The state herald., 1891-12-11
skipper to ono Of his boats crew,

skipper to ono OF his boats crew,
'and see what there is"
Captain, I'd rather jump over
board and mover come up again than
60 down that there oompanionway
alone" was the reply Of the scared
sailor. whose timbers actually shivered
with fear.
"You wretched coward. you've
drank your last tot OF grog aboard my
ship" roared the skipper, as he
plunged down the cabin steps.
followed him at a cautious dis
tance, being far more frightened than
he was. The stairs led down into q
handsome aud lofty saloon. beautifully
hung with oriental tapestry. In q ma
hogany swinging tray above the cabin
table were decanters and tumblers oil
cut glass. Although everything was
covered with blue mould an inch
thick, It was evident that careful
steward had been accustomed. TO rule
over the dcstinies Of the saloon.
On either side Of tho main cabin
were number Of doors leading into
state-rooms Tho skipper tried the
one nearest the stern on the starboard
side. II was looked.
'.Pass down that crowbAr Bill
said the captuin In quiet tones. He
no longer but on the airs Of swag-
gering blusterer but acted as though
he was in church, listening TO a sky
pilot
Tho crowbar was handed him and
with II he pried opon tho state-room
door. A strange and startling specta,
Gle was revealed. With her head
buried in the cushions Of n low couch,
on her knees before tho image OF the
Blessed Virgin. and with her Jet black
hair hiding her checks and descending
in raven torrents down her back. was
a beautifully dressed woman. Beside
her were breviary and rosary.
Tho skipper started back as though
he had been shot Tho woman actu.
ally seemed to hear the Excuse me,
madam, for intruding." he began, but
at that moment realizing that she
could not be alive, he took hold OF her
gently. At tho first touch the form
collapsed and foil TO tho floor. tho head
being separated from the body, and
revealing the grinning. ghastly skull
OF u skeleton.
We all rushed on deck and found
the Hurkaru within hailing distance.
Twenty sailors were sent on board the
strange ship. and 1t was curious to sec
how brave we became when re-en-
forced by such sturdy lot Of jack
tars To make long story short we
ransacked tho vessel from stem to
stern. In her lower hold We found the
skeletons Of 250 persons all In iron
manacles. There were just $50 OF
them. because l and a fellow mid
shipman" counted them by order OF
the skipper.
This accounted clearly for the ves-
sci. She had been SLAYER and had
been abandoned though for what rea-
son nobody could understand. She
had probably drifted for years of the
African const far out OF tho track OF
ships and this accounted for her not
having been reported before. A sudden
ohhs Vi ihusb HhNc Wuitcu neT vi
the land and driven her into tho high.
way Of the ocean frequented by homo
ward bound East Indiamcn.
The mys'ery of tho woman wns
deeper and darker A brown sheet OF
paper. with big spots on It, telling
clearly Of tears. and some faded char.
acters which looked like Spanish. was
found beside her. Nobody could inter.
prct It
Tho mate wanted tho captain TO tow
tho schooner TO St Helena and soil her
for what she would fetch. Tho skip.
pcr, boing one Of tho old school and
superstitious at that wouldn't listen
TO him. Ho said he was going TO burn
her. and burn her he did. A barrel oil
coal tar and bundle OF oakum judic.
iously arranged worked admirably. and
the poor Africans had splendid fun.
crnl pyre.