My Mate's Secret.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1519, 12 February 1886, Page 3

My Mate's Secret.

T was at Mobifc, m command of the •hip Satellite, and waa loaded for the Mediterranean. There had been sickness among my crew, and my first and •eeond mates were taken down. My first mate died, anr* the second mate became so reduced by dis?a«e that he revolted not to go out with me. The feter had settled on his lungs, and he »«d« his way as soon ss possible to his home in New England. Three weeks bad I lain idle, with my ahip all ready for nailing; and I could wait no longer, even if I sailed short-banded. Seamen were scarce in the Gulf porta. I had lost six of my crew, besides my two mates, and a* yet I had found but four men to fill their places, and not one of them knew anything about na?igation. My third mate was with me, and I resolved I would sail as soon as I could find one more officer.

One morning just a* I was getting ready to leave my ship, for the purpose of going up into town, a man came on board who wished to speak with the captain. I told him I was that individual.

He said his name was Gilbert Carboy. He was a seaman by profession, and had commanded a ship. He be. longed to New York state, but had for the past two years, been out in Texas, engaged in grape culture. A partner who had been with him in the business decamped with all the money, and he was now forced to seek a livelihood at his old profession. He had been informed that I wanted an officer, and be would like the situation.

Corboy was about forty years of age, tall and slim, but yet quite muscular, with black hair and large black eyes, his face somewhat too pale for |robust health, and with features of singular beauty.

I conducted him to my cabin, where I examined him in the various departments of our profession ; and I found him as thoroughly acquainted with all the principles of Searoenship and navigation as I was myself. I was fully assured that he was as competent to ■mil the ship as an officer could be, and jet I hesitated about engaging hio. There waa something in his look and manner which led me to distrust him ; bat why it was so I could not tell. There was, at times, a sort of wandering, uncertain look in his eye, and I fancied he started, once in a while, as though something bad frightened him. In short he appeared to be ill at ease with himself, and I finally intimated to him that I feared all was not right. There was another stare as I said this, and 1 could see that he trembled. He gated a few moments into my face, and then ssid :

"Capttin, I know what you moan. You see something odd in my o.;t»aviour. I don't blame j<>u ; 1 can feel it myself. 1 know that 1 act strangely ■onetimes, and I try to avoid it. Howe?er, it will soon wear off when I once get upon salt water again. It must appear strange, but I assure you there it nothing to fear. You think I act peculiarly. Perhaps you would act the same if you were iu my place 1 am sensitive—perhaps too sensitive. It does not agree with me to have a friend, whom I have trusted as a brother, run away with all my money, leaving me to meet debts to the amount of twenty thousand dollars. How would you feel, captain, if you could not appear abroad in daylight without fearing the approach of a creditor at every step ? How would you feel if you expected every minute to find the band of a sheriff clapped upon your shoulder ? Egad, I don't believe you would be particularly distinguished for a bearing of manly independence."' I frankly confessed that I should not.

" No, sir,'' he resumed ; " and you would want f o get away from the curse; and if ever there could be a moment when your heart would expose its anxiety, it would be when the opportunity of escape was at hand, but not secured—when your chances were hanging in a balance, and you knew not which way the beam would turn. You want a man to help you to sai' your ship. I am that man. I have been unfortunate, but, mercy ! do you imagine that my misfortunes of the past can hang to me on the blue sea ?" I finally resolved to take the man, and run tbe risk. 1 gave him the berth of first mate, and forthwith prepared for sea. He entered at once upon the discharge of his duties, and was not long in proving himself a thorough teaman. Within six hours of installing Gilbert Carboy into his office, my ship had passed Mobile Point, and was daihing through the waters of the gulf before a fair wind.

