The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-05-12

aloat."
GLOW does 1t look?" several Of u
inquired IN the same breath.
am DO hanged il can tell There
no bowsprit, and"
Here he leveled his glass again, nm,
shortly aftor continued his obserYa
tions.
"There's no sail-no nothin', "
"There must be something"
"Aw-certalnly - w - something
certainly, if your vision-aw-is abl'
to discern it, ventured tho gentl,
Adolphus Fitzgibbon.
"Don't you see anything like n sail ?
inquired the captain.
mot speck, or any place to pu
one, either Hold minute !" ex
claimed Backstay Bob; 1--WE got hel
in range now. She amt got the leas
mite Of n boom, yard, or anythin9
like. She looks like some great hull
of lightboat. Hold on again. l sec
tho bell. They've rugged it up at the
masthead, so that it swing back ards
and forards every time the thing gives
lurch to leewards."
Scan you see anything aboard?"
mot a creetur, living or dead"
"Keep away couple of points"
cried the captain to the man at the
wheel.
Gay, ay, sirl'
And the ships course was altered so
as to bring her rapidly to the mysteri-
GUS craft toward which all eyes were
directed.
Several of the company now openly
remarked that there was something
supernatural in the appearance OF this
boat, with its tolling bell. To all Of
these Florence Harris and her lover
replied lightly. rether OF them having
the least faith in their credulity.
The captain listened impatiently and
then said:
"You're all set of towards. No
doubt you imagine Old Nick is aboard,
with a crew OF little imps, bound for
the Galapagos Isles with a load of
birthstone. If you'll content yourself
for half an hour longer, I'll tell you
something about it, for l intend to
board that old numbering hulk, even if
it turns out to be the Flying Dutchman,
or Davy Jones' flagship, and shall ex-
plore it from stem to stern.
To show that he meant what he said,
orders were given to heaye to, and to
get one Of the boats in readiness. By
this time the nondescript was plainly
visible to all.
1t appeared to be an old hulk, with
a single mast in the centre. The bell
was suspended from the masthead,
and ever and anon sent forth its sol
emn tolling, as the hulk rose and sunk
with the heavings Of the sea,
Before the ship was brought to we
had passed the hulk some distance, SO
that when we halted there were sew
eral hundred yards intervening, and
it was only dimly discernible.
A boat was lowered, and the captain
having selected crew, pulled away
toward the hulk. | asked permission
to accompany it, but on account of a
recent illness was refused. Forum
ate for me indeed, was that refusal
There was something so extraordi-
nary regarding tie appearance and
action of the hulk that the curiosity
Of US all was so intense as to be pain.
full. We strained our gaze, as the
captain and his crew drew rapidly
near it.
We saw the distance swiftly decrease
between the two boats until the shad.
owy forms merged into one. And |
then followed impressive silence
broken by howl, a pistol |
shot and a scream; and US our hearts
almost stopped beating we saw, mo-
ment later, the boat put of from the
hulk, and the men rowing with all |
their might back TO the ship. As
they came nearer we discerned that
the captain was missing.
Backstay Bob dashed toward the
BOAT and, shaking his fist at the men,
demanded furiously:
"You cowardly dogsl Where is
Captain Luster?"
"lhe demon has got him I"
Absurd as the reply might have
eemed at any other time, it was ut.
cred in solemn earnest, as the ghastly
aces of the crew attested.
In reply to our eager questions,
hey said the moment they came along.
iide the craft they heard low, hol-
ow, unearthly sound, which caused
hem to hesitate. The captain climbed
Up the side Of the vessel, descended
he hatchway and disappeared from
'iew. He was hardly out of sight
when the noise they had heard at first
vas repeated, far louder and fercer.
The next moment the report of the
aptain's pistol was heard, followed by
terrific shrek, aud then all was
till.
Horror struck, they called loudly
nd repeatedly to their commander,
'ut receiving no answer pulled away
rom the ship.
"You're purity set of cowardly
neaks, amt you, to go and desert
our captain that way, when, like
nough, he needed you TO save his life,"
Backstay Bob, forgetting in
is fury that the first mate was among
hose whom he denounced. SIN 20.
lg back to that old hulk, and if
ant get at the demon in any other
'ay I'll put n key of powder in it and
low it 10 blazesi !"
dob is right, if his excitement does
lake him forget his Manners" said
ne mate. at was not my intention !
, desert Captain Luster in trouble.
he men were so frightened that l {
lought it best to come back and get
new set.