Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-09-12
VOL. v.

mite OF ydfu, VI " oii, VI "'J uii"S " III
sort. 1t looks like some great, gawky, out
landish, onnatured-lookin' light boat cut adrift
nor any thing ever seed afore. And now
can see the bell too; they've got it rugged "
on the masthead, so that it swings bac'ard an,
or'ard every time the thing gives a lurch t.
leeward.'
'Can you make out whether there is any on,
aboardr
Not soul, sir (; that is, MT soul as can b,
seed. And it's my opinion sir, that if tha
thar craft is manned at all, rs by somethin
that's not to be seed through spy-glass.'
you mean something supernatural
'Exackly SO, sir something more superfin'
than natural-so superfne they can't be seet
with the glass, let alone the nakedeye.'
Nonsense, nonsense didn't think YOU
were so superstitious, Bob, said the captain
as he took the glass again and walked away
from the wheel
There's three soopers, one on top o'tother,
muttered the seaman, as his superior left him
sbut all that won't make the least
keep her away couple of points, 'cried
the captain, interrupting the soliloquy.
i AYE, ave, sir.' responded Bob, and the
ships course was altered, so as to bring hei
rapidly nearer the mysterious craft, to which
all eyes were now directed.
The second mate (our first officer, Harry
Wharton, had died during the voyage,) had
had the glass to his eve for some time, ant
showed evident signs of uneasiness. Atlengtl
sliding up to the captain, he whispered
Don't you think it's got something to dc
with poor Wharton,'
Bah! Mr.. Davit,' replied the captain
you re just as bad as Bob, and he thinks ole
Nick's aboard of the thing, with a crew of in.
visible imps, bound for Sicily, suppose with
a cargo of Birthstone. If you'll wait half an
hour, Ill tell you something more about it
for ! mean to board the concern, though il
should turn out to be the Flying Dutchman, ol
Davy Jones flag ship
In pursuance of this intention, orders were
given to 'heave to- and get one of the boats in
readiness The vessel with the bell was nov
plainly to be seen-a nondescript sort of a hull
with single mast in the centre of it, and only
rugged enough to keep this mast in its place
| The bell was suspended from the mast head
and ever and anon sent forth its doleful clang
as it swaved to and fro with the heaving of the
sea. As the ship drew nearer, the strange
looking craft seemed to be moving rapidly to
wards us, as if impelled by some ocean spirit
"a thousand fathoms deep, from the land o
mist and snow
The curiosity of the crew was so great, and
the eyes of all had been so frequently diverted
from the matter in hand, that the ship had not
been brought TO soon enough, but had shot
ahead good deal farther than had been in
tended, so that when the man9uvrc was at last
accomplished, and the vessel had become sta
tionary, the mysterious bark was at consid-
cradle distance. A boat was lowered away,
however, and the captain, having with some
difficulty, selected crew, put off from the
ship.
Louis Allwyn and myself had both wished
to accompany the expedition, but recent illness
made it matter of common prudence with botl
of lis to avoid all unnecessary cxerton, anc
we remained behind. Every individual among
the crew and passengers was on deck; watch
ing the motions of the boat that was TO solve
the mystery which occupied their thoughts
many of them with intense curiosity. There
was no apparent cause for anxiety or alarm
but there was something so singular in the in
cident which had thus suddenly and unexpect
edly broken in upon the monotony of their te
dious voyage, that almost every one felt tina
there would be something like disappointment
experienced, if the mysterious boat should b
found to contain nothing extraordinary. Ii
the minds of the second mate and some of tn
more superstitious of the sailors, there was
confused sensation of dread of something, the
knew not what and they would probably hav
been ashamed TO communicate their thought
) to one another.
the side of the strange vessel, but there wa
not light enough to see any thing more
profound silence reigned throughout the crowd
ed deck, interrupted only by the distant tollin
of the mysterious bell.
Suddenly score of voices exclaimed, in
startled whisper-Har what's that
Some had heard nothing, but the majorit
declared that strange, peculiar noise, ha
met their ears from the direction of the boat
Curiosity was now on tip-toe, and eyes an
ears were both strained to the utmost, with tn
hope Of catching some sight or sound to graft
fly it.
In little time it became evident that til
ships boat had put off again, and that it wa
rapidly returning. As soon as the men coul
be distinguished, it was observed they wer
rowing with all the speed of which they wer
capable, and few minutes later it was discoy
cred that the captain was not with them.-
They were soon along side, and their face
looked pale and ghastly, as if they belonged
50 many corpses.
To the questions which were eagerly put
them from all quarters, they answered, thu
the moment they came to the strange lookin
craft, they heard a low, hollow, unearthl
sound. which caused them to hesitate about g
l ing aboard. The captain, however, climbe
t up the side of the vessel, and after lookin
a about the deck moment, disappeared down
d hatchwau as thnx snnnosed He WIS hardl