Middletown transcript., 1869-01-23

on uecK, ana the Commodore assured her
that he should be able to land her ear
ly on the next morning. She expressed
her gratitude and satisfaction, and re-
marked that before she retired she should
like to look and see that her husbands 8
corpse was safe. This was, of course,
granted, and one of them 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'fulr
Yes, poor thing" said Tucker, as he
heard her sobs and groans.
"D'ye notice what'n eye she's got 2"
continued Carter.
mo, only twas swollen with tears"
said Tucker. csF .sf .a-S
My eyes but they shone, though,
when she stood here looking at the COM
pass"
Tucker smiled at the mans quaint ear
nestness, and without further remark he
went down into 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
countenance that puzzled Carter. He
had been one of those who objected to the
collins being brought on board, and hence
he was not predisposed to look very favor
able upon its owner. The woman's eve
ran over the schooner's deck with a strange
quickness, and Carter eyed her very sharp
ly. Soon she went to the taffrail and look
ed over at the stern boat and then she
came and stood by the pinnacle again.
81 Look out, or you'll gibe the BOOM"
uttered the passenger r ErrT
Carter stared, and found that the main
sail was shiv"ring. He gave the helm
couple of spokcs aport, and then cast his
eyes again itrnn the woman. whose fea-
lures were lighted by the binnacle lamp.
"Thank'e ma'am," said Dan. Ha,
hold on-why, bless my soul, there's big
sridcr right on your hair. No-not here
Here-Ill--Ugh" ...r..
This last ejaculation Dan made as he
seemed to pull something from the wo-
mans hair, which he threw upon the deck
with the "ugh" above mentioned.
Shortly after, the passenger went be-
low, and ere long Tucker came on deck.
Commodore, is the woman turned in, !"
said Carter, with remarkable degree of
earnestness in his manner.
~ rather think So" said Tucker, look
ing at the compass. "Look out, look out,
Carter! Why, man alive, you are two
points to the southwark of your course"
''Blow me, so am" said the man,
bringing the helm smartly aport. "But
say, didn't ye notice anything peculiar
about the old 'oman p
"Why, Dan, you seem greatly interest
ed about her."
." So am Commodore, an SO am
about that coffin, too. Wouldn't it be well
for you and I to overhaul it,
'" Pshaw you are as scared as q child.
in graveyard" a,..' 47
:" No, not a bit. Just bark a Bit
That oman amt no 'oman."
The Commodore pronounced the name
of his Satanic Majesty in the most emphat-
ic manner A
ats the truth, Commodore-T can
swear to it. | Ipurtended there was a spi-
der in her hair, and rubbed my hand on
her face. By Sam Hyde. if it wasn't as
i
see, she told me as how I'd let the boom
gibe if | didn't look out Iknow'd there
wasn't no oman there, and so / tried her.
Call somebody at the wheel, and let's 90
and look at the coffin"
The Commodore was wonder struck by |
what he had heard, but with that calm
presence of mind that made him what he |
was, he sat coolly to thinking In a few
minutes he called one of the men aft to re- !
lieve Carter, and then he went down to
look after his passenger. The latter had
turned in. and seemed to be sleeping.
Tucker returned, and took Carter on one
side.
mo noise now, Carter; follow me as
though nothing had happened"
"Sartin." .~t=- a-
The two approached the main hatch,
and stopped to raise it, when Dams hand
touched small ball that seemed to have
been pinned up under the after break of
the hatch. e' ~ ~.
=" It's ball of twine," said he.
"Don't touch it but run and get Ian
term" replied Tucker.
Carter sprang to obey, and when he re-
turned a number of the men had gathered
about the spot. The hatch was raised,
and the Commodore carefully picked up the
ball of twine, and found that it was made
fast to something below. He descended
to the hold, and there he found that the
twine ran in beneath the lid of the coffin.
He had no donbt in his mind now that
there was mischief boxed up below, and
he sent Carter for something that might
answer for screw driver. The man soon
returned with stout knife, and the Com
modore set to work. He worked very
carefully, however, atsthe same time keep
ing bright lookout for the string.
AT length the screws were out, and, the
lid very carefully lifted from its place.
"Great God in heaven p burst from
tho I;,,s of 4La Coran,odo.a