Meanwhile, Jo had reached his cabin, and he hastily pushed the sliding door open and went in. He was not long in getting what he was after. It was a ship’s bell, with a history to it, that he had picked up in Hawaii—the bell, not the history. Holding the clapper tight so that it would not betray him, Jo made his way quickly to the ladder-like stairs leading to the quarter deck and tied it underneath, in such a way that it was sure to ring.
This promised to be a double-barreled joke, and they would be lucky if the recoil did not kick them over. When it was properly fastened Jo let go of it and sped back to Tom. Scarcely had he reached his fellow conspirator than there came the clear metallic ring of a ship’s bell. Weird and uncanny it sounded through the stormy darkness of the night. The old captain could scarcely believe his ears. Then came that startling vibration again.
“By Thundas, what’s that?” he cried.
“It sounded to me like a ship’s bell,” said Jim. “I’d soon find out, if you would take the wheel, sir.” Growling something, the old fellow made in the direction of the sound, and Jo and Tom scudded for the forecastle, which they reached without being discovered.
Meanwhile, the captain had come to the ladder leading from the quarter deck to the main deck, and the tolling came from the darkness, just beneath his feet. There was a strain of superstition in him, as in all sailors, and he had heard yarns of ghostly bells on haunted ships that tolled for the dead about to be. And it shook the old fellow’s nerve. Just then the shepherd’s dog began to howl dismally and this put the seal on matters as far as the captain was concerned.
He could not locate the continued tolling, so he returned to the bridge and reported the fact to Jim, with his own view of the case.
“I don’t wonder at it either, Skipper,” he said in tremulous tones. “This was once a pirate’s ship, and I don’t need to tell you anything about its former captain, Bill Broom. There’s been many a deed of blood done aboard this ship.” Jim felt generally angry, but not at the captain, whom he understood, but he hated to have the ship of which he was fond, given a bad name.
“Take the wheel, sir,” said Jim, “and I’ll find out in a jiffy what’s wrong. If this ship is harboring any ghosts, I’ll fumigate them out.”
“It’s a job for a young man,” replied the captain, taking the wheel. “I wish you good luck, Skipper.”
No sooner did the captain take the helm than Jim strode across the quarter deck in the direction of the tolling sound. It was weird enough to give almost anyone the creeps. Just imagine for yourself how it would be, with that metallic sound coming out of the stormy darkness. Fortunately for him, Jim was not imaginative, and did not see things unless he was shown. He reached the top of the ladder, and the tolling was just beneath his feet. He started down and then something happened.