Year: 1867




ton was heavy and labored when he reached the
table. He glanced at the table with an anxi


look as if to see whether the chart was still thu


1t was not. lie then gazed at me with a sorrow
full and disappointed stare and disappeared. |
remained quietly in my chair for about 10 min
utes after the spectre had departed When !
went on deck found the mate again endeavor-
ing to soothe the dog, who snapped and snarled in
his kennel, until it was unsafe to approach him.
Leaving him there went below, and throwing
myself dressed as | was, on my cot tried to
sleep. Unrefreshing and feversh was the sleep
which visited me that night, and rose in the
morning totally unfit for work of any kind, and
with my nerves unstrung What was expected
of me? For what purpose was warned? What
must do? Thus unused the entire day. Cdspdr
kept close to his kennel all the time and steadily
refused to eat or drink. Whenever any of us ap-
preached his kennel, he attempted to snap at us;
and appeared if entirely under the influence of
some great fear. The calm had continued the
entire day, and we made no progress whatever
Again evening approached, and the same hour
found me, on the two previons nights, sitting
at my table. This time.1 eagerly awaited my
visitor. Would the figure again appear? found
myself hoping that it would. This time did
not attempt to read, for my thoughts were too
troubled to permit of my concentrating my mind
on any book. The same chart with the blood
stain on it lay on the table before me. Would
my visitor if he came again touch that spot, or
would he give some other sign which might
indicate to me the course l ought TO pursue =
This time there was CGspdr to warn me- out
felt that the figure was coming even ere 1t
appeared. Presently saw it coming down stairs
This time it evidently far weaker than before,
for with difficulty could it stand and it toiled
down the steps in manifest suffering and agony.
At last it reached the cabin-door and attempte%
to advance toward me but no sooner had 1t let
go the hand-rail than it sank down exhausted
| sprang up and rushed toward it but the mo-
/ 7 oA f1a cfra vanished and |
attempted to raise the fallen figure my hands
touched the cabin floor.
! And now n light seemed to break upon me.
rushed upon deck, where found the mate and
crew setting all sail to catch the breeze which
had just sprang up. | Immediately gave orders
that the D0lphm's course should be altered 10
that which would bring to the spot marked
so plainly on the chart by the drop of blood
All the night paced the deck. No sleep seemed
possible to me until this hidden mystery should
be revealed. We made beautiful run, and with
daylight hoped to fnd-What? knew not.


The dawn brought disappointment A dense
fog lay on the face of the ocean. We could dis
Germ nothing at ten yards distance from the yes-
sells side According to my calculations and by
the log should have been not far from that
spot on the wide sea where | hoped to find a
solution of the mystery. Toward noon the
wind died away and at length deserted us alto
gether. Then the fog slowly rose, and at once,
glass in hand, ascended the rigging. With eager
gaze | scanned the horizon ahead on both bows,
but no welcome object met my eyes. pisheart-
ened at | knew not what, was about coming
down when Glanced to look astern. Almost di-
rectly in wake, but far astern of us, lay an
object which, by the aid of my grass, made ont
to be an open boat. could not discern anything
in it, and it appeared to lie like a log upon the
water. The gig was soon lowered according to
my orders, and mate and a boats crew were
dispatched to inspect the boat as lay far astern.
felt quite unequal to going myself, so agitated
was ], but | had the presence OF mind to order
brandy and nourishmcnt suitable to the sick and
famished to be brought upon deck. felt as sare
that my visitor was there as if had seen him IN
the boat but whether alive or dead dared not
to speculate. Twice had been summoned; and
twice | had neglected the summons. On the
third occasion my spectre visitor had sunk, to
all appearance, lifclesS on the floor OF my cabin
Was he dead, or was he only in a deathlikc
swoon? | thought over the wonderful incidents
which had caused me to find the boat. The wind
had died away when ! neglected to obey the hrst
summons, nor did it return until after had
received the third call. Had it not again died
away when it did should have passed the boat
so far in the fog not to be able to see 1t when
the fog lifted As it was we were nearly ont OF
sight when the horizon became clear. Half an
hours more wind and the mystery would never
have been revealed. Scarce could restrain my
impatence. However, there no help for it.
must wait until the gig returned. After hours
of suspense at last beheld the gig approaching
slowly with the other boat in tow. Unable to
endure the terrible suspense | went down into
the cabin Soon heard the gig touch the ships
side and the mate giving orders to lower away
the chair from the yard-arm. Then | thought,
they had found him; but he must be too feeble
to climb up the ships side. A few moments,
and heard approaching footsteps. ard down the
stairs was brought with the assistance OF the
crew my visitor for the fourth time but now
| iv nd trfly in flesh 10 SuODOrtfd
| in the arms of the mate, but he held on the
hand rail Just | had seen him in the three VIZ
| ions. His left arm hung loosely at his side, ana


was bandaged up just had observed on the


there occasions of the spectre visits


We gave him proper refreshment and put him


to bed. lie gradually revived, and IN lew a"{'


was able to tell his story. He had been captain


of a large vessel trading in the Pacific Inc ere"


had mutined, and had cast him aarli. ~ III ,9 nv


open boat, with nothing to eat except "


cuits. which were thrown into the noat III ~ ueiis.o'


by one of the mutineers Wneh - W. -


be had tried to cke out life oy eatng MS s"oes'


and r.i,b watcr wrung from his clothes alter ram


- hoorv dcwf he had quenched In manner


his thirst. When found by the mate he lay eX-


.nnded US in the bottom of the boat in death like


s,roon and owed his recovery, perhaps chiefly 10


s,'o brandy which had sent in the gig In few


1ars w. more we assisted him on deck Cdspcr no
sooner saw than he few at him, and but for my
Interference would have torn him to pieces
During the rest of the voyage we were obliged to
keep the dog chained up. As soon as per-
ceived the boat the Dolphin had been put on her
former course, and now, with a fair wind, we
again sped merrily on.


felt satisfied that signs and omens were
sometimes vouchsafed to mortal men for certain
grave reasons, and though not superstitious,
still believe that they more frequent than is
usually supposed. As neared the port for
which were bound, Capt. Williams flor such
was the name of my visitor) one day sitting
with me in the cabin, when he asked to see the
chart, as he wished to pick out the spot where
had found him. gave him an entirely new chart,
and he busted himslf sharpening pencil with
which to mark the place where he had nearly
lost his life. Suddenly l heard an exclamation
from him, which he followed M by saying: "My