Connecticut western news., 1885-11-11

midst hung low on the water, and still the mouGnful sound of that bell was borne to the ears that listened all trough the night on board the Dare. Few left the deck, and all night long that sad, weird tolling kept them com pany-now seemingly closer to them, and again so faint and far away. It was uncanny, and to the sensitive ones sounded like the strokes of doom.
 'Just before the early dawn, while it was yet only clear starlight, the mist lifted, and at once came the cry from the masthead: Something to windward.'
 "'What is she like?'
 "'Well, it's a queer sort of craft altogether
 "'Mr. Crabbs, will you go up and see what you make Of her?' said Cap tain Stanley; and Mir. Crabbs, a light footed young middle, sprang up the rigging, and in few moments re- turned, saying:
 "'She, or it, ts a very queer-looking thing, sir; it is pretty dark yet, but, as we'll as I can see, it looks like big flatboat with sort of house on it--it 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, Mir. CrabbsP and turning to the first lieutenant, Cap tain Stanley went on; 'Mr. Fraser, see a boat lowered away at once: send Mir. Crabbs in command of her, to board this stranger and find out what this means
 GA few minutes later one of the ships boats, manned with crew of six men, and little Crabbs in the stern, was pulling towards the llatboat, 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 little closer to the strange thing, and the Dare now lay almost or quite becalmed about two miles distant from it; the house or cabin-the top of it at least-could be seen, and sort of crossbeam arrange ment on which hung the bell whose solemn voice was heard as the boat rose and tell with the waves; but no living soul was visible Every glass was directed upon the little boat as it came up alongside. MT. Crabbs was seen to climb up the side and instant ly disappear, while in the same mo- ment the boat pushed off and made for the ship, pulling i'll disordered, hesitating manner, stopping for few minutes discussion seemingly, then their way with a 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 an explanation, they managed to tell their story.
 "They saw no human being, they heard sound of human voice on that haunted thing; but as MT. Crabbs stepped upon the top of the high bull wark, large black figure reached up and seized him with it's long arms and dragged him down; and there was a sound of rattling of chains and shrieks and yells of fendish laughter; and the thing was loaded with devils, and the Foul Fiend himself had got poor MT Crabbs and they got away as fast as they could.
 And sad and terrible enough 1t al was, and that horrible bell went or toiling an awful knell for poor, bright hearted little Crabbs There were sobs and tears, and pale cheeks, ant mourning for the lad; and after lit tie the captain said, with hard voice and a set, stern look on his pleasan face:
 "'Mr. Fraser, send that boat bacl with fresh crew; or, rather take com mand yourself, sir-take the best mer and plenty of arms
 And in few moments the littl, boat went back, carrying men wh, had rather fight man-of-war twic their size than face foe that was un known, and doubtless belonged to tn
 unseen world; but they went, and res olutely, for everybody loved littl Crabbs.
 "How earnestly and anxiously the,
 were watched from the decks of tn
 Dare one can well imagine. Nil
 Fraser and the boatswain, we'll arme
 and revolver in hand, climbed cautious
 ly up the sides of the fatboat, an
 were seen to raise their heads slowl
 above the bulwark. And this is wha
 they saw: magnificent Bengal tige of the finest breed just finishing hi
 revoltiug meal They fired together and the great creature fell over an
 died without struggle.
 'Then the boats crew were ordere
 to come up, and they carefully climbe on board, and with a pistol in eac
 hand, began an exploration of the cal , in; there was no door to it, and as the entered the wide doorway, there rigt before them they saw two skeletons
 of man and woman, chained, or against each side of the room. B