Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-10-07


might back 10 the ship. AS they came
nearer, We disccrned that the Captain
was missing.
Dnckstay Bob dashed toward the boat,
ana, shaking his fist at the men, de-
msndcd f,rriously, You oowardly dogs,
whore is Capt. Luster?"
'.Iho devil las got him I"
Absurd as the reply might have
seemed at any o'her time, 1t was uttered
in solemn earnest, as the CHASTITY faces
Of tho crew ahested. In reply to our
eager questions, they said the moment
they came along the craft they heard
low, hollow, Lnearthly sound, which
caused them to hesitate. The Captain
'limhed NJ the sidc OF the vessel, de-
'cclldrl u,c hatc'iwny and disappeared
rom vie%. H. was hardly out OF sight,
When the noise they Ind heard at first
was rrpnatcd far louder and fercer. The
next molncnt the report Of the Captains
pistol was heard, followed by terrible
,hriok, and then nll was still
If"rror-stru, k. thoy called loudly and
rolcat.dly 10 their T. ,nlinAntler, hut. re-
.ivi:.g no answer, pulled away from the
hip.
YOU'RE purity set OF cowaldly
.neaks, amt you, 10 go and desert your
Captain that way, when, like enough, he
needed You 10 save his life, exclaimed
Backstay Bob, forgetting, in his fury,
hat the first mate was among those
whom he denounced. I'm going back
TO that old hulk, and, it, can't get at
Tho devil in any other way, I'll put a
key of powder in it and blow it TO
blazesl"
"Bob is right, il his excitement does
make him forget his Manners" said the
mate. at was not my intention to de-
sert Capt. Luster in trouble. The men
were so frightened that / thought it best
10 come back and get new set"
There WIS some trouble in procuring
the requisite number, and accordingly
Prescott and myself were accepted ouI
sf the passengers. The boat showed of,
and we rapidly neAred the hulk, which
had acquired strange interest to ne
all.
Prescott, in addition to his revolver,
mad long Italian dagger, which 1 OBJ
served him handle, as if to assure him
self that it WAS reliable. Then, as he
replaced it, he remarked TO me, "There's
no telling what's inside that mass OF
lumber, and this may be the weapon !
need after all"
Arriving at the craft, after short
consultation it was agreed that the
four oarsmen, the mate and myself
should remain behind, while Backstay
Bob and William Prescott should ex-
plole the hulk. AS it WAS morally GER
tain that some dreadful danger menaced
all who entered the CABIN, ana as i was
goodfor nothing, Ineeded nomore urging
than did the mate TO remain in my pc
, sition.
/ Prescott was first, holding his pisto
in one hand and lantern in the other
Willie Bob followed closely with his cut
lass. We saw them descend the hatch
way; all was still, and then 1 heard the
single exclamation from Prescott, ooh
my God"
This was followed by terrible roar
a quick succession of pistol shots, ;
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 dan
!. ger is over"
The next instant we were on deck.
rushed 10 the hold and gazed down.
"A BY the dim light Of the lantern W
saw the mangled body Of Capt. Lustel
4 The head and one Of the limbs wer
, gone, and there was scarcely sen
blance of humanity in the remains bt
4 fore us. Near him was the gaunt, tel
\. rible form of Bengal tiger, killed b
the bullets, cutlass and dagger of Pre-
/. colt and Backstay Bob.
"A The two latter, on entering the cabi
1 first, saw the mutilated body Of Cap
!. Luster. A low growl warned them I
" danger, and, as Prescott turned to gaz
h he saw the tiger crouching and in I'll
II very act Of springing. Dropping Ii
u. lantern, he fred his revolver, and, {
~ the terrible animal bore him to u
20 floor, he drew his dagger and Stable
:" him again and again. The needl
q: pointed instrument reached his hear
I'd which, united with the slnshing bloN
III OF Baclstay Bob, killed him before
K. could do any material injury.
I'D We made critical examination OF b
I'd place. A number Of human bon
ne strewed the floor, and several articles
ne wearing apparel, which seemed to int
n, cate that the place had been tenant
ke by two human beings of the opposi
Id sexes.
ed The brute had chain to his nee
gs and had been confined TO one corner
le the room by delicate iron ring, viii
had been broken. Over the center
the room was written something in
dian dialect, which was pronounced
;" the mate (who had spent several yei
40 in India) to read ~ have sought