Louisiana capitolian., 1880-01-10

cheek.
"Never, my dear. And l have kept
my word"
Mysterious Vengeance.
On the deck of the Dolphin, on =
beautiful tropical night on the Pacific,
two lovers-Edmund Prescott and
Florence Harris-stood gazing upon
the beautiful seq, and were engaged
| in conversation. was reclining near
at hand, and for some time had been
| in that delicious, half.dreainy state,
when something struck my ear like
the sound of q bell. Edmund and
Florence had not heard it, no doubt
because they were 80 absorbed in each
| other. l called their attention to what
| had heard. We all then intently
listened, and soon the strange, solemn
sound was repeated at regular inter-
walls. It was but a moment that gen
eral attention was given to the quite
| distinct sound. The captain said We
were not near land, and gave NO clew
to what it represented. Old Back
stay Bob, a tall, scared sailor, who
held position at the wheel, exclaim-
ed, "lt is the Bell Of Doom. The
captain replied that the statement
was q childish one.
Soon the sound Of the bell was more
clear and distinct, and Immediately
thereafter the captain took his night
glass and gazed in the direction from
which, it came. He remarked, as he
lowered the glass: arr a.
II can just discover q dark body
rising and falling on the waves, but
nothing more. Bob, you have got
the best eyesight Of any man on board.
See what you can make OF it."
Bob resigned his place at the wheel
to one Of tho men, and came forward
and took the glass. He gave great
sigh, and after careful inspection, and
said:
"Blow me If it amt old Davy Jones
atl0at." .......
"How does it look Z" several Of us
inquired in the same breath,
"I'll he hanged If can tell There
is no bOwsprit, and"
"Don't you see anything like a
sail :" inquired The captain.
"Not speck. But hold a minute;
I've got her in range now. She looks
like d great hulk Of q lightbost. l see
the bell. They've rugged it up at the
masthead, so that it swings backwards
and forwards every time the thing
gives a lurch to the leeward. l don't
see q creature on board, living or
dead"
The ships course was altered, to
bring her rapidly to the mysterious
craft. Most OF the company looked
upon tho affair as something super
natural, but tho two lovers had no
faith in their credulity. The captain
himself grew indignant at the talk,
and pronounced them 4 set Of cow
ards. He said he intended to board
the old hulk, even if it turned out to
be the Flying Dutcllman or Davy
Jones' flagship, and would explore it
from stem to stern. He gave orders
to get one of the boats in readiness.
One was lowered, and the captain,
with select crew, pulled away TO-
ward the hulk. We saw the distance
swiftly decrease between the two
boats, until the shadowy forms 'nerg-
ed into one. Then followed an i'm
press,ve ilence-suddenly followed
by q howl, q pistol shot and a scream.
We saw, a moment later, the boat
pulled off from the hulk, and the mon
rowing with all their might back to
the ship. As they came nearer we
discerncd that the captain was miss
ing.
Backstay Bob dashed toward the
boat, and shaking his fist at the men,
demanded furiously:
"You cowardIy dogs! Where is
Capt: Luster
"The demon has got him."
On questioning them eagerly, they
said that on their getting alongside
the craft they heard low, hollow
and unearthly sound. The captain,
full Of courage, climbed up hep side,
descended the hatclIway, and disap-
peared.
A moment later the report of the
captains pistol was heard, followed
by terrific shrek, and then all was
still. The men, horror struck, pulled
away from the ship.
"You're a purity set Of cowar.lly
sDcaks, amt You, to go and desert
your captain that way, when, like
enough, he needed you to save his
life!" exclaimed Backstay Bob, for
getting in his fury that the first mate
was among those whom he denounced.
Bob is sright, if his excitement does
make him forget his manners" said
the mate. ''lt was not my intention
to desert Capt. Luster, but the men
were SO frightened that determined
to come back and get a new set."
Prescott and myself we're admitted