The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-08-18

were ScScTAt uuuuIcu yoiuS AuoOh
vening, and it was only dimly dis
cernible.
A boat was lowered, and the Cap
tain, having selected crew, pulled
away toward the latter.
There was something so extraor-
dinary regarding the appearance
and action of the hulk that the Gu
riosity of us all was SO intense as to
be painful We strained our gaze
as the Captain and crew drew rap
idly near it.
We saw the distance swiftly de-
crease between the two objects, un-
til the lhadowy forms emerged into
one. And then followed an i'm
pressive silence--snddenly broken
by howl, pistoi-shot and a
scream; and, as our hearts almost
stopped beating, we saw a moment
later the boat pull off from the hulk,
and the men rowing with all their
might back to the ship. AS they
came nearer, we discerned that the
Captain was missing.
Backstay Bob dashedstoward the
boat and, shaking his fist at the
men, demanded furiously, "You
cowardly dogs, where is Capt. Lus-
ter?"
"The devil has got him"
Absurd as the reply might have
seemed at any other time, it was ut
tered in solemn earnest as the
ghastly faces of the crew attested.
In reply to our eager questions,
they said the moment they came
along they heard low, hollow, un-
earthly sound, which caused them
to hesitate. The Captain climbed
up the side of the vessel, descended
the hatchway and disappeared from
view. He was hardly out of sight,
when the noise they had heard at
first was repeated loudera and fiercer.
The next moment the report OF the
Captains pistol was heard, followed
by a terrible shrek, and then all
was still!
Horrow-struck, they called loud
ly and repeatedly to their comman-
der, but receiving no answer, pulled
away from the ship.
You're a putty set of cowardly
snehwds, 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. Pm going
back to that old hulk, and, if l can't
get at the devil in any other way,
I'll puta keg of powder in it and
blow it to blazes!"
"Bob is right, if his excitement
does make him forget his manners"
said the mate. SIT was not my in
tention to desert Capt. Luster in
trouble. The men were so frighten-
ed that / thought it best to come
back and get new set"
There was some trouble in pre-
curing the requisite number, and
accordingly Prescott and myself
were accepted out of the passengers.
The boat showed off, and we rapid
ly neared the hulk, which hid ac-
qnirea a strange interest to al.
Prescott, in addition to his re-
volver, had a long Italian dagger,
which l observed him handle, as if
to assure himself that it was relia-
BILE. Then, as he replaced it. he
to me, There's no telling
what's inside that mass of lumber,
and this may be the weapon l need
after all"
Arriving at the craft, after a
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 it was morally certain that some
dreadful danger menaced all who
entered the cabin, and as l was
good for nothing, l needed no
more urging than did the mate to
remain in my position.
Prescott was first, holding his
pistol in one hand and the lantern
in the other, while Rob followed
with his cutlaSs. We saw them de-
scend the hatchway; all was still,
and then / heard the single excla-
nation from Prescott, "Oh, my
Godw
This was followed by a terrible
roar, quick succession of pistol
shots, q fierce struggle, and then all
was still again. The next moment
both Prescott and Backstay Bob
emerged to view, covered from head
to foot with blood.
"Come aboard" said they; the
danger is over"
The next instant we were on
deck. ! rushed to the hold and
gazed down.
By the dim light of the lantern
we saw the mangled body OF Capt.
Luster. The head and one of the
limbs were gone, and there was
scarcely sem5lance of humanity
in the remains before us. Near him
was the gaunt, terrible form of a
Bengal tiger, killed by the bullets,
cutlass and dagger of Prescott and
Backstay Bob.
The two latters on entering the
cabin first, saw the mutilated body
of Captain Luster. A low grow
warned them of danger, and, as
Prescott turned to gaze, he saw the
tiger crouching and in the very act
of springing. Dropping his lantern
he fired his revolver, and, as the
terrible animal bore him to the fool
he drew his dagger and stabbed him
again and again. The needle pointed
instrumentlreached his heart, which
united with the slashing blows Of
Backstay Bob, killed him before hs
could do any material injury.
We made a critical examination
of the place. A number of human
bones strewed the floor, and seemet
to indicate that the place had beer
tenanted by two human beings o
the opposite sexes.
The brute had a chain to hi
neck, and had been confined to on,
corner of the room by a delicat'
iron ring, which had been broken
Over the center Of the room wal
written something in the Indial