The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-04-28

to desert Captain Luster in trouble.
The men were so frightened that l
thought it best to come back and get
q new set.
There was some difficulty in procur-
ing the requisite number; aud, ac-
cordingly, Prescott and myself we're
accepted. As the former went over
the ships side, Florence Harris said :
Don't come back, Edmund, until
you have heard what has become Of
poor Captain Luster."
He gave her his promise, and few
minutes later the boat showed off, and
we rapidly neared the hull, which had
acquired such a strange interest to us
all.
Prescott, in addition to his revolver,
had a small Italian dagger, which 1
observed him handle as if to assure
himself that it was reliable. Then, as
he replaced it, he remarked to me:
"phere's no telling what's inside
that mass of lumber, and this may be
the weapon need, after ALL"
Arriving at the craft, after short
consultation, it was agreed that the
four oarsmen, the mate and myself
should remain behind, while Backstay
Bob and William Prescott should ex-
plore the hulk.
AS it was morally certain that some
dreadful danger menaced all who en-
tered the cabin, and as 1 was good for
nothing, 1 needed no more urging
than the mate to remain in my posi-
ton.
Prescott went first, holding his pis.
toll in one hand and lantern in the
other, while Bob closely followed with
his cutlass. We saw them descend the
hatchway. All was still, and then |
heard the single exclamation from
Prescott
ooh, my God !"
This was followed by terrible roar,
a quick succession of pistol shots, and
then all was still again. The next
moment both Prescott and Rackstay
Bob emerged to view, covered from
head to foot with blood.
"Oome aboard" said they. "The
danger is over"
The next instant we were on deck.
1 rushed to the hole, and gazed down.
Merciful heaven what did behold?
By the dim light of the lantern we
beheld the mangled body of Captain
Luster. The head and one of his limbs
were gone, and there was scarcely q
semblance of humanity in the remains
before us. Near him was the gaunt,
terrible form of an expiring Bengal
tiger, killed by the bullets, cutlasf
and dagger of Prescott and Backstay
Bob.
The two latter, on entering the
cabin, saw the mutilated body of Cap
tain Luster. A low growl warned them
of danger, and as Prescott turned hi
gaze he saw the tiger crouching and
in the very act of springing. Drop
ping his lantern he fired his revolver
and, as the terrible animal bore hin
to the floor he drew his dagger and
stabbed him again and again. The
needle pointed instrument reached hi
heart, which, united with the slashina
blows of Backstay Bob, settled hi
hash before he could infict any ma
terial injury.
We now made a critical examination
of the place. A number of human
bones strewed the floor, and severa
articles of wearing apparel, which
seemed to indicate that the place had
been tenanted by two human beingi
of opposite sexes, and had probably
been torn to pieces by the tiger. The
room was long and low, extending the
whole length of the vessel, and hav
ing at either extremity massive iroI
chain, terminating in heavy ring al
one end, the other being fastened by {
strong staple to beam in the vessel
side.
The brute had chain to his neck
and had been confined to one corner
of the room by delicate iron ring,
which had been put there to be
broken. Over the centre of the room
was written something in an Indian
dialect, which was pronounced by the
mate (who had spent several years in
lndia) to read:
81 have sought have found that
which l sought-vengeance."
Carefully removing the body of tn,
captain to the little boat, we scuttled
the mysterious craft, and saw it sinl
to the bottom of the ocean. Shortly
after, the captain was wrapped in hi
winding-sheet ald followed.
The strange, awful tale regarding
the old craft we never learned.
ever remained to us all decided
mystery of the sea.-New York News