The Washington times., 1906-07-22

most prone to superstition.
Afioat upon the black
waste Of waters, at the
mercy of wind and sea.
with vast depths and strange creatures
below them. a belief In the super
natural is easier than ashore under
the cheerful gas lamps. Strange stories
OF the sea are plentiful, and an Incl
dent which happened within my own
experience has made me somewhat
Chary Of clubbing a man fool or cow
ard because he has encountered some
thing he cannot explain. There are
stories of the supernatural with pro-
sale seQuels, there are others 10 which
the sequel has never been published.
/ was fifteen years old at the time,
and as my father, who had a strong
objection 20 the sea. would not APP
prentice me 10 1t. I shipped before the
mast on sturdy little brig called the
Endeavour. bound for Riga She was
small craft but the skipper was as
fine a seaman as one could wish for
and, In fair weather, an easy man 10
sail under Most boys have a rough
time OF IL when they first go 10 sea,
but, with a strong sense OF what was
good for me. 1 attached myself 10
brawny, gOOd-natuTed infant. named
Bill Smith. and it was soon understood
that whoever hit me struck Bin ny
proxy. Not that the crew were par
ticularly brutal but sound cunning
occasionally is held by most seHmen
10 be beneficial 10 a lads health and
morals. The only really spiteful tel-
low among them was a man named
Jem Dadd. lie was a mOrOse, sallow-
looking man. OF about forty with
strong taste for the supernatural and
a stronger taste still for frightening
his fellows with H. have seen Bill
almost afraid TO 20 on deck Of a night
for his trick at the wheel. after few
OF his "reminiscences. Rats were a
fayorite topic with him. and ne would
never allow one 10 be killed il
he could help IL. for he claimed for
them that they were the souls OF
drowned sailors, hence their love or
ships and their habit Of leaving them
when they became uuseaworthy. lie
was a firm believer in the transmigra-
tion Of souls. some idea of which he
had, no doubt, picked up in Eastern
ports. and gave his shIvering auditors
to understand that his arrangements
for his own immediate future were al
ready perfected.
We were six or seven days out when
a strange thing happeEed. Dadd had
the second watch one 3 ght, and Bill
was 10 relieve him. : seY We're not
very strict aboard the iTig IN fair
weather, and when a mans time was
up he just made the wheel fast. and.
running for'ard. shouted down the
fo'csle. on this night / happened 10
awake suddenly. in time 20 see Bin
slip out Of his bunk and stand by me.
rubbing his red eyelids with his
knuckles.
"Dadd's giving me a long time" he
seeing that l was awake:
ITS whole hour after his time"
lie pattered up on deck. and l was
just turning over, thankful that was
too young 10 have a watch 70 keep.
when he came softly down again, and.
taking me by the shoulders, shook me
roughly.
Jack he whispered. Jack"
I raised myself on my elbows. and.
in the light Of the smoking lamp, saw
that ha was shaking all over.
Come on deck" he said. thickly.
I put on my clothes. and followed
him quietly 10 the sweet. cool air
above. It was a beautiful clear night.
but from his manner l looked ner-
vCusly around for some cause OF
alarm. 1 saw nothing. The deck was
deserted, except for the solitary figure
at the wheel.
Look at him" whispered Bill.
bending "A cOntorted face 10 mine.
/ walked aft a few steps. and BIZ
followed slowly Then I saw that
Jem Dadd was leaning forward clum-
silly on the wheel, With MS hands
clenched on the spokes.
Hes asleep" said 7. stopping short
Bill brcathed hard. He's In
queer sleep" said he; kind O. trance
more like. Go closer"
l took fast hold Of Bnrs sleeve. and
We both went. The light OF the stars
was sufficient TO show that Dadd's
face was very white. and that his
dim. black eyes were wide open. and
staring in a very strange and dreadful
manner straight before him.
"Dadd." said 1. softly, 'Dadd'"
There was no reply. and. with d view
af arousing him. l tapped one sinewy
hand as ii gripped the wheel, and
even tried 20 loosen IL.
lie remained immovable. and. sud
denly with a great cry, my courage
deserted me. and Bill and l fairly
bolted down into the cabin and woke
the skipper.
Thsn we saw how II was with Jem,
and two strong seamen forcibly loOs-
ened the grip Of those rigid fingers,
and. laying him on the deck. covered
him with a piece of canvas The rest
of the night two men STAYED at the
wheel. and. gazing fearfully at the
outlines of the canvas. longed for
dawn.