The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-17

"a slight puff of wind blew past the
ship-just enough to bear the distinct
tone Of the mysterious bell, and also to
tell from which direction it came; it
was deeper, clearer, fuller than before.
The mystery deepened, but, Captain
Stanly said, quietly: That mist IN
doutedly holds the solution Of the af-
fair; it is some ships bell, as we shall
see rs soon rs it lifts q little But
hour after hour went or, and still the
midst hung low on the water, and
still the mournful sound of that bell
was borne to the ears that listened all
through tho 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. 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 like?'
".Well, it's a queer sort of a craft
altogether
"'Mr. Crabbs. will You 60 up and
see what you make CT hep said Cap
tain Stanley; and Mr.. Crabbs. a light
footed young middle, sprang up the
rigging, and in u few moments re-
turned, saying:
"'She, or it, IS a very qnecr-looking
thing, sir; it is pretty dark yet, but, as
we'll as l can see. it looks like a big
latboat 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.. Crabbs' and
turning to the first lieutenant, Cap
tain Stanley went on; Mr.. Fraser, see
a boat lowered away at ONCE: send MI.
Crabs in command of her, to board
this stranger and find out what this
means
ga few minutes later one of the
boats. manned with a crew of
six men, and little Crabs 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
cabin-the top of it at least-could be
seen, and a sort Of crossbeam arrange
ment on which hung the bell whose
voice was heard as the boat
rose and fell with the waves; but no
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 a d%isordered,
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 a dazed sort Of a way
with white scared faces; and upon
Captain Stanley's stern demand for an
explanation, they managed to tell their
"They saw nc human being, they
heard sound Of human voice on that
haunted thing: but as Mr.. Crabs
stepped upon the top of the high bull
wark, a large black figure reached up
and seized him with its long arms and
dragged him down; and there was a
sound Of rafting of chains and shrieks
and yells of fendish laughter: and the
thing was loaded with devils, and the
Foul Fiend himself had got poor Mr..
Crabbs, and they got away as fast as
they could.
"And sad and terrible enough it all
was, and that horrible bell went on
to!ling an awful knell for poor. bright
hearted little Crabbs. There were
sobs and tears. and pale cheeks, and
mourning for the lad; and after a lit
tie the captain said. with a hard voice,
and a set, stern look on his pleasant