The Morning herald., 1877-03-26

"Pooh!" said he" +" you're at that old
story, are you? That nonsense won't do
her"
"It was dated at sea-" continued the |
stranger, in tones which still deepened in |
awful emphasis.
"At sea, when the writer was all alone"
"It's liew cried Potts, while his face
graw white.
AT sea-" continued the other, ringing
the changes on this one word," at sea ON
board that ship to which you had brought
him-the Vishnu!" 't f 5..G Ut
Potts was like man fascinated by some
horrid spectacle. He looked fxedly at his
interIocutor. His jaw fell.
"There. he died." said the stranger
"Who caused his death? Will you answer?
With tremendous effort Potts again
recovered command of himself.
"You-you've been reading up old pa
pers," replied he, in stammering voice.
You've got a lot ofstutf in your head which
you think will frlghten me. You've come
to the wrong shop"
But in spite of these words the pale face
and nervous manner of Potts showed how
deep was his agitstion.
II myself was on board the Vishnu,"
said the other"
"You!"
"Yes, l."
"You! Then you must have been prec-
ious small. The Vishnu went down twen-
"I was on board of the Vishnu, and I
saw Colonel Despard."
The memory ofsome awful scene seemed
to have inspired the mind of the speaker
they thrilled through the coarse, brutal
nature OF the listener.
"Isaw Colonel Despard," continued the
stranger.
"You lie!" cried Potts, reused by terror
and horror to fierce pitch Of excitement.
II saw Colonel Despard," repeated the
stranger, for third time, con board the
Vishnu in the Indian sea. Learned from
him his story"
He paused.
"Then," cried Potts, quickly, to whom
there suddenly came an idea which brought
courage with it: "then, ifyou saw him, what
concern is it Of mine? He vas alive, then,
and the Despard murder never took place"
"It did not take place" said the other.
"You're talking nonsense. How could
it If you saw him? He must have been
| alive"
"He was dead?" replied the stranger,
whose eyes had not " ithdrawn themselves
of Potts, and now seemed like two fiery orbs
blazing wrathfully upon him. The tones
penetrated to the very soul Of the listener.
He shuddered in spite of himself. Like
most vulgar natures, his was accessible to
superstitious horror. He heard and trem-
bled.
"IIe was dead" repeated the stranger,
land yet all that l told you is true.
learned from him his story"
"Dead men tell no tales" muttered Potts
in scarce articulate voice.
$50 you thought when locked him in
and set fire TO the ship, and scnttled her
but you see you were mistaken, for here al
least was dead man who did tell tales,a
| was the listener"
And the mystic solemnity of the mans
face seemed to mark him. :.as one who might
have held commune with the dead.
ale told me continued the stranger
"where he found you and how"
Awful expectation was manifest on the
face of Potts.
"He told me of the mark on your arm
Drawup your sleeve, Briggs, Potts, OF
whatever ether names you choose, anc
show the indelible characters which rep
resent the name of 'Bowhani."
Potts started back; His lips grew ashen
His teeth chat.ered.
"He gave me this" cried the stranger
in louder voice land this is the drat
which you will not reject"
He strode forward three or four PAGES
and flung something at Potts.
1t was cord, at the end Of which was
metallic ball. The ball struck the table as
it fell and rolled to the floor, but the strang'
er held the other end in his hand.
"TnuG!" cried he; do you know what
that is"
Had the stranger been Olypiam Jove
and had he flung forth from his right hand
thunder bolt, it could not have produced
more appalling effect than that which
was brought upon Potts by the sight o.
this cord. He started back in horror, Ut
tering cry half way between a scream
and groan. Big drops Of persplratlon
dropped from his brow. trcmbled and shud'
dered from head to foot. His jaw fell. He
stood speechless.
"This is my draft" said the stranger.
! UWhat do vo1 want?' gasped Potts.