The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1868-12-17
any one OIL board. Sec what you eau
make of it.

any one OIL ooaCu. occ WuSl you eau
make oft.
Bob resigned his place at the wheel to
one of the men, aud came forward and
took the glass. lie held it to his eye for
several minutes without speaking, aud,
to all appearance, without breathing,
while we awaited his word with the
deepest interest. FINALLY, he gave u
great sigh and lowered 1t. ...... -..
BLOW me if it aint old Davy Jones
afloat::" .s..E.
"How does it look ?" several Of us in
quired in the same breath.
I'm be hanged II can tell! There's
no bowsprit, and -"
Here he levclcd his glass again, and
shortly after continued his observations.
"There's no sail mo nothin."
"There must be Sosnething."
"Aw-certainly- GER
tainly--aw-if your yision-aw-is "1ls
| to discern It," ventured the gentle Adol-
phus Fitzgibbon.
Don't you gee anything like n sail ~
inquired the Captain.
| "Not a speck, nor any place to put
one, either. Hold Il minute!" eXclaim
ed Backstay Bob; "Ive got her In range
now. She amt got the least mite Of a
boom, yard or anything like. She looks
like some great hulk Of light-boat.-
Hold Oh again! see the bell They
have rugged it up ut the mast head, SO
| that it swings back ards and forards
every time the thing gives n lurch to
leewards."
"Can you see anything aboard ?"
"Not u creetur, living or dead.'
! Keep her away a couple Of points,"
cried tn. Captain to the man ut the
! wheel.
"Ay, ay, sir"
And tho ships course was altered, so
rs to bring her rapidly near the myste-
rious craft towards which all eyes were
directed.
Several Of the company now openly
remarked that there was something su-
pernatural in the appearance Of this boat
with its tolling bell. TO all Of these
Florence Harris and her lover replied
lightly, neither Of them having the
least faith in their credu!ity.
The Captain listened impatisntly, and
then said, "Iou are all act Of towards
No doubt you imagine old Nick is
abroad with crew of little imps, bound
for the Galapagos Isles with load of
birthstone. lfyoulI content yourselves
for half all hour longer, III tell you
something about it, for intend to board
that old numbering hulk, even if it turns
out to be the Flying Dutchman or Davy
Jones flag ship, and shall explore it
from stem to stern.'
TO show that ie meant what lie said ,
orders were given to l,eave to and to get
one of the boats in readiness. BY this
time the nondescript was plainly visible
to all. 1t appeared to be an old hulk
with u single mast in the center. The
bell was suspended from the masthead,
and ever and anon sent forth its solemn
tulling, A. the hulk rose and sank with
the heavings OF the sea.
Before tho ship was brought to, we
had passed the hulk some distance, SO
. that when we halted there were several
hundred yards intervening, and it was
only dimly discernahle.
/ A boat was lowered, ana the Captain
having selected crew, pulled way to-
wards the hulk. asked permission to
/ accompany ii, but, on account of a recent
! illness, was refused. Fortunate, indeed,
for me was that refusal.
There WAS something soextraor'linary
, regarding the appearance aud action OF
tho hulk, that the curiosity Of nll was so
intense rs to be painful. We strained
: our gaze, rs the Captain and his crew
drew rapidly near it. We saw the dis
tance swiftly decrease between the boat
and the hulk, until the shadowy forms
merged into one. And then followed
all impressive silcnce-suddcnly broken
by a howl a pistol shot and 4 scream
and rs our hearts almost stopped beat
ing, we saw a moment later the boat pul
off from the hulk, and the men rowing
with all their might back to the ship
AS they came nearer, we discerncd tina
the Captain was missing.
Back$tay Bob dashed towards th'
boat, and shaking his fist ut the men
demanded furiously, "You coward,
dogs! Where is Captain Lustcr:"
1.-The devil has got hinl!"
Absurd as the reply might have seem
ed at any other time, it was uttered il
solemn earnest, rs the CHASTITY faces G
the crew attested. In reply to our cage
; questions, they said the moment the
came alongside tho craft, they heard
. low, hollow, uleartllly sound, whic
: caused them to hesitate. The Captai
, climbed up the side of the vessel, ds
seconded to the cabin and disappeare
! from view. He was hardly out Of siyl
, when the noise they had at first hear
was repeated, far louder and fierccr.
! The next moment the repart Of the Cal
1 tain's pistol was heard, followed by