Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-01-09

YES, poor thing" said Tucker, rs ne
heard her sobs aud groans.
"D'ye notice what IN eye she's got ?"
continued Carter.
mo- said Tucker, "only twas swol-
len with tears.n
when she stood here looking ~ the
compass
Tucker smiled at the mans quaint
earnestness, and without fertilizer remark
he went to the cabin.
When the woman came UP Fl ON the
hold, she looked about the deck of the
schooner for few moments and then
went aft.
| There was something in her countc-
nance that puzzled Carter. He was one
of those who objected to the collins
being brought on board, and hence was
not prcdisposed to look very favorably
upon it's owner. The woman's eve ran
over the schooner's deck with a strange
quickness, and Carter eyed her very
sharply. Soon she went to the t,ff'rail,
looked over at the stern boat, then she
came and stood by the pinnacle again.
Look out or you'll jibe the boom, "
uttered the passenger.
Carter started and found that the MAIN
sail was shivcring. He gave the helm
a couple ofspoles apart. and then cast
his eyes upon the woman, whose
features were lighted by the pinnacle
lamp.
"Thank'e ma'am," said Dan. "Ha,
hold on-why, bless my soul, there a
big spider right OF you. hair. No-not
there. Here-I'l ugh !"
This last ejaculation Dan male as he
seemed to pull something from the wo-
mans hair, which he threw upon the
deck with the "ugh ~ above men
toned.
Shortly after the passenger went
below, and ere long Tucker came on
deck.
Commodore" said Carter, with a re-
markable degree of earnestness In his
manner, "is the woman turned IMP"
81 rather think So" said Tucker,
looking at the compass. "Look out,
Carter! Why, man alive, you are
two points to the southeast of your
course"
"BlOw me, so | am" said the man,
as he brought the helm ha aport.
but say, didn't you notice something
peculiar about the old woman %
"Why, Dan, you seem greatly inter
ested about her."
$50 I am, Commodore, and so | am
about the coffin. Wouldn't it be we'll
for you and to overhaul it?"
"Pshaw You're as scared as a child
in graveyard"
mo, not bit just bark bit; that
woman amt woman" 3.
The Commodore pronounced the name
of his Satanic Majesty in the most en-
phatic way.
"Its's the truth Commodere-I can
swear to it. pretenlel there was a
spider on her hair, and 1 rubbed my
hand against her face. BY Sam Hyde, if
it wasn't as rough and bearded as an
holystOne. You see, she told me- how
I'd let the boom jibe if I didn't look
out. l known'd there wasn't no woman
then, and so [ tried her. Call some
body at the wheel, and let's goand look
at that coffin
The CO mmOdore was wonder struck
by what he had heard, hut, with that
calm presence of mind that made him
what he was, he set coolly to thinking.
In a few minutes he called one of the
men aft to relieve 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 one side.
"NO noise now, Carter; follow me as
though nothing had happened"
"Sartir.o
The two approached the main hatch,
and stopped to raise it, when Dams
hand touch a small ball that seemed to
have been pinned up under the after
ter break of the hatch.
ITS ball Of twine," said he.
"Don't touch it, but run and get a
lantern, replied Tucker.
Carter sprang to obey, and when he
gathered about the spot The hatch was
raised. and the Commodore carefully
picked up the ball of Irvine, and found
that it was made fast to something be-
low. He descended to the hold, and
there he found that the Irvine ran in
beneath 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 tn It might
answer for a screw driver. The man
soon returned with stout knife, and
the Commodore set TO work. He work.
ca very carefully, however, at the same
time keeping a sharp watch for the
string.
At length the screws were out, and the
lid very carefully lifted from its
" Great God in Heaven !" burst from
the lips of the Commodore.
by Sam Hyde!" dropped like a
thunder-clap from the tongue of young
Dan.
God bless you, DAMP" said the COM
mander.
knowed it uttered Dan.
The two men stood for n moment,
and gazed into the coffin. There was no
dead man there, but in place there f,
there was material for the death of a
score. he coffin was filled with gun
powder and Fleetwood! Upon light
framework in the centre were arranged
four pistols, all cooked, and the string
entering the coffin from without, COM
municated with the trigger of each.
The first movem ent of the comman-
der WAS TO call for wafer and when il