Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-06-27

| OF tD6 muIHe0 OdTS--Lne sOulQ would not
have disturbed an unsuspecting man for
il might have been mere rippling of
the water, so low and cautious was it.
The captain allowed them to come very
near before he hailed them, as though he
had just discovered them.
"Boats ahoy l' he cried then, in tone
of well assumed surprise.
"What ye want p was returned from
one of the boats, in French.
Il want to know who your are, cried
Belknap. in the same tongue.
"Never you mind. Wen tell ye when
we come" answered the same voice that
had spoken before.
"But who are ye? Where dye come
from? What dye want here? Keep off
keep off,
Keep off yourself" shouted the
Frenchman, as the bows ofhis boat struck
our side, and the next moment Belknap
darted back, and came around on the
forecastle.
"Boys," he uttered, in quick, en-
phatic tone, "we know now they mean to
rob us. I've ordered them to keep off,
and they won't. That's sure ground. Be
ready for 'em the moment they come,
and don't hesitate" F"
In moment more half a dozen dark
heads appeared above the rail at the gang
way, and Immediately afterwards num-
her more followed. There were surely
twenty heads in all. As they came upon
the deck, we could see them plainly,
and could see them eaze eagerly around.
"Where is he?" asked one.
"Gone below, guess, returned the
voice that had answered the captains
hail.
''Te wake up the crew." said another.
But where's the gold?" asked one of
the authoritative ones.
''Down in the cabin, somewhere" was
the reply.
''Then let US go down there"
"Aye-down in the cabin where the
gold is, repeated several.
These remarks had been made in a low
tone of voice, but we understood them
well, and of course the last lingering
doubt had now gone. The villains moved
towards the cabin companionway. in a
body, seeming to have but the one idea of
finding the gold.
snow, boys" whispered the captain.
t"Use your clubs first, and save the pis-
tolls till you need them. Strike fair-and
strike with all your might. Now !"
Without word-but like the rushing
OF some heavy body-we darted aft. The
convicts had reached the bulkhead, and
finding it fastened they supposed the crew
had taken refuge below. One of them
was just calling for some one to open the
door when we came upon them. Cap
tain Belknap struck the first blow with
one of the iron pins, and his man sank
upon the deck without so much as a
groan. Some of us had goneround upon
the larboard side, so that we took them
on both fanks. After the first moment
OF excited nervousness had passed over.
our men lay about them with their clubs
most bravely; and surely one half the
villains had been foored, ere the invaders
could imagine from whence the danger
came. Of course they turned then.
"LOok out boys" cried Belknap, loud
enough for every man to hear. They
have knives"
In another moment we heard the voice
of Wildredge, the second mate, crying
that he was stabbed. Our men waited to
hear no more, but instantly changing the
clubs into the left hand they drew their
pistols, and ON the next instant the sharp
reports rang out upon the air. The men
had become firm and steady-nerved by
this time, and the shots were not thrown
away. AT any rate, when the last pistol
was fired there were only four of the
enemy upon their feet, and they were
disposed of without much further trouble.
The captain now called upon the cook
to bring the lanterns, and when they
were brought we could see the full ex-
tent of our work. Some half dozen Of
the villains were still being held down by
our men, but they were quickly taken
care of, though not without some hard
work. We found some half dozen more
who were simply stunned, and who were
easily brought to, afterth rest had been
lsecnred.
/ There were twenty-five of the convicts
in all, and only nine of them fairly dead
Seven were wounded, two of whom died
the next morning, so we had eleven o.
them left alive upon our hands, and they
were securely bound. OF the briggs crew