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

sky is studded with stars, which are
mirrored in the vast deep beneath
There is just enough air to keep the
Dolphin moving at a quiet rate, and
passengers are gathered on deck to en-
10y the matchless evening.
a short distance away stand two
Edmund Prescott and Florence
Harris out upon the ocean
and meditating and cCnversing upon the
Scene.
How different this sky from our
Northern armament 2" remarked Flor
ence, after a pause. Il can hardly re-
cognlze my favOrite constellation. The
Southern Cross IS beautiful, but then
miss the others. Ursa Major has en-
tircly disappeared, and as for the Minor
Bear, scarce a star Of him is visible.
At this observation, which was in
tended for no particular ears, Adolphus
Fitzgibbon aroused himself.
'Aw-what's that, Miss lIarri, aw
have you seen bears at sea-
Yes, and monkeys; too was the
quick and good natured reply.
All ofus laughed, while Fitzglbbon
looked very silly, then grinned hugely
then seemed to mediate some scatch-
lng witticism, but concluded he would
not, and stretched out upon his side
with his back towards the lovers, and
pretended to or really did fall asleep
within the next fifteen minutes.
Twas reclining on the deck about 4
dozen feet from where the lovers stooc
not with any intention Of listening tc
their words, but simply because, haC
taken my position first, and was toe
languid to change it. | had been III
invalid for years, but was now recover
ing from a severe spell Of sickness.
l was lazily drawing at my Havana
pulling the thin fragrant smoke from
my mouth without removing the cigar
and gazing upward at the brilliant starr
as they slowly sailed overhead. | wa
in that delcously dreamy state. hal
asleep and half awake, hearing only th'
murmur Of the voices around me rs ont
hears the faint sound Of a a distant wa
terflll. l presume 1 had lain thus 70
nearly an hour, and my cigar had burn
cd almost to my mouth, while the loni
column Of ashes was still unbrokeiI
when something struck my ear like III
sound of a bell 1t was not until ha
heard 1t several times that it SCENE
really to effect my senses.
All at once | gave a start, the ashe
dropped upon my bosom, and l arose t
sitting position and gazed around me
'IIark 2 said |; didn't you hear tha
bell 2
Just what have been trying to max
Edmund believe y laughed Florenc
Harris he persisted in not belieyn
Iit.'
Listen y said I. raising my hand.
And Immediately there fell a death
like silence.
And while thus intently listenin
there came across the sea, faint bl
distinct, the soft. distant sound ola bel
We scarcely brealhed for minute
and the strange, solemn sound was re
peated at regular intervals, as if swur
by the hand OF some exhausted sufiere
! or tolled by the swell of the ocean.
The Captain by this time had a.
preached and stood in the attitude
attention.
we must be near the land = | vel
tured to say, rather in the form OF
inquiry than that Of an assertion.
NO, sir,' responded the Captain. I'll
nearest island is a good 500 miles ava
i and this doesn't come from there,
should think.
What can it be 2 asked several
the same breath.
The sound comes from that dire
ton said Florence Harris, pointing L
ward the equator.
/ Perhaps it is on board a ship
q gain ventured.
. Don't think it is replied the Ca
tain, with a shake Of the head.
What can it be p asked Florence.
To this 10 one ventured to reply /
several moments. In the meantlm
the tolling of the bell had become qui
distinct, and Adoiopus Fitzgibbon ga
a yavn, a groan, kick, and awoke.
'Aw-ye-aw | was about to sugge
-aw-that the tea bell should ring
aw-aw p he stammered, confused
rising to his feet and pitching back a
forth. Then. seeing US all IN attitude
attention, he asked, W hat-aw-t
doosc is the matter =
IT'S the bell Of doom y exclaim
Backstay Bob, a tall, SCARED sall'
. from his position at the weel.
'Pshaw you're too childish repll
the captain. Whatever it is we
rapidly approaching it, for notice h
I. much louder it sounds
N such vas the case. The bell "
Low heard distinctly to the south a
is MAS approaching nearer at every u