It was in the midst of one of his most exciting narrations that something happened that brought them all to their feet with bounding pulses and thickly beating hearts.
From without had come distinctly the deep-toned notes of a bell!
As they stood listening, the dismal tolling recommenced. There was something uncanny and ghastly about it, coming, as it did, on board that mysterious craft.
The chime was rung out in slow, funeral style.
Boom-boom! Boom-boom!
Nat shuddered as he listened. What could it mean? He determined to find out.
Captain Akers already had the door open and stood peering forth. The fog hung, dark and dripping, all about them. One could hardly see ten paces away. But, as well as they could judge, the tolling came from the decks of the "Island Queen" herself.
"It's that ship's bell!" cried Nat. "I noticed one forward this afternoon."
As he spoke the character of the ringing changed.
The bell began to peal fast and furiously. Its clangor deafened and terrified. It sounded as if a madman had hold of the clapper string and was trying to deafen any one within hearing.