The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-06-20
THE RESCUE.


elidl hdihcs WAS DOfH III nuihDlc ciCuhi-
stances, about the close of the last century,
at Dumiries, in the south of Scotland, and
was bred up to seafaring life.
When about 80 years of age-to wit,
in the year l828-he was first mate on
bark trading between Liverpool and st.
Johns, n B.
On one of her voyages bound westward,
being then some five or six weeks out, and
having neared the eastern portion of the
banks of Newfoundland, the captain and
mate had been on deck at noon, taking an
observation of the sun, after which they
both descended to calculate their days S
work.
The cabin, small one, was Immediately
at the stern of the vessel, and the short
stairway descending to it ran athwartships
Immediately opposite to this stairway, just
beyond small, square landing, was the
mate S stateroom, and from that landing
there were two doors, close to each other,
the one opening aft into the cabin, the
other, fronting the stairway, into the
stateroom. The desk in the stateroom was
in the forward part of it, close to the door,
so that any one sitting at it and looking
over his shoulder could see into the cabin.
The mate, absorbed in his calculations,
which did not result as he expected, vary
ing considerably from the dead reckoning,
had not noticed the captains motions.
When he had completed his calculations,
he called out without looking round 81
make our latitude and longitude so and so.
Can that be right? How is yours p
Receiving no reply, he repeated his
question, glancing over his shoulder and
perceiving, as he thought, the captain
busy writing on his slate. Still no answer.
Thereupon he rose, and as he fronted the
cabin door the figure he had mistaken for
the captain raised its head and disclosed to
the astonished mate the features of an en-
tire stranger
Bruce was no coward, but as he met
that fixed gaze looking directly at him in
grave silence and became assured that it
was no one whom he had ever seen before
it was too much for him, and instead of
stopping to question the intruder he rushed
upon deck in such evident alarm that it
instantly attracted the captains attention.
Mr.. Bruce, said the latter, "what in the
world is the matter with you p
''The matter, sir? Who is that at
your desk p
''No one that | know of. .
''But there is, sir. There's a stranger
there.
ga stranger? Why, man, you must
be dreaming. You must have seen the
steward there or the second mate Who
else would venture down without orders p
''But, sir, he was sitting in your arm
chair fronting the door, writing on you
slate. Then he looked up full in my face,
and if l ever saw man plainly and dis
tinctly in this world l saw him.
''Him Whom?''
''God knows, sir; don't saw
man had never seen in my life before.
''You must be going crazy, Mr.. Bruce.
A stranger, and we nearly six weeks out. y
~ know, sir; but, then, saw him"
$50 down and see who it is
Bruce hesitated 81 never was be-
liever in ghosts, he said, "but if the
truth must be told, sir, I d rather not face
it alone. "
sCome, come, man. Go down at once
and don make fool of yourself before
the crew.
~ hope you re always found me willing
to do what's reasonable, Bruce replied,
changing color, "but if it s all the same to
you, sir, I'd rather we should both 60
down together.
The captain descended the stairs, and
the mate followed him. Nobody in the
cabin. They examined the staterooms
Not a soul to be found
''Well, Mr. Bruce. said the captain,
did not I tell you you had been dream
ing?'
.'It's all very well to say SO, sir, but if
| didn't see the man writing on your slate
may l never see my home and family
again p
"Ah, writing on the slate? Then it
should be there still :" And the captain
took it up.
"My God,' he exclaimed here's
something, sure enough. Is that your
writing, Mr.. Bruce?'
The mate took the slate, and there, in
plain, legible characters, stood the words,
steer to the nor west /"
''Have you been trifing with me, sir?'
added the captain in stern manner
"0n my word as man and a sailor,
sir, - replied Bruce, 81 know no more of
this matter than you do. | have told you
the exact truth -
The captain sat down at his desk, the
slate before him, in deep thought. At
last, turning the slate over and pushing it
toward Bruce, he said, Write down,
Steer to the nor west. .
The mate complied, and the captain,
after narrowly comparing the two hand
writings, said, "Mr Bruce, go and tell
the second mate to come down here
He came, and at the captains request
he also wrote the same words So did the
steward. So in succession did every man
of the crew who could write at all But
not one of the various hands resembled in
any degree the mysterious writing
w i5u tic CIcN IctlIcu. TIC tdptdli sat
deep in thought. ''Could any one have
been slowed away ?" At last he said
"This ship must be searched, and if ]
don't find the fellow he must be good
hand at hide and seek Order up all
hands. -
Every nook and corner of the vessel,
from stem to stern, was thoroughly search
ed, and that with all the eagerness of
excited curiosity, for the report had gone
out that stranger had shown himself on
board, but not living soul beyond the
crew and the officers were found.
Returning to the cabin after their fruit
less search, ''Mr. Bruce, said the cap
tain, ''what the devil do you make of all
this ~ .
''Can't tell, sir. I saw the man write
You see the writing. There must be
something in it. =
ssWell, it would seem so. We have
| the wind free. and have a great mind to