For a week I overlooked my mate's movements pretty narrowly, but saw nothing directly out of the way. I never knew a better seaman, or a more accomplished officer; and yet there were times when I did not feel wholly easy. There were timet when Mr. Carboy seemed wandering and lost, as though some dread incubus huop upon him, and the more 1 watched him, the more convinced did I become that something more than the memory of his creditors weighed upon his mind. One day, as we aat in the cabin alone, I spoke to him upon the subject. "Carboy," said I, "you want a friend/'

lie started, and looked eagerly into ay free.

" You have some secret upon your mind that yon had better intrust to the "'keeping of a second party," I returned.

He turned pale as death, and grasped the edge of the table to steady himself.

" A secret!" he whispered. " How do you know I hare a secret ? " " Because I can see it in your looks and actions," I replied. " Come Carboy, you need not fear to trust me. There was something besides debt Am I not right ? " There was a quiver of the frame—a convulsive effort, and then my mate was calm and quiet—a little paler than usual, and with more of a strange look in his large black eyes ; but still calm. Then he laughed, and said — " My dear captain, you are entirely mistaken. Mortal man could not be more so. There is no secret —none, I assure you—none such as you imagine. What have I done since I came on board your ship, to offend you ? " "Nothing," I answered him.

" And in what way have I failed to do my duty ? " •• In nothing." " In what, so far as my office is concerned, have I disappointed you ? " Again I had to answer him—" In nothing." " Then," said be, u I pray you to trust ma Let no peculiarity of my disposition trouble you. When I fail in mv duty, or when I give you cause of offence, then let me know it."

At this point we were interrupted by the entrance of a third person, and the conversation was dropped. From that time until we had entered the Mediterranean I said no more to my mate upon the subject of his secret, but yet I was not satisfied—in fact 1 was not easy. There were times when I really feared to trust Carboy on the watch; why, I could not tell. It wp« curious—very curious. It was, I thought, foolish, but I could not help it. I could see that he tried to please me—that he even discommoded himself to accommodate me. He never hesitated to move when I spoke, and never questioned any of my opinions. This was the more strange, because such was evidently not his nature. He was naturally proud and independent, and impatient of restraint; and was it not a legitimate conclusion that some powerful motive led him to restraint himself so wonderfully before me ? But the secret was coming to the surface.

On the evening of the fourth day after leaving Gibraltar, the sun went down in a leaden cloud, and before eight o'clock the wind wis blowing furiously from the South-west; but I did not apprehend any trouble, as we took it very near astern, with plenty of open sea ahead. At midnight I called Gilbert Carboy and gave the ship into his charge. The course to be kept through the night was east-north-ear.t The main-sail was furled, and a double reef in the foresail, and close-reefed top-sails. I remarked to my mate, after I had given him all needed directions, that we should pass Balearic Isles before the morning; or, at any rate, that we should be well up with them. He said he had supposed so ; and with this he turned to the binnacle, and I went below.

1 sat tor half an hour at my table, looking over the chart, and then I started to go on deck again ; but I did not go. Half way up the ladder I stopped, and finally turned back. What started me up I cannot tell ; but I went back because I feared that my mate might think I mistrusted him if I went on deck.

At length I turned into my cot, and I think I lpy there another half hour before I went to sleep.

How long I had slept I could not tell; but I was awakened from an uneasy slumber by the peculiar motion of the ?hip. I started upon my elbow to observe and think. The ship had a heavy list to starboard, and was labouring with a heavy sea

I detected at once that the wind was abeam. Was it possible that the wiud had hauled around to the northward ? I could not believe it. In all my acquaintance with that sea I had never known a south-west gale to change thus without moderating. As quickly as I could I drew on my trousers, and hurried on deck. The night was still dark, and the wind was blowing furiously. I cast my eye into the binnacle, and ?aw that the ship teat heavi»'j due north ! I asked the helmsman what that m^ant.

He said it was Mr. Carboy's order. Where was Mr. Carboy ? He was forward. I bad started to go in search of my mate, when I met him coming aft

" In mercy's name, Mr. Carboy, what does this mean r " " What ? " he said.

