject and
sat with hot heads around the table. Only
one ameng us had sat In silence, dumb
listener through all the tumult. He had
laughed now and then and occasionally
scratched himself behind the ear with the
point of his little Dutch pipe, but now,
when we all became silent, he spread out
his broad elbows on the table, putfed a
thick cloud of smoke before him ana said
',Oh, yes, you wiseacres are all like that.
What OIL cannot prove with figures does
not exist for you. You are like blind peo.
pie talking of c0lors. and what you cannot
grasp you will not believe. Now. what
Goes one know of life in a city? One day
just like another! Just set cut on grand
ship. and let yourself be blown here and
there for thirty or forty years over all
seas, and you Will live through things be-
tween heaven and earth that-yOu know
how the mad Prince of Denmark puts it. -
"Oh. hoH' laughed Stephen Sunday, the
youngest of us all. "Have you drunk with
the brotherhood of little mermen, or in
vited the Flying Dutchman every Saturday
to tea ?"
mo. foolish young oneH growled Claus
Petersen. our old sea captain. But |
have experienced things which would have
frigh htened you out of your wits If you had
not already lost them"
loud laugh rang around the table. and
we all gaZed In expectancy on he bearded
lips of the old sailor who paused mo-
ment, silently putting cloud after cloud of
smoke before him, his steel-gray eyes fixed
in an absent gaze, his gaze apparently in
far-nff times and places.
We waited quietly, for we all knew from
experience that Claus Petersen was not to
be hurried.
Now. he leaned back in his corner, looked
h., IN, a 81,
drained his glass.
Here you, Katie. set my glass afoat
againw
AS the maid sailed toward the kitchen
Claus Petersen said:
Now then, youngsters. 1 will tell You
the story. 1t is the most remarkable ex-
perience ever had. and If it is not true,
sen a rancid fish"
After a deep pull at his pipe and a
hearty swig from his newly filled glass, be
began:
Ii was in the summer of the twenty-sec-
ond year, and for three winters l had been
in command OF the Mary Anne, a schooner
of 400 tons burden, with cabins for twelve
passengers. She was a handsome, jolly
ship, swift as mavis and water-tight as q
seal. God bless ber, the good Mary Anne,
she has lain these seven years by far Oicr
couple of hundred fathoms deep under
as trim as girl on the dancing floor.
had all sorts of stuff on hoard and eight
deck passengers bound for Boston. We had
comfortable passage through the chan
mel, but hardly two days out upon the
open sea such a stress of weather fell
upon US that for three days we could not
hear of see.
The Mary Anne lost her course. and
when on the fourth day she began to fee!
the Tudder again and the weather to listen
to reason, there we sat over the siXty-fir ST
degree, pair of hundred marine miles
from anywhere.
l was in temper like herring packed
in salt. and sw0re like a Turk the whole
day. By the time l got on the course again
we had lost ten days voyage. and add to
all it was cold enough 10 freeze the heart
in ones body. Every half hour 1. had a
stiff grOg brought me TO the after deck, but
it did not help. The stiff nor'easter be fore
which we sailed blew through my very
bones, and the shrouds, stays and back
stays sung in the wind like choir boys
when they break the time.
1t was now the fourth week OF the voy-
age. We had taken soundings, and went
down to nv cahin.to make the entry in the
logbook. and glad was TO have the chance
to get warm bit.
Now, fancy, youngster. as l came under
the doc. Of my cabin l saw sitting behind
the table, on which lay the chart, man
unknown to me-a long. haggard fellow
about 80 years old or so, with a bio
| beard.
"HelloI' l said. and he looked up and
stared at me out of a deadly pale, troubled
face with great water-bl eyes, as if they
would look me through, and at the same
| Time drew his outstretched finger over the
| chart as If to mark course. / felt the
chills run down my back, as If an icy hand
were stroking II. But | shook my head,
angry at myself. NO" l though, ''it is
! one of the passengers, but have this day
precious little time to bother with him and
make his acquaintance. and here he ha-
set himself in my warm cabin and" as
still thought thus | noticed that over his
! hair the man had a captains cap, and on
his BODY was mark like real seaman. j
| stepped into the cabin. "Sir!' l was GO
throat. for the bench on which saw him
sitting, near enough to grasp him, was sud-
denly empty, and l was alone.
i touched nv forehead, rubbed my
hands over my eyes, rhe bench was empty
The goosefiesh stood ont over my back,
but was still no foo--l was still SEN
| sible mar with sound mind. Or-"The
devil,' thought l to myself, "have you
put few glasses too many under your
waistbaDd?" But no. l stood as firm and
straight as maiDmaSt and my eyes had
their clear, sure sight. though 1t Is true
! my nhnQS tremOleQ signify. L StnOu q
while as If rooted there, then took the log
book and made my entry and was leaving
the cabin to go on deck again. | haC
reached the donr and, turning my head tc
Look back, my blood ran eold for fright
There, three arms lengths rom me, sal
the man at the table again just exactly as
before. the outstretched finger on the
chart. the staring piercing glance directed
toward me. 49,
Here was an end to my composure and
delibsra ion. AS II the devil was after III.
| pulled the door to. ran up to the deck
and called the first and second officers t.
me- Thew saw at once by my face tha,
something had happened. Young Ins.
said /, I'VE have a mysterious passenger
on board" could hardly speak by this
time, but as told what | had seen they
laughed just as l see you laughing now
But as l took the stupid laughter little
nwry and leaned against the rail trembling
IN every limb they tried to persuade me
that was III and had fever. l, who was
sound as tlsn in the water! They sought
10 soothe me and proposed going into the
cabin to look into the matter
SO we went. We found the cabin mpty
h = Il