The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-11-29


eyed her sharply. Soon she went to the
taffrail and looked into the stern boat
and then she came and stood by the bin
nacle. m EFl
"Look out, or you'll jibe the boom!''
uttered the passenger. a0s at
! Carter started and found that the main
sail was shivering. He gave the helm a
couple of spokes.a portland then cast his
eyes again upon the woman whose fea-
lures were lighted by the binnacle lamp.
5"Thank' e, ma'am, y said-Dan 81 Hal
hold on-why, bless my soul, there's
big spider right on yer hairl7 No, not
there-here, Ill-ugh!' -
The last ejaculation Dan made as he
seemed to pull something from the wo-
mans hair, which he threw upon the deck
with the "ugh" before mentioned
Shortly afterwards the passenger went
below, and ere long Tucker came on
ldeck ey ~ . s
"Commodore," said Carter, with re-
markable degree of earnestness. in his
manner. sis the lady turned in YETI"
4 II rather think so, said Tucker, look
ing at the compass. Look out, look out,
Carterl Why, man alive, you're two
points to the southwark of your course y
J 'Blow nae, so / amp said the man,
bringing the helm smartly a-port "But,
say, Commodore, didn't ye notice nothin'
, peculiar about that 'oman2" s
"Why, Dan, you seem greetly interes-
J ted about her" Sac 3i
} $50 ] am, Commodore; and so am
bout that black coffin, too. .Wouldn't it
lo fo on 20 on N nj
it?" -
"Pshaw! you are as scared as child
, in grave yard.
} mo, not bit of it. Just hark bit!
That oman amt no oman at ALL"
! The Commodore pronounced theyul-
; gar name of his Satanic Majesty in a
? most emphatic manner. a 64o
sits the truth, Commodore. LII swear
> to it. I purtended there was spider on
her hair, and 1 rubbed agin her .face.--
! By Sam Hyde, ef 'twasn't as rough an
bearded as holystonc. Yer see she told
: as how I'1 let the boom jibe if didn't
Hook out I knew''d there wasn't no omar
. there. an so tried her. Call somebody
. to the wheel. an let's go an have a lool
L at that coffin" ~
e The Commodofe was wonder struck by
e what heahad heard; but with that calm
. presence of mind which made him wha
d he was, set coolly thinking. In a few
moments he called one of the men aft t
e relieve Carter, and then he went dowI
! into the cabin to look after the passenger
The latter had turned in and seemed to b.
lsnoring. Tucker returned then to tn
It deck and took Carter one side.
IT e"No noise. now Carter, but follow as
). nothing had happened" e5e
,, 'Sartin," responded Dan.
J The two approached the main hatch
and Carter stopped to raise it, when hi
:e hand touched small ball that seemed t
have been pinned up under the afte
IS brake of the hatch.
b "It's ball of twine,'' said Dan.
"Don't touch it. but run and get Ian
n term" replied Tucker.
mi Carter sprang to obey, and when he re
3 turned number of men were gathere
RS about the spot. The hatch was raiset
and the Commodore carefully picked u
he the ball of twfne, and found it was mad
g fast to something below. He descende
N to the hold, and there he found that th
p twine ran in beneath the head of the CO
Is fin. He had no doubt now in his min
re that there was mischief boxed up b
" fore him, and he sent Carter for some
< thing that might answer for screw-dri'
j. er. The man soon returned with stol
d knife, and the Commodore set to work.
e, He worked very carefully, however, at tt
os same time keeping bright look out for tt
string.
L AT length the screws were all out, an
e. the lid was very carefully lifted; fromii
'u place. eEE s
~ SIN the name of heaven!7 burst fro
be the lips of the Commodore. 9s1a3
r aBy Sam Hyde'' dropped like thu
der-clap from the tongue of Dan.
lg ssGod bless you, Dan!' said Tucker.
ne "I know'd it," exclaimed Dan.
SIS The two men stood for moment al
r. |gazed into the coffin. There was no de'
mn man there, butin the place thereof the
he was material for the death Of a score.
ne The coffin was filled with gunpewder al
OF pitch wood! On a light framework
~ the center, were arranged four pisto
ne cooked and primed, and the string Nhi
ed entered the coffin from without, comm
ny nicated with the trigger of each.
S. The first movement of the Commodo
re: was to call for water, and when it "
lid brought he dashed three bucketsful in
DIS the Internal contriyance and then
rse breathed more. freely. So 50.
'he "No, mol" he uttered, as he lcaped FRI
,he the hold. s.No, no, my men-do nothi
rashly. Let me 60 into the cabin fiji
er, You may follow me.
The Commodore Tucker strobe into the CT
in, walked up to the bunk where his p
er, senger lay, and grasping hold of the
ms. male dress, dragged its wearer to I
II" floor. There was a sharp resistance, a
the passenger drew pistol; but it '
hat quietly knocked away--the gown '
torn off, and man, came forth from
gh. remnants of calico and linen.
I'M The fellew was assured that his VIII
plot had been discovered, and at lem
'ar- he owned that it had been his plan
ent turn out in the course of the night
:. get hold of the ball of twine, which
old had left in eonvenint pace; he then
on tended to have gone aft, carefully UNIV
ait. ding the string as he went; then to h