The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-06-19

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that the first mate was among those
whom he denounced. "I'm going back
to that old hulk and If can't get at the
devil any other way, I'll put keg
of powder in 1t and blow it to blazes ~
" Bobis right, If his excitement does
make him forget his Manners said the
mate. 1t was not my intention to de
sert Captain Luster in trouble. The
men were so frightened that / thought
1T best to come back and get new
set.''
There was some trouble in procuring
the requisite number; and accordingly
Prescott and myself were accepted AS
the former went over the ships side,
Florence Harris said, "Don't you come
back, Edmund, until you have heard
what has become of poor Captain Lus-
ter.'
He gave her his promise, and q few
minutes later the boat showed off, and
we rapidly neared the hulk, which had
acquired such strange interest to us
ALL
Prescott, in addition to his revolver,
had small italian dagger, which l OBJ
served him handle, as if to assure him
self that 1t was reliable Then, as he
replaced it, he remarked to me, "There
is no telling what's inside that mass of
lumber; and this may be the weapon /
need, after all.
Arriving at the craft, after a short
consultation, it was agreed that the four
oarsmen, the mate, and myself, should
remain behind, while Backstay Bob and
William Prescott should explore the
hulk. AS 1t was morally certain that
some dreadful danger menaced all who
entered the cabin, and as L was good for
nothing, needed no more urging to
remain in my position.
Prescott went first, holding his pistol
in one hand and lantern in the other.
while Bob closely followed with his cut
lass. We saw them descend the hatch
way; all was still, and then / heard the
single exclamation from Prescott, ooh,
my God"
This was followed by terrible roar, a
quick succession of pistol shots, fierce
struggle, and then all was still again
The next moment, both Prescott and
Backstay Bob emerged to view, covered
from head to foot with blood.
Come aboard said they, " the dan
ger is over"
The next instant we were on deck L
rushed to the hole, and gazed down.
Merciful Heavens what did | behold !?
By the dim light of the lantern we
saw the mangled body of Captain Lus-
ter. The head and one of his limbs were
gone, and there was scarcely a semblance
of humanity in the remains before us.
Near him was the gaunt, terrible form
of an expiring Bengal tiger, killed by
the bullets, cutlass and dagger of Pres
colt and Backstay Bob.
The two latter, on entering the cabin
first, saw the multilated body of Captain
Luster. A low growl warned them of
danger, and as Prescott turned his gaze,
he saw the tiger crouching and in the
very act of springing. Dropping his
lantern, he fired his revolver, and as the
terrible animal bore him to the floor, he
drew his dagger and stabbed him again
and again. The needle-pointed instru-
ment reached his heart, which, united
with the slashing blows of Backstay
Bob, settled his hash before he could do
any material injury.
We now made critical examination
of the place. A number of human
bones strewed the floor, and several ar
ticles of wearing apparel, which seemed
to1ndicate that the place had been. ten
anted by two human beings of op-
posite sexes.
The brute had chain to his neck, and
had been confined to one corner of the
room by a delicate iron ring, which had
been put there to be broken. Over the
centre of the room was written some
thing in an Indian dialect, which was
pronounced by the mate (who had spent
several years in India) to read: " / have
sought have found that which I
sought-vengeance."
Carefully removing the body of the
Captain to the little boat, we scuttled
the mysterious craft and saw it sink to
the bottom of the ocean. Shortly after,
the Captain was wrapped in his wind
ing-sheet, and followed.
The strange, awful tale regarding the
old craft we never learned. 1t ever re-
mained to us all an unveiled mystery of
the sea.