Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-09-29
STEER TO THE NORTHWEST.

/
takably produced by some agency other
than chance.
Robert Bruce, originally descended
from some branch Of the Scottish family
If that name. was born in humble cir
cumstances ard bred TO seafariug life
When about 80 years OF age, to-wit. in
the year 1928, he was first mate on a
Dark trading between Liverpool and St.
Johns, New Brunswick.
On one of her voyages bound west
wand, being then six weeks out and having
leare, 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 calcu-
late their days work.
The mate, absorbed in his calculation,
which did not result as he expected, had
not noticed the captains motions. When
| he had completed his calculations, he
called out, without looking round, Il
make our latitude and longitude so and
| so. Can that be right? How is yours?"
Receiving no reply, he repeated his
| question, glancing over his shoulder and
| perceving, as he thought, the captain
busy writing on his slate, Still no an
swer ThereupOn he rose; and, as he
| fronted the cabin door, the figure he had
mistaken for the captain raised his head
and disclosed 10 the astonished mate the
| features of an entire 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 be-
fore, it was too much for him; and he
rushed upon deck in such evident alarm
that it instantly attracted the captains
attention. Why, Mr.. Bruce said tne
later, what in the world is the matter
with your"
The matter. sir? Who is that at your
desk -
No one that l know Of"
But there is, sir; there's a stranger
| there"
a stranger! Why, man. you must be
dreaming. You must have seen the stew
ard there, OF the second mate. Who else
would venture down without orders?'
But. sir, he was sitting in your arm
chair, fronting the door, writing on your
slate. Then he looked up full IN my
face; and if ever | saw man plainly and
distinctly in this world I saw him.
Hint Whom?"
God knows, sir; l don't | saw a
man, and man l had never seen in my
life before
You must be going crazy, Mr.. Bruce.
A stranger, and we nearly six weeks
Quit"
Il know, sir; but then l saw him."
go down and see who it is.''
70
hever in ghosts" he said; ''but, if the
truth must be told, sir, I'd rather not face
it alone'
and don't make a fool of yourself before
the crew.
Il hope you've always found me will
ing TO do what's reasonable" Bruce re-
piled, changing color; "but if it's all the
10th so down together"
The captain descended the stairs and
tie mate followed him. Nobody in the
cahir! They examined the staterooms.
Not a soul to be found!
We'll, Mr.. Bruce" said the captain,
did / not tell you you had been dream
ing?"
It's all very we'll to say so, sir; but
if didn't see that man writing on your
slate, may l never see my home and
family again!"
All! writing on the slate! Then it
should be there STILL And the captain
took it up.
BY gad'' he exclaimed, "here's some
thing, sure enough! Is that your writ
ing. 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. i'll Il stern manner.
On my word as Il man and as sailor.
sir replied Bruce, Il 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 resem-
bed. IN any degree, the mysterious writ
ing
Every nook and corner of the vessel
from stem to stern, was thoroughly
searched. for the report had gone out
that stranger had shown himself on
board; but not a living soul beyond the
crew and the officers was found
Returning to the cabin after their fruit
less search, Mr.. Bruce" said the cap
tain. what do you make OF all this"
Cant tell, sir. / saw the man write;
you see the writing. There must be
something in it."
'sWell, it would seem so. We have the
wind free, and have a great mind to
keep her away and see what will come Of
it"