Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-01-11

L
heard persons In conversation in the pas.
sage between the engines, and almost close
to where Twas. g
by slightmovemen was able to see
them. Que was our chief engineer. who
had never before been known in the en-
gine room at this hour of the night he had
his hands on the injection handles, and was
regulating the supply of water to the d.
illnlsned quantity OF steam passing through
the engines. The other with his back to.
wards me was person whom did not
Know at all. He appeared slight race.
lnl formed young man, Of middle height,
dressed IN sailors clothes of fine texture,
and with the voice of youth rather than
OF man. shouldhave gone out at once
to see what was doing, but the first words
distinguished arrested my attention in a
moment. Itwas the youth who said
"How long before we shall leave the
ship!"
Not long now" replied the chief; .sbut
We have nothing molc to do, except to start
when it is time,'
Are you sure the third engineer is all
rishtn'
''ies, he sleeps in one of the the wheel
houses. and have turned the KEY upon
nm. Dick is at the wheel the rest of the
watch on deck, and these smutty fellows
are DISPOSED Of. We have lowered the
boats all safe. and all ready for a start
Then Why not 90 now T.
'No, We might still be discovered in
time to spoil all. Let us wait till the last
moment, and we shall be sure that we have
got rid of the internal ship and all that
! rnntu sva ri 70 trnull, but l,,v
he said with glance towards the gauges,
There isn't much time to spare, either.
The steam mounts quicker than l thou
glt; it is at twenty five already, and the
water is all out of the gauges. Just step
OH deck and tell Dick we shall be off at
Once."
1.-The youth turned and ascended quick
ly to the deck; and the chief went to the
steke-hole, opened he furnace doors, look
cd at the fires, and threw in some Goals and
! tallow.
IL should make a bad hand at describing
my feelings, and all that sort of thing; but
think you may imagine that the unac.
countable appearance of a stranger in the
ship.-the intelligence that the watch both
on deck and i'll the engine-room were dis
posed of,-thc knowledge that the steam
was at twenty-five pounds to the inch, our
usual working pressure being fifteen, and
rapidly rising. with the safety-valvcs of
COURSE, fastened down and very heavily load
ed,-t!lc eng ines tlrottled of half their
steam, the feed i'll the boilers very low and
the furnaces fed with oil and talOw, it was
altogether enough to make one feel queer.
The boilers were new and strong; but, for
that very reason, when they did give way,
the destruction wonll be the greater; and
expected soon IL terrific explosion, which
might probably send the ship to the bot
tom.
| understood at Oncc-indeed. there was
no room for doubt after what had seen
and hcard-that the villains had by some
means got hold of the gold on hoard that
they had either druggcd or ovcrpowered
the watch, and that It was their intention
to bow up the ship, and escape IN the con
fusion or to set away little beforehand
and trust to the explosion, which must in
cvitably follow, to remove all proof 0
their crime and all dread Of capture. l saw
what it was; bnt confess to you sir, al
the risk of being thought coward, that
stood at first unable to think or act to any
useful purpose Had l been prompt and
decided. now was my time to have acted
while the stranger was on deck, but own
that | stood rooted to the spot, with .l,ak,
knees and ouiycring lips, and with tho
cold c,amny PRESENTATION standing ON my
forehead. have often been in peril, but
never felt so unnamed. belo,c or since, nj
did then and verify believe that, ha,
been left alone, should have allowed
the ship. and the gold, and my own life
and the lives of all on board to take theil
chance, rather than venture ont to fac,
those despcradoes.
But | had not the choice. The chief af.
ter looking at the fire and examining the
gauges. crossed the strok"-holc to the othe,
passage under the starboarl platform
with the view probably of getting at som,
of the preose and talow that was slowed
away Close by where ! had made my
couch. saw that must now be discov.
cred! hut with the prospect Of a struggle
with one man sinrlv, my courage revived
my limbs became steady, and the coward
feeling left my heart. lie groped his way
slowly up the passage, and then made
the rush which | have lescribed as
necessary to avoid the water from the waste
pine. This rush brought him close to me
before he stunned, and we stood face to
face. Nv eyes were accustomed to the
dim lirht of the place, while his were vet
dazzlcd by the bright glare of the fires
Va flat coull distinguish his features
while he was vet uncertain whether there
. was any one there but himself. l ourh,
to have seized the opDertunity, and at.
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