Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1860-11-30
handcuffed, and looking unutterable

oNei ehe SahSWay, the insulting JeerS OIL
the mate, and the winks and smiles Of the
crew were not calculated to solace us for
our disappointment or awaken Christian
principles within our bosom. And as the
mate soon resumed his old practice of using
his fists rather freely, Jack declared that
che would stand it no longer, but would
thfsA the unfeeling brute overheard" To
the commission Of this terrible crime /
offered no arguments in oppositisn.
A few nights after this, we were stand
ing along on awind, under doubled-reefed
topsails, in the middle watch. The brig
was laboring heavily in a head sea, and
| was at the helm, my temper ruffled by
the coarse and vulgar epithets with which
Mr. Rundell from time to time honored
me, because / could not with the tiller
prevent the brig at times from patching
heavily. Suddenly the fore sheet was let
go, and the sail tapped as if it would
burst from the bolt-rope.
"Hallov' shouted the mate; "what's
to pay not;'
"'The fore sheet has slipped off the
elect, sir" replied Jack Hinsdalc.
"Well haul it aft, then, and be hanged
to you, and belay it properly, you know
nothing son of soldier!"
Jack took hold of the fore sheet, but reques
ted assistance, being unable to haul it aft
alone. The mate went forward to the lee
waist, and seized the rope, when Jack struck
him blow on the head with HEAVIER,
which knocked him against the bulwarks,
and then seized HIM by the throat to
throw him overheard.
Mr.. Rundell was stunned only for a
moment. Before Jack could accomplish
his murderous work, the mate recovered
his senses, and struggled desperately for
life, calling on the Captain for assistance
Jack finding the work more difficult than
he expected, summoned me to his aid. /
left the helm and rushed toward the spot
where the combatants were engaged in
deadly strife. Igrasped the mate arount the
body, and and by our united strength we
lifted him on the gunwale, in spite of his
convulsive efforts to break away; and just
as the Captain who rushed up the COM
panionway at the cries of the mate, reached
the waist, and while the men belonging
to the starboard watch were Fastening up
the fore scuttle to his rescue, we succeeded
in overcoming his resistance, and dropped
him into the water!
The captain saw the act, although too
late to prevent it. He shouted murder p
and called upon the men to secure the
murderers. We defended ourselves man.
fully for time, but at last were knocked
down, handcuffed and dragged below into
sort of half deck which was entered
from the steerage. A couple of ringbolts
were driven firmly into the ships side, to
which we were lashed, and kept on a
short allowance Of bread and water. The
Captain visited us every day, and with a
triumphant smile consoled us with the
assurance that we should soon be in port,
and nothing could save us from being
hanged. Indeed, for time there seemed
to be no hope Of escaping the gallows. We
were seen in the very act, and under cir
cumstances which rendered it almost cer-
tain that the crime was deliberately
planned; and no one could doubt for a
moment that was as guilty as my ship
mate, who attempted to do the deed single
handed. Y
But Jack Hensdald had been in limbo
before, and was familiar with the mystery
of handouts. Before we reached the
American coast we could both manage to
slip off our irons at pleasure without a
great degree of pain, and we formed q
plan to gain possession Of the brig when
we came in sight Of land and make a
determined effort to avoid the hangman's
moose.
Shortly after daylight one morning,
land was seen from the top-gallant yard,
afar off. The Captain was rejoiced, fol
he and the three men with him were al
most worn out with their labors and
watchings. The wind being moderate,
and the Captain sleepy, having been on