Year: 1867

u


. uf s-ctTrrrs 1ri ------ 'H.tsf'4 p .f.--f


A Tale of the North Pacific -


In the year 1S5- I was in command of
the Dolphin. q fine bark of GOO tons. We
had been on whaling voyage, and had
obtained an unusually good cargo of oil,
both in quality and quantity. With our
course laid for home, the crew in good
health, and a fair prospect of percentage
money on the cargo, what more could we
want TO keep the song and the jest on the
lips of the crew.? Time passed quickly
along. Homeward bound" has an inten-
sified meaning to the whaler's crew, and
as we bowed along with good breeze each
day getting nearer to our homes and fire.
sides there were few on the vessel who
did not feel their spirits rising with each
days progress.


sitting at the upper end of my cabin table
consulting chart on which the vessels
course was laid down. | had been read
ing Dante's Inferno, and the horrible ma
ture of the work aroused my sensitive
feelings to such an extent that had de-
termined to try how far cigar and walk
on, deck would steady my nerves. Just as
| was about rising from my chair to go on
deck, / noticed a figure descending the
companion way before me. A single glance
told me that it was not one of the crew.
No one of my well fed. sleek men could
possibly look as miserable as this figure
looked, even at the distance at which I
saw him. His back was bent, and his head
lay forward on his breast as if he was care
fully watching his footsteps; his feet were
bare, while his head was enveloped in a
piece of old sail cloth instead of a cap.
His left arm hung down by his side, care
fully rolled up in his coat, which had evil
IDENTIFY been taken off for that purpose, and
the arm appeared to be broken. Quietly,
and without utteringa a word, he approached
me, and at last sat down at the opposite
end of the table to which was my accus-
toned place. He then slowly raised his
head, and sight was presented to my as
tonished gaze, the like of which hope 1
may never see again. A fine, no.
Bile face 1t was, but attenuated by disease
and suffering. or perhaps both. The fea-
lures had been good and regular, but now
the cheeks were sunken hollow; the teeth,
white and even, were firmly set together,
while the thin, parched lips were drawn
back from them. The eyes were as black
as coal, but sunk far back into the head,
and L saw that they were at once fixed on
me, with dull, unmeaning stare. The
figure now stood up just opposite me, and
l felt myself spell bound to my seat, with
out the power to address it. Having
looked at me fiXedly for some time, the fig
ure then walked up to me until it touched
my shoulder. .rf.s- .r-s 1..-,


Reaching out his arm, he laid bony fin
ger on the chart which was on the table,
and before could muster courage to ar
ticulate, 10! he had disappeared.


Recovering my composure somewhat
sprang with a bound up the companion
way and shouted for the mate. He speed
lily replied to my call, and came aft, drag
ging something after him which kept up O
continual bowling. AS he came nearer to
me I saw that it was my Labrador dog,
Casper, and 1 enquired the meaning of
what he was doing. "Why, SIR" he re-
piled, ''the dog lay on the companion hatch
until few moments ago, apparently sound
asleep, when all of sudden he sprang up
with horrible howl, and ran to his ken
mel forward, with his tail between his legs.
1 went forward after him and found him in
his kennel shaking with fright, and when
l put my hand in to pat him he attempted
to bite me. Hearing you call, I dragged
him aft with me by his collar to see if he
had not been hurt in some manner, for 1
never saw him act so before"


did not examine the terrified dog. I
felt that he had seen my visitor as we'll as
myself. With some difficulty 1 soothed
him and then went below. Walking up to
the table l cast a look down at the chart.
At the exact spot where my visitor had
L
mark, and, on closer examination, 1 per-
,ceived that it was drop of blood. The
mark indicated a position on the chart
which was about days sail from, and at
right angles to our course. For two hours
paced the deck wondering at what had
happened. The visitor was surely no Gre
alton of my own imagination, for the dog
had seen the figure as well as myself, and
the spot on the chart was plain evidence.
Nhot anTrld If n,aono II holf Il
to ask the mates advice. He was firm be-
lever in siiritual manifestations. and
would endeavor to solve the enigma in
some way or other; but then had always
ridiculed his notions, and it was too gall
ing to my pride to ask his advice now on
that of which had denied the existence
save in heated imagination; so deter
in soon after, slept well and woke refresh
Undetermined in my own mind to say
nothing and think no more about it.


When got on deck found that we were
becalmed. Not ripple was on the water


The day passed away monotonously
enough. The crew slept. L read and
smoked; and IL o'clock that night found
me in my chair at the head of the table in
my cabin.; Casper" who had quite got
over his fears, lay on the hatch at the head
fOf the cabin stairs. l could hear the pat
pat of his tail as greeting to the mate as
be kept passing him in his walk up and
down the deck. This evening my thoughts
were tranquil, for l was reading volume
Of Longfeliow's and was in the midst OF
'IEvaDgaline," when 1 heard a howl from
Casper" and the scurry of his feet as he
scampered forward. Looking up saw my
visitor OF the previous night again descend
ing the companion way. He seemed much


weaker, and came slowly down, clutchine
| = hc l,ox, III
hand. He walked across the cabin more
feebly than before, and his respiration wa


heavy and labored when he reached tn,
table. He glanced at the table with anX.
ious looks as if to see whether the char


was still there. 1t was not. He then gazeC
at me with sorrowful and disappointed
stare and disappeared. / remained quiet
~ in my chair for about ten minutes aftel


the spectre had departed. When I wen
on deck found the mate again trying tt
sooth the dog, who snapped and sDarled il
his keunel, until it was unsafe to approach
him. Leaving him there I went below, ant
throwing myself, dressed as I was on my
| cot, / tried to sleep. Uurefreshing ant
| feverish was the sleep which visited nj


that night, and l rose in the morning to
| tally unfit for work of any Kind, and will
| my nerves unstrung. What was expected


of me?i For what purpose was / warned


What must do? Thus mused the entir


day. Casper kept close to his kennel all tn


time. and steadily refused to eat or drink
Whenever any one of US approached hi
kennel he attempted to snap at US, and ap
peared as if under the influence of SOM
great fear. The calm had continued tn


entire day, and we made no progress what


ever. Again evening approached, and tn


same hour found me, as on the two previ


GUS nights, sitting at my table. Would th
| fiuure AGAIN anDear2 f0und nv self ho N
| ing that it wonld. This time did not at
tempt to read, for my thoughts were to,


troubled to permit of my concentrating m,
mind on any book. The same chart, witt


the blood stain on it, lay on the table be
tfore me. Would my visitor, if he cam


again, touch that spot, or would he give m


some other sign which might indicate tn