The

December is no time to be sailing the North Atlantic. Oliver devote thought to

himself as he turned his back to the stinging wind and blew warm air onto his hands. Oliver

was the first mate of the de Grotta, a British ship that was on its way from New York to

Gibraltar. Sailing had been smooth. They had a good wind at their backs and the weather was clear

although the sun overhead was doing little to fight off the chill. He was standing behind

the ship's wheel when suddenly across the bow a two-masted square rigger appeared over the horizon.

The ship's course seemed unsteady and the vessel shifted aimlessly in the wind. It was under

short canvas for such a brisk wind which made it lean heavily to the starboard side.

Who was steering the ship in such a haphazard way? Oliver wondered as he changed course to prevent

sailing into the other ship's path. It lurched along at what was only about two knots but Oliver

couldn't chance a collision. As the two ships drew nearer to one another he could see that

two of the other vessels sales were missing and that a lower four top sale was hanging slackly

at the corners. He wondered if she had been through a storm. He could see ropes hanging loosely

from the mass but could see no movement on board. He quickly sent one of the men to fetch the

captain. DeGradis captain David Reed Morehouse hurried up onto the deck from below. He climbed the

steps to the stern and joined Oliver behind the wheel. The first mate quickly pointed out the

damage that had been done to the other ship and the captain raised his glass and looked closely

at it. He could see no one at the helm. The ship looked like it was in trouble and yet no distress

signal had been raised. Run up the signal and hail the ship. He called out one of the crewman

rigged a blue and yellow flag to a line and raised it so it could clearly be seen by the other ship.

The flag was a maritime signal that essentially meant hello we wish to speak with you

...