" This change, of course, sir." "Oh, that is nothing,captain," he replied, with a little laugh. " Don't get excited. I'm after a great aunt of mine, that ran away with my uncle. She carried off all my money, sir. but I'll catch her yet! Ho, ho! Blow ye winds ! Blow and crack ! Don't be alarmed, captain. I'm going ashore; I'll be blessed if I stay here any longer!" I cannot remember all he said, but I can very distinctly remember that I did not take lime just then to make him any reply; for while I was yet standing aghast, with the conviction flashing upon me that my mate was a raving

maniac, the loud, startling cry came from forward; " Breakers ! Breakers ! Rocks ahead!"

I rushed to the bows and looked over, and for a moment my heart leaped into my mouth. Directly ahead, and so near that ] could see the phosphorescent tzlaro of the foam, was a rocky coast. The roar of the crashing sea was loud and deep, and the demon jaws were wide open for me.

It was not a time for thought In a very few minutes, if I k«pt on, we should be dashed upon the rocks, and I knew that no man of that crew would outlive such a shock.

In a single instant all the chances had passed before my judgment. Another moment of hesitation must be fatal. If I attempted to luff, in the eye of such a wind, and in such a sea, my ship might miss her stays and be lost There was but one course to pursue.

I sprang aft, thundering at the top of my voice :

"Up with the helm ! up with it ! Hard a-port To the braces, my men ! —to the braces ! Quick quick ! Off to leeward ! Ease off! Hound in the weather braces ! "

I reached the poop jtnt in season to see Carboy knock the helmsman down with an iron belaying pin, and seize the wheel with his own hands. I do not think it took me over two seconds to relieve my mate from his sudden trick at the wheel. I struck him under the ear with my fist; and as. he staggered back, I grasped the spokes, and put the helm up. Fortunately, my men were at hand; and what was more fortunate still, they obeyed me promptlv. The ship turned her head steadily, sweeping in a narrow arc, and as she came to her old course, still wearing, I felt a shock—a quiver—a grating of the keel upon the rock—and a fhower of spray from the surge came raining over me.

Again my heart was in my mouth ; but I bowed my head, and held the wheel with a firm hand.

Quiver! Quiver! Grate! Grate! —a moan, as of some mighty throe and all was over.

As the ship took the wind upon the starboard quarter, I cast my eye* over my left shoulder, and saw a huge, black maeH of rock towering above me. But not yet did I dare to breathe freely.

1 stood, with my head bent, and my heart hushed, for some moments more —stood, guiding my ship through the sea, ani praying to God for deliverance. At length, when 1 knew that all was safe—when the rocks had been left all astern- -I gave the order for belaying, and called a mau to relieve me.

M/ next attention was directed to my mate.

I foundjhim lying on deck, gasping as though in a spasm. I took him below, and for four days he lay in his cot; sometimes raving madly, and sometimes apparently insensible. When we reached Naples he was able to sit up and talk ; and he then confessed to me his secret.

It wan periodical insanity, which he inherited from bis father' Several times before he had been thin attacked while on duty at sea; and it had become so generally known in the northern seaports that he could not obtain a berth on shipboard. " Hut," said he, " when I came to Mobile, I hoped that I should be troubled no more. I thought that 1 might make a voyage in safety. I had not had an attack for over two years, and 1 wished to try if 1 could do my duty in the ship. I knew that I was deceiving you, and I feared that you might detect the truth ; aud I think that the constant fear which I suffered from this latter cause had much to do with bringing the madness upon me." There is no need that 1 should tell how I talked to him. I was not harsh nor unforgiving ; but I could not exonerate him. 1 blamed him severely and promised him that all shipmasters of my acquaintance should have the benefit of my knowledge.

On my return homeward J passed the Island of Formenter ft and as i gazed upon tho huge black rocks which lift their sea-beaten front over the surge upon the southern coast of that isle, my heart felt something 0 f shock ; for those were the rocks from which I had guided the nhip on that dismal night when I first discovered my Mate* Secret