Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-04

tndt SAD, Welru IolilnS kepC Ileili coui-
pany-now seemingly closer to them,
and 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
it was yet only a clear starlight, the
mist lifted, and at once came the cry
from the masthead Something to
windward.'
"'What is she liker
"Well, it's queer sort of a craft
altogether
"Mr. Crabbs. will you so up and
SEE what you make CT her?' said Cap
tain Stanley; and Mr., Crabbs, light
footed young middle, sprang up the
rigging, and in few moments re-
turned, saying:
"'She, or it, is very queer-looklng
thing, sir; it is pretty dark yet, but, as
well as | can see, it looks like big
natboat with Il sort of house on tit
floats low in the water. And that bell
sir-keeps on toIling sir, said little
Crabbs, hestatingly.'
"Yes--ycs-we can all hear the
bell plainly enough, Mr.. Crabbs? and
turning to the first lieutenant, Cap
tain Stanley went on; Mr.. Fraser, see
a 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 tlatboat, which
had become visible, from the ships
deck. There was no steady wind, but
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
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 nc
living soul was visible. Every glass
was directed upon the little boat as it
came up alongside. Mr.. 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 in disordered
hesitating manner, stopping for few
minutes discussion seemingly, then
their way with long, regular stroke
arrived at the ships side, they
came on board in a 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, they
heard sound of human voice on thai
haunted thing; but as Mr.. Crabs
stepped upon the opog the high bul
wark, large black figure reached W
and seized him with its long arms ant
dragged him down; and there was ;
sound of rattling of chains and shriek
and yells of fendish laughter; and th
thing was loaded with devils, and th
Foul Fiend himself had got poor Mr.
Crabbs, and they got away as fast a
they could.
"And sad and terrible enough it al
was, and that horrible. bell went OF
tolling an awful knell for poor, bright
hearted little Crabbs. There wer
sobs and tears, and pale cheeks, an
mourning for the lad; and after lit
tie the captain said, with hard voice
and set, stern look on his pleasan
face:
"'Mr. Fraser, send that boat bac
with a fresh crew; or, rather take com
mand yourself, sir-take the best me
and plenty of arms
"And in few moments the littl
boat went back, carrying men VIII
had rather fight a man-of-war twic
their size than face a foe that was ur
known, and doubtless belonged to til
unseen world; but they went, and re'
olutely, for everybody loved littl
Crabbs.
"How earnestly and anXiously the
were watched from the decks Of tn
Dare one can we'll imagine. NJ
3 Fraser and the boatswain, well arme
| and revolver in hand, climbed cautious
: ly up the sides of the hatboat, an
were seen to raise their heads slow
| above the bulwark. And this is whi
! they saw: magnificent Bengal tig'
8 of the finest breed just finishing h
t revolving meal They fired togethe
0 and the great creature fell over an
Q died without struggle.
: "Then the boats crew were ordert
: to come up, and they carefully climbt
ON board, and with pistol in eac
: hand, began an exploration of the ca
9 in; there was no door to it, and as th'
t entered the wide doorway, there rigl
j. before them they saw two skeletons
of man and a woman, chained, OF
a against each side of the room. b
tween them, in the midst, was bro
en- chain, one end still riveted to q
noor-the other hung to the neck
q the slain tiger
u "Fronting the doorway, on the wi
~ was written in Arabic: Such Is n
it. vengeance upon those who rouse n
8. jealousy, The ghastly tale was tol