The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-08-28

",
that of an assertion.
mo, sir" responded the captain. "The
nearest land is u good 800 miles away, and
this does not come from there, l should
think
"What can 1t be-" asked several, in the
same breath. :,
"The sound comes from that direction
said Florence Harris, pointing toward th'
equator.
"Perhaps it is on board ship" l Gain
ventured.
"What can it be 2" asked Floir ace
To this no one ventured to r. .oly for several
moments. In the meautin H.. tolljng of
the bell had become qu''e distinct, and Adol.
plus Fi'zgibbons gave a yawn, y groan, a
kick, and awokc.
AWLyIo u' was about TO suggest
a"-.uat y, uias "a q tcabell should ring-aw-
aw-aw ne stammered, coatusedly rising
10 70, ms iee and pitching back ana iofti'
men se' ing us all in the attltRdc OF attention.
he ASK I'd. "iyLat-aW-what the dooce Is the
MAJ cry"
.'lt's the Bell Of DOOM exclaimed BACK
stay Bob, a TALL SCARED saiaor, from his posi-
! ton at the wheel
"Pshaw! you're too childish" replied the
captain. Whatever IL is, we are rapidly ap'
preaching it, for notice how much louder IL
sounds"
Such was the case The bell was now
heard clear and distinct to the south, ana was
approaching nearer every moment. Shortiy
after, the captain took his nightglass and
gazed long and intently III that direction
| When he lowered 1t, he said;
~ can lust discover dark body rising ana
falling on the waves, but nothing more
p,h have upt the hest eve
sight of any onc:on board. See what you can
make of it,"
Bob resigned his place at the wheel to one
of the men, and came forward and took the
glass. lie held 1t 10 his eye several minutes
without speaking, and, to all appearance,
without even breathing, while we awaited
his word with the deepest interest. Finally,
he gave great sigh, and lowered it.
"Blow my eyes, if it amt old Davy Jones
a1oat"
GLOW does it look p several of Us inquired
in the same breath.
"I'll be hanged if can tell! There's no
browsprit, and
Here he levclcd his glass again, and shortly
aftcrward continued his observations:
There's no sail-no nothin."
"There must be something"
"Aw-ccrtainly- aw-something certainly
| if YOU yisiOn-aw-iS able to discern it, ven
tured the gentle Adolphus Fitzgibbon.
Don't you see anything like saii!' in
quircd the captain.
Not "A speck, nor any place to put one,
either Hold u minute!' exclaimed Back
stay Bob; 1--WE her in range now. She amt
got the least mite of a boom, yard, or anything
| like. She looks like scme great hulk OF a
| light boat Hold on again. ! see the bell!
They've rugged it up at the masthead, so that
il swings back ards and ior'ards every time
the thing gives u lurch TO Rewards
Can you see anything ahoardE"
Not creature, living or dead
keep away Il couple of points, cried the
captain to the man at the wheel.
"Ay, ay, sir!'
And the ships course was altered, so as to
bring her rapidly near the mysterious craft
toward which all eyes were directed.
Several of tAe company now openly re-
marked that there was something supernatu
raj IN the appearance Of tins boat with its
tollinr bell. To all of these Florence Harris
and her loyer replied lightly, neither of
them having the least faith in their credulity.
The captain listened impatiently, and then
SAID:
You are all set of towards No doubt
you imagine Old Nick is aboard, with crew
of little imps, bound for the Galapagos Isles
with a load of birthstone If you'll content
yourselves for half an hour longer, I'll 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 1t from stem to
sternI'
TO show that he meant what he said, orders
were given to heave to, and to get one OF the
boats IN readiness. BY this time the monde.
Iscrpt was plainly visible to all.
1t appeared to be an old hulk, with single
mast IN the center. The bell was suspended
from the masthead, and ever and anon sent
forth its solemn tolllng, as the hulk rose and
sank with the heavlng of the sea-
Before the ship was brought to, we had
passed the hulk some distance, so tina. when
we halted there were several hundred yards
intervening, and it was now only dimly dis
cernble.
a boat was lowered and the captain having
selected crew, pulled away toward the hulk.
asked permission 20 accompany it, but ON
account ola recent illness, was refused. For
tunatc indeed, for me was that refusal.
There was something SO extraordinary re.
garding the appearance and action OF the
hulk, that the curiosity of us all was so in
tense as to be painful We strained our gaze
as the captain and his crew drew rapidly
near II.
We saw the distance swiftly decrease be
tween the two boats until the shadowy forms
merged into one. And then followed an i'm
pressIve silence-suddenly broken by howl,
pistol shot, and scream; and rs our hearts
almost stopped beating, We saw, moment
later, the boat put off from the hulk, and the
men rowing with all their might back TO the
ship. AS they came nearer, we dSCerned
that the captain was missing
Backstay Bob dashed toward the boat, and
shaking his fist at the men demanded furi
ouSly:
you cowardly dogs! Where is Captain
Lustery"-
"lhe Devil has got him.
Absurd as the reply must have seemed at
any other time, il was uttered in solelhn
earnest, as the CHASTITY faces of the crew at
tested.
In reply 10 our eager questions, they said
the moment they came alongside the craft
81. stvl l.Ntr laik