The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-09-25

"No, not bit of it. just bark bit:
That oman amt no 'oman at oil"
The Commodore pronounced the vulgar
name of his satanic majesty III most em.
phatic manner.
"It's the truth, Commodore. can swear
to it. l pretended there was a spider on
Her hair, and rubbed my hand agin her
face. by Sam Hyde, ift want rough an
bearded as a holy-stone. You see, she told
me as how I'd let the boom gibe if didn't
look out. know'd there wasn't no oman
there, and so tried her. Call somebody
to the wheel, and let's 60 an idok at that
coffin"
The Commodore was wonder-struck bJ
what he had heard, but, with that calhi
presence of mind which made him what he
was, sat coolly to thinking In a few me-
ments he called one of the men aft to re.
lievc Carter, and then he went down into
the cabin to look after his passenger. The
latter had turned in and scented to be snoI-
ing. Tucker returned to the deck and took
Carter one side.
"No noise now, Carter, but follow me as
though nothing had happened
'Sartin'," responded Dan.
The two approached the main hatch, and
Carter stopped to raise it, when his hand
touched small ball that seemed to have
been pinned up under the after break OF
! the hatch.
'Its ball Of twinc," said Dan.
"Don't touch it, bu. ruth and get lar:
term replied Tucker.
Carter sprang to obey, and when he re.
turned number Of the men had gathered
about the spot The hatch was raised, and
the Commodore carefully picked up the
ball Of twine, and found that II was made
fast to solheihinerbelow. He desecnded 10
the hold and there he found that the twine
ran in beneath the lid Of the coffin. He had
no doubt in his mind now that there was
mischief boxed up before him, and he sent
Carter for something that might answer for
a screw driver. The man soon returned
with strong knife, and the Comthodore
set to work He worked very carefully;
however, at the same time keeping bright
lookout for the string.
At length the screws were all out; and
the lid was very carefully lifted from its
Inns ett of the Co, Commodore, in ,-"'''~. .s-ap ths
By Sam Hyde" dropped like young
thunder clap from the tongue OF Dan.
"God bless you, Dan.," said Tucker.
81 know'd it ~ uttered Dan.
The two men stood for a moment amt
gazed into the coffin. There was ITO dead
man there, but in place tt ,eof, there was
material for the death Of a score. The
coffin was filled with gunpowder and pitch
wood Upon a light framework in tile
centre were arranged four pistols, all cooked
and primed, and the string which entered
the coffin from without, communicated with
the trigger Of each.
The first movement of the Commodore
was to call for water, and when 1t was brO't
he dashed three buckets full into the fnfcr-
nal contriyance, and then he brcathed moro
freely.
"No. no." he uttered, as he lcapcd from
the hold. "No, nc=-tny men. DO nothing
} rash. Let me go into the cabin first. You
may follow me-"
Commodore Tucker strobe into the cabin;
and walked up to the bunk where his pas
senger lay, and grasping hold of the female
dress he dragged its wearer out upon the
floor. There was sharp resistance, and
the passenger drew pistol, but it was
> quickly knocked away-the gown was torn
off, and man came forth from the renf-
nants Of calico and linen.
, The fellow was assured that his whole
plot had been discovered, and at length he
, owned that it had been his plan to turn out
/ in the course of the night and get hold Of
the ball of twine, which he had left in a
, convenient place; he then intended to have
, gone aft, carefully unwinding the string as
he went along; then to have got into the
I boat, cut the falls, and as the boat fell into
the water he would have pulled smartly
e upon the twinc.
!, "And | think you know" he eontinned,
) with wicked look, what would have fo.;-
A lowed. would have not been noticed in
| the fuss---rd have got out Of the way with
, the boat, and you'd all have been in the
y next world in short order. All can say,
t is am sorry didn't do it,"
!, 1t was with much difficulty that the Com
: modorc prevented his men from killing the
: villain on the spot He proved to be one
0 of the cnemy's officers, and he was to have
heavy reward if he succeeded in destroy
: ing the American Commodore and his
: crew.
0 The prisoner was carried on deck and
h lashcd to the main rigging, where he was
0 told he should remain till the vessel got
into port.
{ "What horrid death the villain meant
n for u.s." uttered Carter.
f eyes, he did," said the Commodore with
c shudder
e ale belongs to the same gang that's been
t a robbin' and burnin' the poor folks
t houses on the Eastern coast" said one o.
the men.
e "Yes," returned the Commodore, with q
r nervous twitch of the muscles about the
n mouth.
: A bitter curse from the prisoner here
t broke upon the air, and with clutched fist
K the Commodore went below.
. In the morning when Commodore Tuck
e er came on deck, Seguin was.in sight upor
o the starboard bow, but wheHhe looked fol
the prisoner he was gone. Es.
n Garter, where's that. villain lashcd here
S last night" ,.--
I'm sure don't know where he is, Com
;, modorc. Perhaps he has jumped overheard.
!; The old Commodore looked sternly into
- Carter's eyes, and he saw . twinkle Of salts
action cleaning there. He.s hcsitated q
t moment-then he turned away and murmur
cd to himself:
n "Well, well-I can't blame them. If tn,
murderous villains gone to his death, he.
t only meta fate which he richly deserved -
e Better far that it be he, than that my noble
crew were now all in the oceans col grave.
r What Oil Opponents Say.
The Cedar Valley Times (Rep, in an edi
| tor;ol ovt;..Ia ,,po,, tbo vacant Yln;o, Cfot.