The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-10-31

was the mate and merchant whom !
well knew to belong to one Of the first
houses in Tampico. The boats came
noiselessly along side, and their crews
crept stealthiy on board. Without a
sound the hatches were raised and
package after package ofrich dry goods
was passed up from the hold and over
the side into the boats, by the tawny,
half-naked rascals. %
The boats were nearly all loaded,
when | who had been placed to watch
over the sleeping revenue officer saw
him open his eyes, and before ] could
move orspeak, he saw and comprehen-
ded all that was going on. Springing
to his feet he shouted:
"Guarda costa!-c rabandistasw
One bound from where he stood by
the main hatchway to the tarff-rail, and
our captain was by the SIDE Of the Off
GER, with his brawny hands encirciing
the windpipe from which proceeded SO
much unpleasant noise. The Mexican
tried to draw his ssword, and struggled
manfully to get free from the choking
grip; but captain Marin knew that the
entire loss his vessel and cargo would
follow detection, and he was not dis
posed to trifle. Raising the Mexican
In spite of kicks and writings in his
strong arms, he coolly pitched him
overheard! 1t was quite dark, and as
the tide was ebbing swiftly downwards,
he passed out Of sight instantly; but
for minutes we could hear him splash
ing and gurging in the water, and try
ing to shout. Then all was still again.
We knew not whether he had sunk or
gained the shore; nor, to tell the truth,
did we much care.
"Bear hand, boys" said the cap
tain: stumble in these packages: get the
rest of these goods into the boats and
let them get ashore. If then diego
hasn't drank too much water, he may
give US some trouble about this matter
yet"
In few moments the last package
to be smuggled was passed into the
boats; the "patron" who had made the
purchase, counted out the pay in dou-
bleoons; the conoes pushed off,and soon
vanished up the river. In few min
utes our hatches were replaced and
the decks cleared up as before, and the
crew retired to their births, with orders
to be sound asleep and not to wake on
any account.
All this was scarcely arranged, when
the dash of oars coming hastily up the
river was heard, and in another mo-
ment an armed boat from the guarda-
costa was along side. At the first sound
of the approaching boat, captain Marin
had Lain down where he firstpretended
to 60 to sleep, and he was now snoring
louder than ever. Even the curses,
many, loud, and deep, of the angry
Mexicans, failed to arouse him from bis
deep slumber. The officer who had
been thrown overheard, still dripping
from his involuntary bath, rushed aft,
and with no gentle means tried to
arouse the sleeper. At last the captain
gaping and stretching, slowly opened
his eyes, and as he yawned and scratch
ed his head, coolly asked what was the
matter and what was wanted. Then
came scene! All the Mexlcans cur
sing and swearing and threatening and
carrabooing, at once pointing to the Of
ficer who had been taking midnight
swim all alone by himself, who, with a
voice louder than all the rest, swore
that he should have been drowned ii
st. Antonio hadn't made the sentinels
hear his voice aboard the guarda-costa.
and caused them to send him boat
The captain could not be made to un-
derstand what was the matter, and
when he was charged with having
thrown the revenue officer overheard,
and with having smuggled boats along
side, he raised up his hands in holy hor-
ror towards the stars, and Indignantly
replied. "lt's I'D lie! Why, that
gentleman dined with me; we drank
pretty freely, and then came up from
the cabin, when both Of US lay down
here to sleep. | did not wake up until
now: he must have been dreaming,and
have fallen overheard in his sleep! You
all saw that was sound asleep when
you came aboard, how then could /
have thrown HIM overheard? The idea
is absurd, nonsical, the whole story i'm
probable-yes, impossibie! See my
matches are all battened down, just as
they were when you were on board
when lcame in from sea to-day; no.
thing has been moved; my crew are
all asleep. He must have been dream
ing; and while he dreamed of smug-
glsrs and the like ofsuch, he must have
fallen overheard. He knows very well
he was as ssdrunc.a, as lords
The story Of the captain was well