Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-03-28
rs preu1ctlons never had the least bearing

and derelict ships. By natural transition
this would lead to q quickstep, reel,
strathspey or highland fling.
All the while Twas back in thehighlands
in the glee of harvest home or gathering
on the green of summers evening, cheer
ing and urging the dancers whose whirling
tails and cleaning knees showed the energy
of their response. could hear the resound-
! ing "hoochs" and sharp thumb crackings OF
the men, as we'll as the painting joyful, half
frightened soughs of the lasses as they
were swung off their feet in the fury of the
fun. Or again it might be plumed and
Killed company marching with springy
step to the strains Of "The Highland Lad
die" or ''The Pibrech of Donuil Dhu," or
'The Campbells Are Coming" or "Blue
Bonnets Over the Border" And in the
wild exultation of the thing up I would
get to strut about the deck with as proud
stomach as if were playing clansmen
into the heart of their enemies.
Nor was the strutting always enough,
for, oblivious of physical weakness, often
caught myself skipping about in the mazes
of country dance, or leaping in the high
land fling, or prancing in the delirium Of
|
going on the chanter 1t would be hard to
tell how many times I went over Reel
Thulachan," and the "Reel Of Tullock, "and
"Ghillie Challum," and the High Road
to Linton" and 1.-THE Aud Wife Ayont the
Fire." and Dainty Davie," and ''The Mar
auis of Huntley's Farewell" and Sleepy
Maggy," and such like tunes, trying not
always successfully to keep time between
the dancer and the piper.
The exercise usually continued. till had
to give up from want of breath and did me
more good than all the physic doctors could
have poured into me. And indeed to this
day nothing heartens me like the drone of
the pipes humming in my ear, though !
fear this will be reckoned a rude taste by
the refined young gentlemen who know SO
much about the pianos, which ara things
of mystery to me. Yet old Duncan often
declared had notions of music and could
make the pipes utter emotion and senti-
ment in way that sometimes stirred him,
though he owned ] was no hand at the
warblers. The true piper will stake his
life on his warblers or grace notes. Any
body can play q common tune by sticking
simply to the air, but man must be born
piper to introduce variations with skill. 1t
is in the managemento of these that art lies.
But since there was none on the brig to
criticise my deficiencies did not ir the least
spoil the pleasure in my own music. There
was but one drawback to the performances,
that my companions fairly abhorred them.
No sooner would they hear me screwing up
the drones for bit of piping than they
rushed off squealing to hide in the darkest
recesscs of the ship. Since then I have
learned that nothing jars on the sensitive
ear Of rat SO much as the music Of the
bagpipes; hewill go through fire and water
to escape it. Indeed in the highlands
when rats get troublesome it is II common
practice to call in a piper to frighten them
OF, and the device never fails.
The Bird of Paradise lay dead as a log
without guidance from helm or impulse
from sail, but she kept afloat, and that WAS
a reason for thankfulncss. AS binnacle and
compass were both gone, twas impossible
/ to judge the course save vaguely by the
stars, and us the heavenly bodies had never
been much among the objects of my con-
temptation my reckoning was wild enough.
But my conclusion was that we were max
ing, or more correctly drifting, w. n. W.,
and that barring accidents or good fortune
Of being picked up, should sooner or later
touch somewhere in the neighborhood of
the Persian gulf. This pleased me little,
for knew the entire region to be infested
by bands of pirates, who, should they dis
cover US, would make short work of both
me and the brig. But, as I havesaid, was
powerless to alter the course, and so had to
drift on, trusting to Providence for safety.
One evening there sprang up breeze on
our larboard quarter, which, for the first
time since had been left alone, pushed the
| Bird of Paradise to something of pace.
"I'll take it as a good omen," said to
myself. "If she keeps at that, shall soon
arrive-somewhere."
sat on deck that night longer than
usual, partly to keep sharp lookout,
| partly to enjoy the bracing breeze. 1t could
not he called a clear night, but there was
strange light on the sea, half aerial, half
| phosphorescent, that would have made
sail visible at considerable distance had
one CHANGED to come that way, which it
didn't.
About II o'clock / went below, and hav-
ing fed my family of rats-a thing which l
did as regularly as I said my prayers
turned into bed. lay long awake, how
ever, with a premonition that something
was going to happen. 1t could not be
called painful feeling, rather vague
sense of some impending change that
might prove important. However, 7 fell
asleep after time without disturbance
of any sort.
The sun was already level with my peep
| hole windows when awoke. After dress
ing leisurely went on deck to go through
the usual morning exercise of sweeping tie
ocean to see whether any sail had wandered
into view. At first could discern moth
ing and concluded was still all alone, but
presently, taking second look, deserted
the tiniest black speck-it might be float
ing hat-between me and the horizon. My
heart thumped in sudden excitement.
NOW, what the deuce is that3" I found
myself saying with quicRened breath. 1T
doesn't look like sail. No, it can't be
sail. If were anywhere in the track Of
civilization, should say 1t was a buoy.
But q buoy where ships never appear to
come would be an impossible piece Of alb
surdity."
eyes when they were dazzled and smarting.
unu gong dG ~ again like Oue WHOSE nope
of salvation is centered in his seeing prop
erly. My curiosity increased without
bringing me any clearer knowledge. Per
haps it'ssome monster fish taking the sun"
said aloud, as if had listening compan-
IONS But no fish that had ever heard of
was fond of being broiled alive. 1t did not
move nor show signs Of life. "Flotsam,
jetsam, ligan"-I went over the possibili-
ties, "Pieces of wreckage, goods sunk by
pirates to be found again at convenience"
Neither theory was satisfactory, and my
anxiety was feverish. ITS THE Old Man of
the Sea- thought frivolously, "ora mer,
maid-no, it's too black for a mermaid.
The creatures are fair"
But was too painfully interested to
give way to whimsical spirit, SO in good
earnest conjecturcd, propounding theories
to myself and Immediately rejecting them,
rubbing my eyes when they saw double
taking turn about the ship to ruminate
making n childish compact with myself