Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-09-12
BATH, MAINE, THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER H. 1850

cavern-like mouth. The animal ATTEMPTED to
close its jaws, and the sharp pointed knife
pierced its palate, till it lodged firmly in the
bone. The tortured creature bounded and
howled with anguish, but the undaunted youth
kept his hold, drew his cutlass with his left
hand, and with one vigorous stroke, made
deep cash in his throat. The blood welled
forth, the flashing eyes grew dim and the
monster was soon stretched lifeless on the floor.
The combat had lasted but few seconds.
and by the time that Louis less agile comran-
ions could get down the hatchway, it was over.
He had been pierced by the animals claws in
several places, but had received no serious in
jury After having the dead bodies of the
captain and mate removed to the boat, he pro-
ceeded to make more minute examination of
the cabin. 1t was long, low apartment, ex-
tending the whole length of the vessel, and
having at either extremity massive iron chain
terminating in a heavy ring at one end, the
other being fastened by strong staple to
beam in the vessels side A number of hu-
man bones strewed the floor, besides various
articles of apparel, which evidently indicated
that two human beings of opposite sexes, had
once tenanted this gloomy spot, and had proba-
bly, been torn to pieces by the famished tiger
The beast had chain around his neck, and
had been confined to one corner of the cabinby
slender iron ring, which was apparently put
there to be broken. Over the centre of the
room was written a single word, in large let
ters, but no one could tell the meaning. We
afterwards ascertaned it to be the word Ven
geance" written in the character of an Indian
dialect.
Louis now prepared to leave the fatal vessel.
When he reached the deck he found a number
of men engaged in hauling strong rope which
they found down in the water, with one end
made fast to the windward side of the vessel.
What have you got there, Bobr said the
young man, as he saw them.
We'll, sir, that's precious sight more nor
| can tell you. We've been heavin' away
here long enough to my notion, to haul in a
dipsy line from t'other side of no wEar. Jest
look-ee thar, sir, what kite(coiD Do'ropen
There was evidently something at the end of
the line, and the men continued to haul away
faster, their curiosity increasing at every pull.
Every thing is finite, and this rope was no ex-
ception to the universal law, something gilt
tered through the waters, one more effort, and
a small leaden coffin made its appearance
by the powers shouted an Irshman, who
stood nearest the water, its one o'the devils
own babies 2 and SO saying, the superstitious
creature whipped out his jack-knife, and cut
the rope before any one was aware Of his inten-
through the trembling waters, and then with
its unknown contents, disappeared forever
Some were angry, some looked wise, others
shook their heads, and paddy insisted that he
had done exactly right in getting rid of the
little imp as speedily as possible: but there
was, perhaps not one of them who did not be-
lieve Bobs observation, that the little coffin
had towed the mysterious vessel to this spot,
for the express purpose of assuring the destruc
ton of the captain and Mr.. Davit OF this,
and all these matters, nothing more was ever
known, and the reader is just as capable of
forming conjectures about them as am