The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-08-18
A Mystery of the Sea.

A tropical nlSnC on Jne 1aciuc. I.
The sky is studded with stars,
which are mirrors in the vast danp
beneath. There is just enough air
to keep the Dolphin moving at a
quiet rate, and the passengers are
gathered on deck to enjoy the
matchless evening.
/ had been an invalid for years,
and was now recovering from very
severe spell of sickness.
Twas lazily drawing at my Ha-
vana, putting the thin fragrant
smoke from my mouth without re-
moving the cigar, and gazing up
ward at the brilliant stars as they
slowly sailed overhead. I was in a
deliciously- state, half s'eep
and half awake, hearing only Il e
murmur of the voices around me
as one hears the faint sound of a
distant waterfall,
l presume l had lain thus for
nearly an hour, and my cigar had
burned almost to my mouth, while
the long column of ashes was still
unbrokcn, when something struck
my ear like the sound of bell. 1t
was not until l had heard it several
times that 1T seemed really to affect
my senses.
All at once gave a start, the
ashes dropped upon my bosom, and
l arose to sitting position and
gazed around me.
The strange, solemn sound was
repeated at regular intervals, as if
swung by the hand of some ex-
hausted sufferer, or tolled by the
swell of the ocean.
The Captain by this time had
approached me and stood in the at
titude Of attention.
"We must be near the land?' /
ventured to say, rather in the form
of an inquiry than IN that of an as
sertlon.
"No. SIR" responded the Captain
"the nearest island is good 800
miles away"
otis the bell of doom?" exclaim-
ed Backstay Bob, a tall, SCARED
sailor, from his position at the
wheel.
"Pshaw! you're childish replied
the Captain. whatever it is, we
are rapidly approaching it."
Such was the case. The bell
was now heard distinctly to the
south, and was approaching nearer
every moment. Shortly after, the
Captain took his night glass. and
gazed long and intently in that di.
rection. When he lowered it, he
said, II eau just discover a dark
body rising and falling on the
waves, but nothing more. Back,
stay Bob, you have got the best eye
sight of anyone on board, see what
you can make of ii"
Bob resigned his place at tht
wheel to one of the men, and came
forward and took the glass. HI
held it to his eye for several min
utes without speaking, and to al
appearance without even breathing
while we awaited his word with the
deepest interest. Finally he gave {
great sigh and lowered it. "Sh'
amt got the least mite of q boom
| yard, or anything like. She looks
like some great hulk of a ligh'
boat. Hold on again; / see thu
| bell. They've rugged it up to thu
masthead, so that it swings back
l'ards and for'ards every time th'
thing gives a lurch to leeward,"
aGan you see anything aboard?'
"Not creetur, living or dead"
"Keep her away couple o
points, cried the Captain to th'
man at the wheel.
Gay, ay, sir!'
And the ships course was altered
so as to bring her rapidly near th'
mysterious craft, toward which al
ewes were directed. Orders wer'
given to Leave to, and get one 0
1.-The boats in readiness. By thi
ltime the nondescript was plainl.
visible to all. II appeared to be Al
hulk, with single mast in the cen
tier. The bell was suspended from
1.-THE mast head, and ever and anol
/ sent forth its solemn tolling, as.th'
hulk rose and sank with the heay
I;nry nf tho cpa