Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-06

ther, was not room ir the store closet: but
on the starboard side there was nice. snug,
little spot, kept toIerably cool, though SO near
the cylinders by the draught of air from the
deck, and through some holes in the bulkhead,
from the fore hold. This snuggery was ap
preached by narrow passage on the star
board side of the ship-for the ladders and
the deck pump prevented you from getting IN
from between the engines and the donkey en-
CINE was In the way on the rOrt side and
you had to make rush to get in, when you
did. without ducking from the starboard
waste water pipe through the ships side,
which Was very leaky, SO that there gen
orally torrent of water falling down from it.
But once 10, with bag of cotton wipings for
a bed, and my Jacket rolled up for pillow
| could generally calculate on & miortabe
snooze without disturla ance from the wheels
or anything else | am obliged to be SO par
ticnlar in my description, or you would never
understand what | have to relate In this fa-
vor.te spot OF mine, then, you will understand
that lay down, and In very few minutes
was fast asleep.
- had DO slept very long, when l awoke
with start, and with an uneasy Consciousness
that there was something unusual 10 the
working OF the engines | eant on my elbow
and listened. They were going much more
owiy than usual, ard there was a peculiar
jerking style about their motion, which SEEM
ed as If they were working expansIyely with
high stcain; and the ~eli-xDOwn rushing
sound IN the sTetm-pipes, ike the wind through
! doorway. when the door Is jar, showed me
IN a moment that they were closely thro1-
tled this is, that the valves in the pipes
leading TO the cylinders were partially cl 1sed
40 as 10 check the flow OF steam from the boil
ers to The engines SAW, too, that there was
a very bright glow from the furnaces, and
that the fires were more than usually intense.
| ancIed Also from the absence of the usu Al
currents of air, except through the wIndsail
and from the foge-ho.d and the appearance OF
the lights and shadows. that the hatches oven
the crank gratlngs, and the companion leading
to the deck, were closeG-a thing that was
very unusual except bad weather.
9. was about TO creep cut OF my lair tc
see what was the meaning OF al this when
heard persons IN conversation in the passage
between the engines, and almost close to where
| was. By g slight movement | was almost
+ able TO them. One ~as our Chief en-
gineer, who had never before been seen IN th-
engine room at this hour OF the night he
had his hands on the injection handles. and
. was regulating the supply OF water TO the
diminished quantity OF Steam passing throus b
, tie engines. The other with his back turned
towards me, was person whom | did not
know at all. He appeared a slight, graceful
! ~ formed young man, Of middle height
dressed in sailors clothes OF fine texture
. and with the voice OF youth rather than OF
d man. | should have gone out at ouce to
g see what doing. but the first words
g distinguished arrested my att nton IN mo-
: mcnr. II vas the youth who SAID
How long before we shall leave the ship !?
Not long. now,' replied the chief; . ou,
I we have nothing more 70 Go, except TO star
when it Is tine
f Are sou sure the third engineer is al
, -iSht?'
, Ye- He sleeps in one OF the wheel
j house. aud have turned the KEY upon I'm
Dick is at the whee' the res, OF the watct
. Is On deck, and these smutty fellows are dis
. posed of. We have lowered the boat all safe
: ana ali Is ready to start
T Then Why not 60 now
, mo. we might sail be discovered in tim,
: to spoil all. Le- Us wat till the last n =
d ment and we shall be sure that We have "a
rid Of the Internal ship and all that cpulC
, ever give US trouble. But, by-!' h'
I said. with a glance towards the gauges
ther3 ism much time ~ spare, either. Tue
, steam mounts quicker than thought; II il
e at tyent g-fve already. and the water is al
out of the gauges just step on deck an
Z tell Dick We shall be off at once
a The youth turned and asceuded qulckl'
r 20 the deck; and he chief went TO the st K
c. II le opened the furnace-10ors, lpokei th
i fires. and threw some Goals and talIow.
should ma ke had hand ut describing
g., my feelings, and ali that sort OF thing bu
{ l think sou may imagine that the un4ecount
= ! able appearance of = strans-r IA the ship
J. | the intelligence that the w4tch botn on dec}
: and in the engine room we're disposed OIL
?. the knowledge that the steam WAS at TWEEN )
y ge rounds to the inch (our usual workln.
i pressure being ffreen) and rapidly rising
% with the eafety-valves. of course. fistene'
b down very heavily loadet-the engine
T. | thr0trlei OF halt their steam, the fed IN th.
# b9iiaTs very low. and the furnaces fad VIII
o oii and taiiow. it was altogether enoagh L
r make one feel queer. The boilers were new
e and strong hut, TOR that very reason, whe:
q they did give wav. the destruction would b
IS the greaicr; and expected soon terrific ex
= pIosion. which might probably send the sal
g TO the bottom. | understood At once-indee
d there room for doubt after what ha
Ii seen and heard that the villains had by Jm
means got hold of the gold on board; tina
they had either drugged or o7erpowdered th
le watch. and that 1t was their intention I
il blow up the chip. and escape III the ooniu
If sion or to get away a little befoTeh hand, au
y trust to the explosion, which must inevitabi
y follow. to remove all proof OF their crIm
n and all dread of capture saw whatlt was
ID hut confess to you. sir, at The rlsk OF BEN
es thought coward, that l stool ut list una
20 bic to think or act to any useful purp0s
ne Had been prompt and decided. now was N
K, time t. have acted while the stranger was o
ut deck but | own that stood rooted TO It
D. spot, with shaky knees, with qnlyering hE
I'd and with the cold, clammy preparation seant
ipg on nv forehead | have often been
20 peril, bat never felt SO unnamed, before {
C. since, as ] did then and L verify Deiie'
sc that, had | been left alone, should have a
n lowed the ship. and the gold. and my o"
is life and the lives of all OF board, TO take the
he chance, rather than venture out to face tho
nd desperadoes.
ed But had not the choice. The che
nd after looking at the fire aud examining Il
IL gauges crossed the stoke-hole to Inc 9th
on passages under the starboard platform, vii
e view probably of getting at some OF tt
ID grease and tallow that was slowed away clio
as by where | had my c)uch. saw that mo
ar now be discovered but with the prospect
IN a struggle with one man snely, my coural
yea revived, nv limbs became steady. and Il
get cowardly feeling lefs my heart. He grop
lot bis way slowly up the passage, and the
TX made the rush which have described as Ne
ut essary to avoid the water from the vast
IN, nine. This rush brought him close to me
he fore he stopped, and stood face TO fac
ad Nv ewes were accustomed to the dim light
les he place, while his were yet dazzied by {
bright glare OF the fires SO that l cou
ne distinguish his features, while he was yet u
his certain whether there was any one there b
ie himself | ought to have seized the oppert
ad- pitv. and attacked him at once, but | foolis
ra- " let the moment pass and instead OF acti
rd, promptly | sung out, w ho is thereT lr
the moment his ewes lit up with a look of fel
s q intelligence aud suppressed exclamation
,,,o., ,,a Tho audSennesS of the