The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-02-17
Select Storp.
A SOUTH ATLANTIC MYSTERY.
From Chambers Journal.

blue waters of the South Atlantic Ocean,
with light breeze from the southwest,
which kept her moving at the rate of four
knots an hour. Here and there the dane
ing waves were crested with dash of
creamy froth; and long streak of gray
light was showing itself amidst the clouds
in the distant east, as the dusky night
slowly and reluctantly gave place to dam.
Presently, an old quarter. master lurched
sleepily along the deck and peered down
the companion hatch at the cabin time
piece. Finding that it was four o'clock,
he returned forward with alivelier step and
struck eight bells. The clear chimes echoed
in the keen frosty air with silver-like in
tonation; the shrill notes of the boatswain's
whistle were heard rousing up the men of
the port watch; the hands came aft to
muster; lookout and helmsman were re-
lieved, the starboard watch went below;
and then the decks became again deserted,
as though the momentary hustle and life
and movement were but caused by the
magic wave of an enchanter's wand. Ina
few minutes the only audible sounds were
the occasional rafting of the wheel-ehains
and the mournful creaking of the yards as
the vessel swayed gently to the long heave
of the Atlantic pillows.
In the meantime the chief officer had
made his appearance on deck, and was
standing with the second at the break of
the poop. After receiving the usual in
formation about the course, the number of
sails set, etc., and commenting upon the
state of the weather, he suddenly started a
conversation, the subject of which had evil
IDENTIFY been in the thoughts of both of
them before.
Il can't understand it, he said. "Here
are we in the fifty-fourth degree of south
latitude, and the skipper is still making a
southerly course. We shall be down among
the ice soon. | shall give him hint about
it when he takes sights after breakfast.
Thesecond mate looked cautiously around,
as though to make sure that no one else
was within hearing, and leaning close over
to the chief officer, said, in a low voice
"Have you noticed anything strange about
the captains manner lately, Mr. Wilson ?
He was always quiet and standoffsh like;
but during the last few days he has spoken
and acted at times in snch strange way
that / have sometimes fancied he was-a
little - Here the second mate touched
his forehead significantly.
"Well," replied the mate, after pause,
81 don't mind admitting that | have no.
ticed it for some weeks past; but | thought
it best to keep quiet, in case | was mistak
en-. But don't breathe word to soul.
for those fits of abstraction may only be
popularity of his, after all.
"But the strange look in his eyes"
insisted the second-mate.
"Mr. Martin, we must not jump to hasty
conclusions" returned the chief. "What
want first of all to find out is-why are
we steering so far to the southwark p
81 hope he'll give satisfactory reason,
replied Martin as he turned to go below,
''for I've made nine voyages to the colonies,
and was never SO far south before.
At seven o'clock the captain came on
deck and, after exchanging few words
with the chief officer, walked to the star
board side and looked long and earnestly
towards the southern point of the horizon.
He was tall, fine-looking man, with
sunburnt and rather handsome face, a
square, resolute-looking jaw, and long, IRON
gray hair, lock of which, in moments of
excitement, he had curious habit of twist
ing round his fingers. But the eyes, which
were of a steely gray and very piercing,
were the distinctive feature of his face,
principally on account of the singular ex-
preston which dwelt in them. 1t is hard
to describe ia sort of restless, eager
look, as though forever on the watch for
some one or something that he had been
long expecting to meet. His age, accord
ing to the ships articles, was thirty-six,
though he looked eight or ten years older;
and although usually of somewhat re-
served disposition, speaking little to his
officers except on matters of duty, yet at
times, when he "came out of his shell, as
the second mate expressed it, he could be
most agreeable companion, as he was
fairly well read, and had visited many
queer out-of-the-way places in the remote
corners of the earth. Professionally, he
was as capable and gallant seaman as ever
trod deck.
Having apparently satisfied himself that
nothing was in sight, he took a few impa-
tient turns up and down the quarterback,
and then crossed over to where the chief
officer was standing
@Mr. Wilson" he said, speaking very
slowly, and regarding his chief officer with
a strange, steadfast look, Il have some
thing to tell you which viii explain my
reasons for taking much more southerly
course than is usual with outward-bound
vessels. was thinking the matter over
last night, and then decided to take you
into my confidence.
There was something in Capt. Robertss
manner and in the expression of his eyes