Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-11

and seemed to be snoring 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,
"It's ball Of twine," said Dan.
Don't touch it, but run and get lantern
replied Tucker
Carter sprang to obey, and when he return
ed a number of the men had gathered about
the spot. The hatch was raised, and the com.
modore carefully picked up the ball of Irvine,
and found that it was made fast to something
below He descended to the hold, and there
he found that the Irvine 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 screw driver The man
soon returned with a stout knife and the COM
modore set to work. He worked very care
fully, however, at the same time keeping a
bright lookout for the string
AT length the screws were all out and the
lid was very carefully lifted from its place.
"Great God in Heaven p burst from the lips
of the commodore
"By Sam Hyde" dropped like young
thunder clap from the tongue of Dan.
GOOD bless you, Dan !" said Tucker.
81 knoac'd it" uttered Dan.
The two men stood for moment and gazed
into the coffin. There was no dead man there,
but in the place thereof there was material for
the death OF a score. The coffin was filled
with gunpowder and pitch wood Upon a
light framework i'll the center were arranged
four pistols, all cooked and PINNED, and the
string which entered the coffin from without
commu,- icated with the trigger of each.
The first movement of the commodore was
TO call for water and when it was brought he
dashed three buckets full into the Internal con-
trivance, and then he breathed more freely.
"No, no, !" he uttered, as he leaped from the
hold, "No, no, my men. Do nothing rashly.
Let me go into the cabin first. You may fol.
low me-"
Commodore Tucker strobe into the cabin,
walked up to the bunk where his passenger
lay, and grasping hold of the female dress he
dragged its wearer out upon the floor. There
was a sharp resistance, and the passenger
drew a pistol but it was quickly knocked
away-the gown was torn off, and a man came
forth from the remnants 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 ,fold of the ball of
twine, which he had left in convenient place.
He then intended to have gone aft, carefully
unwinding the string as he went along then
to have got into the boat, cut the falls, and as
the boat iell into the water, he would have
pulled smartly upon the Irvine.
"And | think you know" he continued,
with a wicked look, "what would have follow
ed. | shouldn't have been noticed in the fuss;
I'd have got out OF the way with the boat, and
you'd all have been in the next world in short
order. All l can say is, I'm sorry l didn't do
it,"
1t was with much difficulty that the Com
II odore prevented his men from killing the
villain on the spot. He proved to be one of
the enemy's officers, and he was to have had
a heavy reward if he succeeded in destroying
the American commodore and his crew.
The prisoner was carried on deck and dashed
to the main rigging, where he was told he
should remain till the vessel got into port.
"What horrid death that villain meant for
us, uttered Carter.
Yes. he did, said Tucker, with shud-
der
He belongs to the same gang that's been a
Robin and burnin' the poor folk houses on
the eastern coast" said one of the men.
Yes" returned the Commodore, with a
nervous twitch of the muscles about his
mouth.
A bitter curse from the prisoner here broke
upon the air. and with cutched fist the
Commodore went below.
In the morning when Commodore Tucker
came on deck, Seguin was in sight upon the
starboard bow, but when he looked for the
prisoner, he was gone.
"Carter, where's that villain, l lashed here
last night?"
"Im sure don't know where he is, COM
modore. Perhaps he's jumped overheard"
The old commodore looked sternly into Car
ters eyes, and he saw twinkle of satisfaction
cleaning there. He hesitated moment
then he turned away and murmured to him
SELF
"Well, well-I can't blame them. If the
murderous williams gone to his DEATH he's
only met fate which he richly deserved.
Better far that it be he, than that my noble
oil in ncean,s cnll arau -