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

all ite SHol'SS'
"Maybe they meant to have overhauled
US at sea" suggested Murphy.
"very likely" returned the captain.
Sand, they knew, too, that we could not
carry goods on shore without permit,
and that in consequence thereof, we sho'd
have to lay one night here, at least, with
the money on board. And let me tell ye,
too, that if they have come for that pur-
pose, and if we had not discovered them,
they might have robbed us as easy as you
please"
1t seemed plain to the minds of sail,
that the escaped convicts had come on
purpose to rob us, to take the gold we
had iu charge. The quarantine laws
were not very strict, but yet our bill of
health must be examined and permit
obtained, and every one might have
known that nothing could have been sent
on shore from the brig before the next
day at earliest.
Mr.. Murphy stationed himself behind
a lot of running rigging which was hung
up against the main shrouds, and from
thence he observed the movements on
board the felucca. He could thus see
without being seen. 1t was soon evident
that the convicts (for we had now be-
come absolutely assured that they were
nothing else) did not suspect that we mis-
trusted them, for their movements were
bold and unguarded; and as the felucca's
gunwales were low, we could see these
things plainly. They had spy glass,
and it was levelled on us half the time.
And then there was another thing that
looked very suspicious. They had
larger boat than usual at the stern, and
an extra one on deck and this last boat
was got out before dark. Of course no
ordinary felucca could have honest use
for two such boats.
The sun went down, and ere long the
stars came out. Captain BeIknap had
an excellent night glass, and just al twi-
light was deepening into night, he could
see that that there were full twenty men
on the felucca's deck. We had not seen
over half a dozen of her men at any one
time before. The captain handed ME the
glass and bade me look. Without the
glass / could just distinguish the dark
outlines of the felucca upon the star lit
water, but l had had the glass to my eye
for some moments, could see the vessels
outlines plainly, and could distinguish
some twenty or more dark forms upon
her deck. Had it been upon the shore,
they might have been stumps or posts for
all that the glass revealed to the contrary,
but l knew that upon that deck they could
De nothing put men.
OF course we did not keow that the
escaped convicts meant to trouble us, but
never was man more sure of fact that
rested on belief than were we of the in
tentions of that runaway crew.
By-and-by it became so dark that the
night-glass could only reveal the dim out
lines of the felucca, and then we.set about
preparing for defence. If we could have
held communication with the shore, of
course we should have done so, but to
have sent boat off would have cost US
dear, so we simply made up our minds to
defend the brig as best we could. There
were sixteen men of US in all-the cap
tain, hrs two mates, twelve men and my
self. We had fourteen pistols, three COM
mon fowling peices and one rife, but no
swords. Yet each man had a fire-lock.
and two to spare. The rife was given to
Wildredge, and Murphy took the extra
fowling piece. We next had seven long,
heavy iron Delaying pins, which were
about as good as so many cutlasses and
clubs for the rest of the crew were easily
procured. Thus were we armed, and we
felt strong, for we had one great advan-
tage-if the villains came we could have
them under our fire and clubs ere they
could know where we were.
OF course there were some huttering
hearts, and some quick, nervous breath
ing, but there was not sinking, qualing
soul. Nine o'clock came; and so did ten
and eleven-but we had no thought of
giving up the watch, though one or two
more calm than the rest, mapped little.
1t was nearly halfpast eleven, when we
heard slight plasing in the water, in the
direction of the felucca- Belknap quickly
brought out his night glass, and he plainly
saw two boats approaching US. He
made sure of this, and then gave the order
for US to secrete ourselves.
/ There was a sort of top-gallant fore
castle to the brig, reaching to the heel Of
the bowsprit. and under this we all crept,
with our firearms and clubs already for
action. Our nlar oc - :,