The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-15

prepared FOR burial. i ne llale WHO Ia"
it in charge, thus left in uncertainty
finding that the body remained warm
and limp delayed the final preparations
The weather was excessively hot. There
was no wind and the Brig lay mouonless
only gently swayed by the deep swell OF
the gulf. The atmosphere was satu-
rated with moisture, and the penetrating
dampness depressed the nervous system
of even the hardest of the seamen, while
the fact thar there was dead man
aboard largely increased the depression
of spirits. 1t was just at sunset the fol-
lowing day that the men were piped aft,
and when one of the Lieutenants had
read the burial service, the mortal re-
mains of Darlington, snugly sewed up
in a hammock with heavy shot weigh
ing the feet, were solemnly committed TO
the deep.
The relief which the men experienced
was shared on the quarterback and
found an earnest response in the breast
of Old Phifer.
But still it was known on the fore
castle that the body had never become
cold and had never stiffened, and sort
of dread was mingled with the awful
sensations which ships crew naturally
heaved over board into the unbroken soil
tude of the oceans depths. Some of the
older sailors shook their heads and unea-
siness and disQuietude were soon mani
tested among them all. The Brig lay in
dead calm. and there was no work
to engage the men and direct their
thoughts from the uncanny subject that
exclusively possessed their minds. As
night set in, it was SO sitting below
that they could not sleep in their ham,
mocks and most of them loled nervous
ly in the waist of the vessel either talk
ing or thinking of Babbingt0n. The
moon, then near her full, had risen and
was we'll up in the heavens, but her
rays were lost in the heavy mist that
obscured the surface of the water.
All of a sudden Il tremulus voice
from the watch on the forecastle broke
the stiffness. startling the men with
the cry: Tom Burlington off port bow,
sir"
What's that?" shouted the officer of
the deck And the word was repeated:
darlington off the port bow, sir"
Instantly every man ON deck sprang
to his feet. Every neck craned over the
port bulwark.
! 1t was true indeed. There in the dim
distance could be discerned what GER
tainly was Darlington, risen from his
watery grave The firm conviction was
that it was his spirit, and many heart
that would have been steady in battle
nervelessly sank at the thought that it
was coming aboard. Every fibre of the
superstitious seamen, now thoroughly
alarmed, was chilled with dread eXpec-
fancy There in the haZy moonlight
could be seen the outline OF the body
that despite the heavy weight attached
to it had returned from the bottom Of
the sea and was standing well up above
the surface.
With straining eyes, many see
: ing it more clearly positive
ly declared that it was
, approaching the vessel, and deeper the
horror grew as the belief spread that
soon Tom Babbington's ghost, all shroud-
! ed and dripping, would come over the
= side and be right amongst them. Even
: Captain Phifer himself, who had hasten
: ed on deck, quite undressed, was not
proof against the infection. But he
quickly ordered a boat to be lowered and
turning to Little Mac, directed him to
take charge.
Now you remember how fussy Mac al
ways was, and how pompous. He could
. be the most important parsonage in a
i group of commodores. Although like the
others, he was entirely upset, on receiv-
ing the order, he rushed below, put on
his uniform and, buckling on a cutlass,
z soon reappeared all in a culver of ex-
e element.
p Approaching Captain Phifer, he touch
n ed his cap-to which the Captain merely
D replied.
l. Bring him aboard, sir.
n What, sir?' asked Mac, hesitatingly.
4. Old Phifers nervousness now dis
II played itself in an abruptness not at all
!, customary with him.
d why, sir. Damn it, sir; 1 said, bring
+ him aboard, sir"
o And then, as if he had not been quite
% fair to his little midshipman, he added
!. to the officer of the deck: LET the
Ia boatswain's mate go with him."
h With evident signs of suppressed eX-
element, if not trepidation, Mac swung
:, himself into the boat and stood in the
- stern-sheets, while the boatswain's mate
" went to the bow and the boat pulled out
: for Babbngton-the whole crew watch
s. ing the proceedings with sensations that
: | shall not attempt to describe, for
!, Madam, it is but too true that the life
y of a sailor amid the solitude Of the sea
fosters those superstitions which are ira
ditlonal with their race.
g The oarsmen soon let their oars res
and turned to view the object they were
approaching. Even the most skeptical-
ck those who had doubted the evidence O.
O. their own eyes, and had spoken of hal
le lucination and imagination, could doub
IL no longer.
e. 1t was no impalpable substance-nC
IL spectre born of nerves ant
ce moonlight Clearer and more de
en- fined it stood as they cam
cy into its immediate presence. Tn
Sc men sat motonless, fixed in their seat
ry by the supernatural appearance Tn
lis boat losing its headway was thrown b.
ut the sWeH or the sea against It-an