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

nothlng more. Backstay JACK, you
have got the best eyesight of any one 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. He held it to his eye for
several minutes without speaking, and
to all appearance without even breath
ing, while we awaited his word with the
deepest interest Finally he gave great
sigh, and lowered it.
Blow me if it amt Davy Jones
afloatl"
How does 1t look ?' several of us in
quired in the same breath.
"I'll be hanged if can tell ! There
is no bowsprit, and"
He levelled his glass again, an
shortly after continued his observations.
There's no sail-no nothin'."
"There must be something"
Jaw - certainly -aw something,
certainly-aw-if your vision-aw = is
able to discern it, " ventured the gentle
Adolphus Fitzibbon."
Don't you see anything Ikea sail ?"
inquired the Captain.
" Not II speck, nor any place to put
one, either. Hold minute" exclaimed
Backstay Bob, tive 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 on again see the bell. They've
rugged it up at the masthead, so that it
swings back ards and for'ards every time
the thing gives lurch to leewards."
3" Can you see anything aboard ?"
" Not creetur, living or dead"
Keep her away couple of points,"
cried the Captain to the man at the
wheel.
cay, ay, sir!"
And the ships coarse was altered, so
as to bring her rapidly near the mys-
terious craft, towards which all eyes
were directed.
Several of the company now openly
remarked that there was something
supernatural in the appearance of this
boat, with its tolling bell. TO all these
Florence Harris and her lover replied
lightly, neither of them having the least
faith in their credulity.
The Captain listened impatiently, and
then said, " You are all a set of towards.
No doubt you imagine Old Nick is
aboard, with crew of little imps bound
for the Galapagos Isles with 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' flagship, and shall explore it
from stem to stern"
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 nondescript was plainly visible
to all. 1t appeared to be an old hulk,
with single mast in the centre. The
bell was suspended from the mast head,
and ever and anon sent forth its solemn
tolling, as the hulk rose and sank with
the heavings of the sea.
Before the 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 discernible.
A boat was lowered, and the Captain
having selected crew, pulled away
towards the hulk. | asked permission
to accompany it, but, on account of q
recent illness, was refused. Fortunate,
indeed, for me was that refusal.
There was something so extraordinary
regarding the appearance and action of
the hulk, that the curiosity of us all
was so intense as to be painful. We
strained our gaze, as the Captain and
the crew drew rapidly near it.
We saw the distance swiftly decrease
between the two boats, until the shadowy
forms merged into one. And then fol-
lowed an impressive silence - suddenly
broken by a howl, Il pistol-shot, and
scream and as our hearts almost stopped
beating, we saw n moment later the boat
put off from the hulk, and the men row.
ing with all their might back to ship
AS they came nearer, we discerned that
the Captain was missing.
Backstay Bob dashed towards the
boat, and, shaking his fist at the men,
demanded furiously, You cowardly
dogs Where is Captain LusterY"
THE devil has got him"
Absurd as the reply might have SEEM
ed at any other time, it was uttered in
cO,lnnnn on,,,non a.l,n e