Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-04-03

men were so frightened that 1 thought
It best to come back and get a 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 heard what has
become of Captain Laster.'
He gave his promise, and a few min
utes later the boat showed off, and we
rapidly neared the hulk, which had ac-
CURED such strange interest to us
all.
Prescott. in addition to his revolver.
had small Italian dagger, which OBJ
served him handle. as if to assure him
self that it was reliable. Then, as he
replaced it. he remarked to me, There
is no telling what is inside this mass OF
lumber, and this may be the weapon l
reed after all =
Arriving at the craft, after 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 than
the mate to remain in my posi- ion.
Prescott went first, holding his pistol
in one hand and a lantern in the other
while Bob closely followed with the cut
lass. We saw them descend the hatch
way all was still, and then heard the
single exclamation from Prescott, oh,
my Cody
This was followed by a terrible roar
A quick succession of pistol shots, q
fierce struggle and all was still again
The next moment both Prescott ant
Backstay Bob emerged to view. cover
ed from head to loot with blood.
Come aboard said they, the danger
is over
! The next instant we were on deck.
rushed to the hole and gazed down
Merciful heaven what did | behold
By the dim light OF the lantern w
saw the mangled body Of Captain Lus-
ter. The head and one OF his limbs
were gone, and there was scarcely
semblance of humanity in the remains
before US. Near him was the terrible
/ form of Bengal tiger, killed BY th'
bullets. cu!lass and dagger Of Prescott
and Backstay Bob.
The two latter, on entering the cabiI
first saw the mutilated body OF Captain
Luster. \ low growl warned them q
danger, and as crouching and in the yer,
act of springing Dropping his lanterl
he fired his revolver, and as the terrible
animal bore him to the floor, he drew
his dagger and stabbed him again ant
again. The needle-pointed instrumen
reached his heart, which united with TIN
slashing blows of Backstay Bob settle
his hash before he could do any mater
ial injury.
We now made q critical examnatlo
Of the place. A number of huma
bones strewed the floor, and several al
ticles of wearing apparel, which SCENE
to Indicate that the place had been ter
anteo BY two human beings OF the OF
pOsite sex.
The brute had been confined to on
corner of the room by delicate iro
ring. which had been put there to t
broken. Over the center Of the ROOT
was written something in an Indian di;
lect, which was pronounced by the mai
(who had spent several years i'll lndi'
to read: Il have sought have toul
that which sought-yenseance.'
Carefully removing the body OF ii
captain to the little boat, we scuttl'
the mysterious craft and saw it sink
the bottom of the ocean. Shortly ait
the captain was wrapped in his wln'
, ing sheet and followed.
! The strange, awful tale regarding Il
old craft we meyer learned. 1t ever r
:. manned to US all an unveiled mystery
the sea.