"stoker-dracula-168" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stoker Bram)

student is loudly asserting that the rights of the owner are already
completely sacrificed, his property being held in contravention of the
statutes of mortmain, since the tiller, as emblemship, if not proof,
of delegated possession, is held in a dead hand. It is needless to say
that the dead steersman has been reverently removed from the place
where he held his honourable watch and ward till death- a
steadfastness as noble as that of the young Casablanca- and placed
in the mortuary to await inquest.

Already the sudden storm is passing, and its fierceness is
abating; crowds are scattering homeward, and the sky is beginning to
redden over the Yorkshire wolds. I shall send, in time for your next
issue, further details of the derelict ship which found her way so
miraculously into harbour in the storm.

Whitby.

9 August.- The sequel to the strange arrival of the derelict in
the storm last night is almost more startling than the thing itself.
It turns out that the schooner is a Russian from Varna, and is
called the Demeter. She is almost entirely in ballast of silver
sand, with only a small amount of cargo- a number of great wooden
boxes filled with mould. This cargo was consigned to a Whitby
solicitor, Mr. S. F. Billington, of 7, The Crescent, who this
morning went aboard and formally took possession of the goods
consigned to him. The Russian consul, too, acting for the
charter-party, took formal possession of the ship, and paid all
harbour dues, etc. Nothing is talked about here to-day except the
strange coincidence; the officials of the Board of Trade have been
most exacting in seeing that every compliance has been made with
existing regulations. As the matter is to be a "nine days' wonder,"
they are evidently determined that there shall be no cause of after
complaint. A good deal of interest was abroad concerning the dog which
landed when the ship struck, and more than a few of the members of the
S.P.C.A., which is very strong in Whitby, have tried to befriend the
animal. To the general disappointment, however, it was not to be
found; it seems to have disappeared entirely from the town. It may
be that it was frightened and made its way on to the moors, where it
is still hiding in terror. There are some who look with dread on
such a possibility, lest later on it should in itself become a danger,
for it is evidently a fierce brute. Early this morning a large dog,
a half-bred mastiff belonging to a coal merchant close to Tate Hill
Pier, was found dead in the roadway opposite to master's yard. It
had been fighting, and manifestly had had a savage opponent, for its
throat was torn away, and its belly was slit open as if with a
savage claw.

Later.- By the kindness of the Board of Trade inspector, I have been
permitted to look over the log-book of the Demeter, which was in order
up to within three days, but contained nothing of special interest