The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-07-22

lTOpDbus us 0ulI bblu6u6u huN hio
nntern fell from his nerveless fingers
md went out. For, as the circle OF
light illumined the bulkhead, a tall,
gray figure had arisen to full height,
the pale face surmounted by o shaggy
crop Of rcd hair, tho forehead crossed
by long, red mark-the figure and
face of the murdered Billings.
With o squawk OF terror, the stow
ard fed, and the mate followed. Up
tho ladder they bounded, tho steward
turning aft, the mate forward. The
latter looked back the pale, Scared
face was just appearing above the
hatch. Possessed by blind, unreason-
ing fear, he bounded down to the
main deck and looked again, The tall
figure was coming-giant like in the
darkness noiseless and gray. With a
gnsping gurgle, that only by effort he
raised 10 scream, he ran on. The
crew saw, and scattered to the other
side of the deck. Forward, around
the fore hatch, went the mate and the
silent gray pursuer. Aft on the other
side-dispersing the crew again; up
the steps to the poop, around the
cabin-the mate uttering hoarse, jerky
screams and the terrible thing keeping
up the steady, noiseless pursuit, but
fathom behind. The captain, aroused
by tho steward, appeared only to
shrink back out of the way as the pair
paesed the cabin door. Forward they
went again. The mate, evidently
growing weaker, stumbled, fell, arose,
and won't on the figure pAusing, only
to resume the pursuit.
ard-aft-forward again-the
mate falling at intervals, the grey Ne
mesis always waiting-always main
taing an even six feet behind, tho
frightful race went on, until the ter
rorized first officer mounted the fore
castle deck, and with last agonized
shrek ringing in tho ears of the 9th
era until tho water cut it short. Tho
gray npparitlon followed. Neither
was seen again.
There was doarth Of soda biscuits
on the cabin table until the ship was
docked at Liverpool. Not man
aboard would enter the half deck night
or day.
As Captain Smith came down the
edge of the quay late one night, he
saw one OF the Athols stern windows
open. This was strange; it should bo
shut. A white face APPEARED In it,
then u gray form which slowly, and
with great effort, climbed down the
rudder pendants, looked up to the
transom, end slipped into the water.
"That's our ghost" muttered the
captain, "but ghosts don't need to
climb or swim. It's Billings" He
ran closer the ghost was in trouble.
"rhat you, BillingsP Come in; I'll
help you out. !"
"Help I'm drowning" gurgled the
swimmer. Captain Smith hurriedly
removed the gangway ladder and drop.
ping It over, assisted the exhausted
man to safety. Itwas Billings in gray
underclothes and stockings.
"Now, Billings" said he to the pros
trnte man, ''by all reason and logic,
you should be half way to the bottom,
1000 miles out, with bullet through
your head. How is it that you ara
climbing out Of my stern windows to-
night?"
"Because went with them, captain.
The mates bullet glanced, but it
knocked me of the rod andI went un.
der the bottom. When l came up ]
was under the quarter and hung en- to
the rudder pendants, found window
loose enough to open and got in. l
was stronger then biscuits and tank
water weaken man. I've been In the
half deck since"
Except when you played ghosti so
that's where our biscuits went"
al didn't mean TO drown tho mate,
captain. l thought tho jig was up
when he found me, and wanted one
good knock-down before ] went in
irons then 1 saw how scared he was
and kept it up, but l never saw him
after l struck the water or 1 would
have helped him. Iknow he couldn't
swim we've been shipmates before.
Then l caught the rudder again and
climbed in.
"Billings, my brother is in port,
and I've just left him. He told me
about the trouble you had with carp
some time ago. Come aboard and get
something to cat"
John Billings went home chief mate
Of the Athol. Atlanta Constitution.