Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-11-13

sun The mournful sound of that bell !
was borne to the ears that listened all
hi'ugh the night on board the Dare.
rev LETT the deck, and all night long
'iia' sad' weird tolling kept them com
pany-now seemingly closer to them,
anu again so faint and far away. 1t
was uncanny and to the sensitive ones
sounded like the strokes of doom.
Just before the early dawn, while
1t was yet only a clear starlight, the
mist lifted, and at once came the cry
from the masthead: Something to
windward.'
What is she like?'
"Well, it's queer sort of craft
altogether
"Mr Crabbs, will you go up and
see what you make Of her?' said Cap
tain Stanley; and Mr.. Crabbs, a light
footed young middle, sprang up the
rigging, and in few moments re-
turned, saying:
"She, or it, is a very queer-looking
thing sir; it is pretty dark yet, but, as
well as l can see, it looks like big
datbOat with a sort of house on tit
floats low in the water. And that bell
Sir-keeps on tolling sir, said little
Crabbs, hesitatingly.'
"Yes -yes-we can all hear the
bell plainly enough. Mr.. CrabbsP and
turning to the first lieutenant, Cap
tain Stanley went on; Mr.. Fraser, see
boat lowered away at once: send Mr.,
Crabbs in command of her, to board
this stranger and find out what this
means
"'A few minutes later one of the
ships boats, manned with a crew of
six men, and little Crabbs in the stern,
was pulling towards the flatboat, which
had become visible, from the ships
deck, There was no steady wind, but
a slight puff or two had been made
the most of to draw a little closer to
the strange thing, and the Dare now
lay almost or quite becalmed about
two miles distant from it; the house or
eabin-the top of it at least-cOuld be
seen, and a sort of crossbeam arrange
lment on which hung the bell whose
An voice was heard as the boat
~ ana feil with the waves; but nc
Allng soul was visible. Every glass
vs. directed upon the little boat as il
enc up alongside. Mr. Crabbs was
sn to climb up the side and instant
lydlsappear, while in the same mo-
mt the boat pushed off and made
! fCthe ship. pulling in a disordered
heitating manner, stopping for few
: pautes' discussion seemingly, then
Their way with long, regular stroke
Arrived at the ships side, they
came on board in dazed sort of way
with white scared faces; and upon
Captain Stanley's stern demand for ar
explanation, they managed to tell theil
story.
"They saw no human being, the.
heard sound of human voice on tina
haunted thing; but as Mr.. Crabb
, stepped upon the top of the high bul
wark, large black figure reached u
and seized him with its long arms an
dragged him down; and there was
sound of rafting of chains and Shrek
and yells of fendish laughter; and tn
thing was loaded with devils, and th
Foul Fiend himself had got poor NJ
o Crabbs, and they got away as fast
they could.
"And sad and terrible enough it a
was, and that horrible bell went 0
. toiling an awful knell for poor, brigh
hearted little Crabbs. There wei
: sobs and tears. and pale cheeks, an
mourning for the lad; and after a Ii
tle the captain said, with a hard voic
and set, stern look on his pleasaI
} face:
u "'Mr. Fraser, send that boat baC
{ with fresh crew; or, rather take cor
{ mand yourself, sir-take the best me
i and plenty of arms
, "And in a few moments the lit
} 0oat went back, carrying men wi
! mad rather fight a man-o of war twi
= 'helr size than face foe that was u
Known, and doubtless belonged to Il
u unseen world; but they went, and re
olutely, for everybody loved lit
n Crabbs.
d How earnestly and anxiously tn
d were watched from the decks of t
J. Dare one can we'll imagine, N
e fraser and the boatswain, we'll arm
d and revolver in hand, climbed caution
/ y up the sides of the fatboat, al
A were seen to raise their heads slow
d above the bulwark. And this is VIII
n 'hey saw; a magnificent Bengal tig
e OF the finest breed just finishing
i revolving meal They fired togeth
o ana the great creature fell over a
e aled without struggle
s Then the boats crew were order
} 70 come up, and they carefully climb
d on board, and with pistol in ca
( hand, began an exploration of the CT
ie IN; there was no door to it, and as th
u entered the wide doorway, there rig
t before them they saw two skeletons
OF man and a woman, chained, G
against each side of the room.
., tween them, in the midst, was br,
en- chain. one end still riveted to {
h.