The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-01-15
MORNING, JANUARY Is, 1869.
of his Satanic Majesty in the most en-

phatlc manner.
ATS the truth, Commodore-I car
swear to 1t. purtended there was a spl.
der on her hair, and rubbed my hand
agin her face. BY Sam Hyde. II It wasn't
as rough and bearded as a holystone.
You see she told me how I'd let the boom
gibe If didn't look out. I knew there
wasn't no oman there, and so tried her.
Call somebody ut the wheel, and let's 20
and look at that coffin"
The Commodore was wonder struck by
what he had heard, but with that calm,
presence Of mind that made him wha,
he was, he set coOlly to thinking. In a
few minutes he called ono of the men af,
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.
mo noise now, Carter; follow me as
though nothing had happened"
"Sartin."
The two approached the main hatch,
and stopped to raise It. when Dams hand
touched a small ball that seemed to have
been pinned up under the AFTER break OF
the hatch.
IL u Udil VI tWlnc. Satu nc.
Don't touch 1t, but run and get Ian
term" replied Tucker.
Carter sprang to obey, and when he
returned number Of the men had gath
cred about the spot. The hatch was
raised, and the Commodore carefully
picked up the ball of twine, and found
that II 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 doubt In his
mind now, that there was mischief boxed
up below. and he sent Carter for some
thing that might answer for n scrcw-dri-
yer.
The man soon returned with stout
knife, and the commodore set to work
He worked very carefully, however, nj
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 leavenn burst from the
lips of the commodore.
by Sam Hyde :, dropped like thunder
clap from the tongue OF young Dan.
God bless you, Dan' said the commo-
dOre.
II kHOtpSu u, uttCICu buiIs
The two men stood for moment, and
gazed into the coffin. There was no dead
man there, but In place thereof. there
was material for the death OF a score. The
coffin was filled with gunpowdcr and
pltchwOOd. Upon light framework In
the centre were arranged four pistols, all
cooked, and the string entering the coffin
from without, communicated with the
trigger Of each.
The first movement of the commodore
was to call for water, and when 1t was
brought, he dashed three or four buckets
full into the Internal cOntriyance, and then
he breathed more freely.
mo. no." he uttered, as he leapcd from
the hold. .sNo, no, my men. DO moth
Ing rashly. Let me 20 Into the cabin first.
You may follow me-"
Commodore Tucker strobe into the cab
In, walked up to the bunk where his pas
senger lay, and grasping hold Of the
female dress, he dragged Its wearer out
,ipon the floor. There was sharp resist
ance, and the passenger drew a pistol, but
Il was quickly knocked away-thc gown
was torn of, and man came forth from
the remnants of calico and linen.
The fellow was assured that his whole
plot had been discovered, and ut length
he owned that II had been his plan to turn
out In the course of the night and get
hold of the ball of twine which he had
left In convenient place; he then In
tended to have gone AFT, carefully unwind
Ing the string rs he went along; then to
have got into the boat, cut the falls,
and rs the boat fel! into the water, he
would have pulled smartly upon the
twinc.
"And 7 think you know" he continued,
with q wicked look, ''what would have
followed. shouldn't have been noticed
In the flss-Id have got out OF the way
with the boat, and you'd all have been In
the next world ut short order. And oil 1
can say Is, that I'm sorry didn't do IT,
1t was with much difficulty that the
commodore prevented his men from kill
ing the villain on the spot. He proved to
be one of the enemy's officers, and he was
to have heavy reward IL he succeeded In
destroying the commodore and his crew.
The prisoner was carried on deck and
lashed to the main rigging, where he
was told to remain until the vessel got III
to port.
.'what horrid death that villain meant
for u.s." uttered Carter.
YES" said the commodore, with n ner-
vous twltch of the muscles about his
mouth.
A bitter curse from the prisoner here
broke upon the air, and with clutclied fist
the commodore went below.
In the morning when Tucker came on
deck, Senguin was In sight upon the star
board bow, but when he looked for the
prisoner he was gone.
"Carter, where's the villain l lashcd
here last nighty'
II am sure don't know where he Is,
Commodore. Perhaps he has jumped over
board"
The old Commodore looked stcrnly In
Carter's eyes, and he saw twin kle OF
satisfaction cleaning there. He hesltated
n mOment-then he turned away, and NUT
tered TO himself:
"Wcll, well, Ican't blame them. II the
murderous Villains gone to death. he's
only met a fate he richly deserved. Bet
tor far be It for him, than that my noble
crew were now In old oceans grave"