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Article THE MYSTERIOUS MR. B. ← Page 5 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mysterious Mr. B.
any time , by a look or a Avord , counteract the excessive Ai'armth of his feelings . Many were the surmises , and jokes , which passed around , at this strange circumstance ; for although in decidedly different stations , yet they were , when opportunities occurred , closeted together , and there evidently existed , a good and kindly feeling amongst the trio . A very singular , and untOAvard circumstance arose , which explained the seeming mystery of attachment Avhich Avas formed between them ; and it AA'as
this very particular fact , and to me , omen , that AA'as the occasion of my being enrolled as a Member of the Masonic Fraternity . It was in the year 1788 , that our captain receii'ed instructions to proceed home , and I cannot forget the happiness which was expressed on the countenance of every individual , at the happy news . With the exception of myself , each had the satisfaction of reflecting on those they had left in England ; the pleasure , the joy , the happiness , Avith which their arrival Avould be hailed . In the month of September , in the above year we . were off the Bocas of Trinidad , having under our care the charge
of a small convoy of Indiamen . The Avind , Avhich had been as fair as Ave could desire , gradually increased to a hard gale . During the day , the merchant ships were widel y spread over the expanse of ocean , ancl very often Avere out of our sight ; the best look out Avas required to prevent accident , and very often Ave Avere under the absolute necessity of furling every inch of canvas , in order to Keep withiu due bounds of our charge . In the evening Avefelt an evident increase of Avind and sea . Every care
Avas taken to keep the ship from the probable chance of being run foul of by any of the convoy . During the night we had evident symptoms of the necessity of keeping a good Avatch , the look out Avas deplorably bad , Ave could not see the length of our OAvn ship ' s side , the sea kept rising , and the frigate Avas IIOAV at every lurch rolling her gunivales under Avater , Avliile in spite of the skill of the helmsman , the sea SAvept oA'er her quarters and decks . Those on the look out Avere activel
y and anxiously employed , —all mischances , they Avere aAvare , Avould rest upon their shoulders , and , therefore , the iveight of their responsibility Avas great . " The sailor heard "The roar of the huge cliff , and on his hrow " Fell the cold deiv of horror . "
It Avas at the hour of six , a . m ., that a dreadful shriek Avas heard b y those AA'I IO Avere on deck . —it issued from the sea , and Avas instantaneously traced to the mizen chains . The cry " a man overboard , " Avas immediately raised , all hands rushed upon deck , the boat Avas lowered in a minute , in spite of the danger of the weather , and five or six of our men Avere read y to help the unfortunate man out of his danger . " Keep up a brave heart " Wriht" cried out those on deckfor it Avas
, g , , the third individual I have noticed AVIIO had gone overboard , " Ave will soon have hold of you , "—but it was too late for any assistance—his fate ivas irrevocable . "God Almighty help me , —I am gone , " exclaimed the unfortunate man , as tiie sea drove him past the ship , but before Ave lost him , we distinctly heard him repeat the names of Tozer ancl Lawrence ! ancl then
' One loud death scream—stifled as it rose " By the dark sea;—one blow—one shriek—the grave !" "For God's sake ; save hiin , " cried out , the Purser , "I will gtA'e Fift y Pounds fo those who shall rescue him from the watery grave ! "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mysterious Mr. B.
any time , by a look or a Avord , counteract the excessive Ai'armth of his feelings . Many were the surmises , and jokes , which passed around , at this strange circumstance ; for although in decidedly different stations , yet they were , when opportunities occurred , closeted together , and there evidently existed , a good and kindly feeling amongst the trio . A very singular , and untOAvard circumstance arose , which explained the seeming mystery of attachment Avhich Avas formed between them ; and it AA'as
this very particular fact , and to me , omen , that AA'as the occasion of my being enrolled as a Member of the Masonic Fraternity . It was in the year 1788 , that our captain receii'ed instructions to proceed home , and I cannot forget the happiness which was expressed on the countenance of every individual , at the happy news . With the exception of myself , each had the satisfaction of reflecting on those they had left in England ; the pleasure , the joy , the happiness , Avith which their arrival Avould be hailed . In the month of September , in the above year we . were off the Bocas of Trinidad , having under our care the charge
of a small convoy of Indiamen . The Avind , Avhich had been as fair as Ave could desire , gradually increased to a hard gale . During the day , the merchant ships were widel y spread over the expanse of ocean , ancl very often Avere out of our sight ; the best look out Avas required to prevent accident , and very often Ave Avere under the absolute necessity of furling every inch of canvas , in order to Keep withiu due bounds of our charge . In the evening Avefelt an evident increase of Avind and sea . Every care
Avas taken to keep the ship from the probable chance of being run foul of by any of the convoy . During the night we had evident symptoms of the necessity of keeping a good Avatch , the look out Avas deplorably bad , Ave could not see the length of our OAvn ship ' s side , the sea kept rising , and the frigate Avas IIOAV at every lurch rolling her gunivales under Avater , Avliile in spite of the skill of the helmsman , the sea SAvept oA'er her quarters and decks . Those on the look out Avere activel
y and anxiously employed , —all mischances , they Avere aAvare , Avould rest upon their shoulders , and , therefore , the iveight of their responsibility Avas great . " The sailor heard "The roar of the huge cliff , and on his hrow " Fell the cold deiv of horror . "
It Avas at the hour of six , a . m ., that a dreadful shriek Avas heard b y those AA'I IO Avere on deck . —it issued from the sea , and Avas instantaneously traced to the mizen chains . The cry " a man overboard , " Avas immediately raised , all hands rushed upon deck , the boat Avas lowered in a minute , in spite of the danger of the weather , and five or six of our men Avere read y to help the unfortunate man out of his danger . " Keep up a brave heart " Wriht" cried out those on deckfor it Avas
, g , , the third individual I have noticed AVIIO had gone overboard , " Ave will soon have hold of you , "—but it was too late for any assistance—his fate ivas irrevocable . "God Almighty help me , —I am gone , " exclaimed the unfortunate man , as tiie sea drove him past the ship , but before Ave lost him , we distinctly heard him repeat the names of Tozer ancl Lawrence ! ancl then
' One loud death scream—stifled as it rose " By the dark sea;—one blow—one shriek—the grave !" "For God's sake ; save hiin , " cried out , the Purser , "I will gtA'e Fift y Pounds fo those who shall rescue him from the watery grave ! "