The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-12-25

was once out of the bay.
In the evening, the lady passenger
came on deck, and tho Commodore rs.
sured her that he should be able to land
her early on the next morning. She
expressed her gratitude and satisfnc.
tion, and remarked that before she re.
tired she should like to look and sec
that her husbands corpse was SAFE
This was Of course granted, and one OF
theiA lifted Off the hatch, that she might
60 down into the hold.
81 declare" muttered Daniel Carter,
an old sailor, who was standing at the
wheel, "she takes on dre'rullyw
"Yos, poor thing!" said Tucker, as
he heard her sobs and groans.
"Dyo notice what'n eye she's got?"
continued Cartcr.
"No." said Tucker, "only twas swol-
len with tears"
"My eyes! but they shonc, though,
when she stood here looking at the
compass"
Tucker smiled at the mans quaint
oarnestncss, and without further re-
mark he went dowa to the cabin.
When the woman came up from the
hold, she looked about the deck Of the
schooner for few moments, and then
went aft. There was something in her
cOuntonance that puzzled Carter. He
had been one of those who objected to
the conin's being brought on board aud
| hence he was not predispOscd to look
very favorably upon its owner. The
| woman's eye ran over the schoOncr's
deck with a strange quickness, and Car
ter eyeu' ~" Y@.." Sharply Soon she
went to the taffrail and looked over at
the stcrn. boat and then she came and
stood .kF the pinnacle again.
,."1.ook out, or you'll gihe tho boom,"
uttered the passenger.
CHrt#tstartcd, and found that the
main sail was shlvcrjng. He gave the
helm couple ofspokes aport, and then
cas-, his eyes upon the woman, whose
icalureswcre lighted by tho bnraclo
lamp.
"ThHpk'e ma'am," said Dan. "fIa.
hold on-why, bless ny soul, there's
big spider right on your hair. No--not
there. lioro-pll-Ugh ~
This last ejaculation Dan made as he
seemed to pull something from the
w0mNns hair, which he threw upon
the deck with the "Ugh !" above men.
toned.
Shortly after, the passenger went be-
low, and ere long Tucker came on deck.
Commodore" said Carter, with
remarkable degree Of carnestncss in his
manner, sis the 'oman turned inc"
81 rather think So" said Tucker,
looking at the compass. "Look out,
look out, Carter! Why, man alive,
you're two points to the southwark of
your course"
"B'ow m", so am" said the man.
bringing the helm Snartly Aport. "Bnt !
say, didn't yc notice anything peculiar
about the old 'oman?"
"Why Dan, you seem greatly inter.
cstcd about her."
$50 | am, Commodore, on 50 / am
about the coffin, too Wouldn't it he
well for you and to overhaul it ?"
"P3haw! you are as. scared rs a child |
in graveyard"
"No, not bit. Just hari, bit. That
'oman ain't no 'cman."
The Commodore pronounced the name |
Of his Satanic Majesty in the most en-
phatic manner.
"It's the truth, Commodore-I can
swear to it. purtended there was n |
spider on her face. By Sam Hyde, i'll
it wasn't az rough and bearded rs an
holystonc. You sec, she told me as how
I'd let the boom gibo if didn't look
out. I know there wasn't no 'oman
there, and so | tried her. Call some.
body to the wheel, and let's 20 andlook
at that coffin"
The Commoa ore was wonder struck
by what he had heard, hut, what he
was, he sat coolly to thinking In a few
minutes he called ore Of the mcn aft
to relieve Carter, and then ho went
down to look after his passenger. The
latter had turned in, and scsmed to be
sleeping. Tucker returned, and took
Carter one sic"
"No NOISE now, Carter follow me Il,
though nothing had happcrcd."
"Sartin."
The two approached the main hatch,
and stopped to raise il, when Dams
hand touched a small ball that seemed
to have been pinned up under the altc
break Of the hatch.
cts a ball of twinc," said he.
"Don't touch it. but run and get
lantern" replied Tucker.
Carter sprang to obey, and when he
returned n number Of the men had
gathered about the spot, The hatch
was raised, and the Commodore care
fully picked up the ball of twino, and
found that 1t was made fast to some
thing below. lie descended to the
hold, and there he found that the twine
ran in between the lid of the coffin
He had no doubt in his mind now, that
there was mischief boxed up below,
and he sent Carter for something that
might answer for screwdrivcr. Tho
man soon returned with Il stout knife,
and tho Commodore set to work. He
worked very carefully, however, at
the same time Keeping bright lookout
for the string.
At length the screws were out, and
the lid very carefully lifted from its
place.
"Great God in heaven !" burst from
| the lips OF the Commodore.
"By Sam Hyde" dropped like a
thunder'bolt from the tongue of young
Dan.
H"God bless you, Dan ~ said the Com.