The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-08-25

he was determined to hRvo 1t brought
up? What could it contain? That wal
the puzzling question couldnot settle
and the carpenter could give me no in
formation.
AT don't know what it is" lie said
at came on board Just before We lef
Beyrout. The captain was out of the
ship at the time, I remember, and the
paymaster asked mo to stow it away il
my store.room, as they had filed their
up. Thought 1t was only pickles OIL
jam; but We shall soon sec what's in
The case came on deck, and some mer
accompanied it, with tools for forcing il
open. I drew tho captains attention tC
them, for lo was looking tho other way,
He turned round, and looked ut thobox,
and said" Yes, that's it. Now, two
men take II up very carefully-don't lei
it fall, mind!-and bring it up here OF
the bridge"
His voice was rather husky; but he
seemed to have regained his compo
sure, though his face looked still very
pale.
There was nothing peculiar outward.
ly about the case in which SO much in
terest was centered.
It was about three feet long, by GfooI
and a half wide and deep, made Of com,
mon deal, roughly put together, and
with narrow iron band round each
end. The name OF some dealer ut Bey.
rout was stamped on it ip black letters,
but so much defaced rs to be almost il
legible. Underneath that was printed
Ward-room Officers, H. NJ. s. Astcr.
0utwurdly, it was nothing. What could
it containP
"Now," said the captain, when thu
two men were beside him, "giye it .
good swing, md launch it overheard
One, two, three, and over |"
A dull splash-the mysterious case
was gone
Down, down, through many fathomi
of blue water It sank, and with 1t car
ried secret Of such dread import that
it had blanched the cheek and palsied
tho hand Of man accustomed to the
perils of tho sea from his youth, and
who, in tho most critical moments oil
danger, had never before shown to those
around him TINT tho sensation Of feal
was known to him.
Down, down 1t sank, the waters closed
over it, the mighty sea took 1t to her
self, forever hiding it from the sight Of
men. The clear bright moon shone on
the place the bubbles that marked the
spot burst and melted away. The rest.
less ocean showed no trace OF tho place
where the mysterious box was engulfed
but the ripples danced to and fro in the
moonbeams, as they had danced before,
and the ship glided silently and swiftly
away.
Iwas sorely disappointed. I thought,
of course, when the case was ordered to
bo brought on deck, that 1t would be
opened before the captains eyes, and /
should be made acquitted with the rea.
son of his unusual excitement.
The old carpenter started nghast.
"Good Lord |" lie calculated, "what
has come over him? Depend upon ii,
he's seen q ghost" ...
And he wiped the perspiration from
his brow, for lie was superstitious old
man.
"Ghostl Whats ghost got to do
with box OF pickles." sneered old Tom
Rallies, tho boatswain's mate-a privi-
legged oddity. cts my opinion he's
gone stark, staring mad"
"Them things in that ere box wero.
MT hisn't to chuck overheard. He'll be
n chuckin' my bag over next" grumbled
another mana discontented aud insub-
ordinate character.
l moved away. The conversation
was not meant for my ears, and / had
no wish to play the eaves.dropper.
Full IN hour did Captain Montague
pace up and down the deck with the
officer Of the watch ; and for that space
of time 1 had 10 curb my impatienee to
hear the story which I knew he would
have TO tell me.
Captain Montague had turned in as
usual after giving his orders for the
night to the officer OF the first watch,
and having nothing to disturb him, and
being in good health. he was soon FIST
asleep. How long ho slept ho did not
know; but suddenly he heard n loud
cry Of "Firel" Only, half awakened, and
not sure whether the voice was in the
cabin or outside, he started up, and in
voluntarily said
"Where?"
To which question he distinctly heard
q voice IN his cabin answer
I" A case OF inhammables in the fore
most locker, starboard side OF tho car
penter's stare.room, marked Ward
room Officers, has ignited."
Just then tho bell struck four times.
He sprang out Of bed, and searched fer
the owner OF the voice; but no one was
there. Then he rang his bell, and sum
moned the sentry outside, and ques-
toned him as to who had come into his
cabin; but the sentry-a reliable man-
was certain that nobody had passed his
post. The time, too, was close on eight
bells. So, satisfied that he must have
been dreaming, and rather ashamed OF
having agitated himself about nothing,
ho dismissed the sentry, and proceeded
to turn in once more; but lie could not
succeed in quite dismissing the subject
from his mind, and when he ut last fell
asleep again, lie was visited with this
fearful dream:
The vessel was the victim Of that
most awful catastrophe that can happen
to ship at sea-she was in flames. He
was on deck, amidst n scene Of contl-
sion and horror perfectly indescribable,
enveloped in hot and choking smoke,
through which tho lnrid glare Of the