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


nestly in that direction. When he low
cred it he said (:
L can just discover large body ris-
ing and falling on the waves. Backs
tay Bob, you have got the best eycsight
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 heldit to his eye
for several minutes without speaking.
and to all appearance without even
breaking, while we awaited his word
with the deepest interest. Finally he
gave a great sigh and lowered it.
Blow me, if'it amt Davy Jones
afioat.'
How does it look p several ofus in
qui.ed in the same breath.
'I'll be hanged if 1 can tell. There's
no bowsprit, and
Here he lowered his voice again, eEd
she: ...f, q, ,.l,sn is,n tinued his obsesations.
There's no sail, no nothing
'Aw-certainly-aw something, GER
talnly-aw If your vision-aw-is able
TO discern it, ventured the gentle
Adolphus Fitzsibpon.
Don't you see anything like a sail =
inquired the captain.
Not speck, nor any place to put
one. either. Hold a minute exclaim-
ed Bakstay Bob, I've got her in range
now. She amt got the least mite OF a
boom, yard or anything like. She look"
like some great hulk ofa lightboat.-
Hold on again see the bell. Thcy'v,
rlggcd it up to the masthead, so that it
swings back'ards and for'ards every
time tie thing gives a lurch to lee
wards.
Can you see anything aboardF
Not a cretur' lyin' or dead
Keep her away couple OF points
cried the captain to the man at the
wheel.
'Ay, ay, sir "
And the ships course was altered so
as to bring her rapidly near the myster-
iOus craft, toward which all eyes were
, directed.
Several Cfthe company now openly
remarked that there was something su-
pernatural in the appearance OF this
boat, with its tolling bell. To all OF
these Florence Harris and her husband
and lover replied lightly, neither OF
them having the least faith in their
credulity.
The captain listened impa'lently, and
said You are all 4 set Of towards. Nc
doubt ;ou imagine Old Nick is aboard
with a crew of little imps, bound for the
Galapagos isles with load OF brims'
tone. If you'll content yourselves loi
half au hour longer III tell you some
thing about it, for intend to board thai
old numbering hulk, even if it turns out
to be the Flying Dutchman or Davl
Jones' flag ship, ana shall explore i
f-,r, StcD1 IN storm
TO show that he meant what he said
orders were given to heavc to and ge
one of the boats in readiness. By thu
time the nondesclipt vas plainly yisi
bic to all. 1t appeared to be an ol'
hull, with a single mast in the CENTER
The bell was suspended from the mast
head, and ever and anon sent forth it
solemn tolling as the hulk rose AM
sank with the heaving of the sea.
Before the ship was bro1ght to, w
had passed the hulk some distance, s.
that when we halted there were sever'
hundred yards Intervening, and it wa
only dimly discernablc.
The boat was lowered. and the CAP
tain, having selected a crew, pulle
away toward the hulk. | asked per
: mission to accompany it, but, Oh aC
count Of recent illness, was refused
Fortunate, indeed, for me that refusal
There was something SO extraordIna
ry regarding the appearance and actIo
of the hulk, that the curiosity OF US a
was so intense as to be painful. W
strained our gaze as the captain cre'
rapidly ncared it.
We saw the distance swiftly dccreas
!, between the two boats, until the shat
owy forms meiged into one. And the
following an impressive silence-suC
y denly broken by howl, a pistol sht
and a scream. And as our hearts a
: most stopped beating, we saw a nj
ment later the boat put off from tt
hulk. and the men rowing with all the
If might back to the ship; As they can
nearer we disccrned that the captai
was missing.
J. Backstay Bob dashed toward Il
D" boat. and shaking his fist at the me-
demanded furiously, You coward
IL dogs Where is Captain Luster"
y The devil has got him y
Absurd as the reply might have seer
IN ed at any other time, it was uttered
q solemn earnest as the ghastly fac
of the crew attested. In reply to o
eager questions they said the nome
they came along the craft they heard
, low. hollow, unerthly sound, whi'
caused them to hesitate. The capita
-. climbed up the side of the vessel, d
scended the hatchway and Disappear
from view. He had hardly got out
sight when the noise they had heard
u first was repeated. far louder and Tie
g. Ger. The next moment the report
q