The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-09-07

manner, " IL the ola oman turned III :!
" rather think so," said Tucker, look.
ing at the compass. q" Look out, look out
Carter why man alive, you're 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?"
"Why Dan, you seem to be greatly in
terested about her."
$50 am, Commodore, and so am
about the coffin, too. Wouldn't it be well
for you and to overhaul it?"
Pshaw you are as scared as child
in graveyard"
No, not bit. Just hark bit"
The Commodore pronounced the name
of his Satanic Majesty in the most en-
phatic manner.
It's the truth, Commodore can
swear to it. purtended there was a
spider on her hair, and rubbed my hand
agin her face. By Sam Hyde, lift is not as
rough and bearded as an holy-stone. You
see, she told me as how I'd let the boom
gibe if didn't look out. know'd there
was no oman there and so | tried her.
Call somebody at the wheel, and let's 90
and look at that coffin"
The Commodore was thunderstrnck BY
what he had heard but with that calm pres
ence of mind that made him what he was,
he sat coolly to thinking. In few min
utes he called one of the men aft to relieve
Carter. and then went below to look after
his passenger. The latter had turned in,
and seemed to be sleeping. Tucker re-
turned and took Carter one side. "No
noise now, Carter; follow me as ifnoth-
ing had happened"
Sartin."
The two approached the 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.
" It's ball of twinc," said he.
/" Don't touch it, but run and get Il
lantern" said Tucker.
Carter sprang to obey, and when he
returned a number Of the men had gath
thcrcd about the spot. The hatch was
raised and the Commodore carefully pick.
ed up the ball Of twine, and found that il
was made fast to something below. He
descended to the hold and there found that
the twine ran in beneath the lid
of the coffin. He had no doubt in hi,
mind now. that there was mischief boxed
up below, and he sent Carter for some
thing that light answer for screw dri.
yer. The man soon returned with q stout
knife, and the Commodore set to work
He worked away very carefully, however
at the same time keeping Il sharp lookout
for the string.
AT length the screws were out, and the
lid lifted from its place
Great God in Heaven !" burst from
the lips Of the Commodore.
By Sam Hyde?" dropped like Il
thunder clap from the tongue of young
Dan.
"God bless you, Dan - said the Com.
modore.
hHOh u II utltItu Ddu.
The two men stood for II moment, and
gazed into the coffin. There was no dead
man there, but in the place thereof there
was material for the death of score
The coffin was filled with un-powder and
pitch wood Upon ! ght frame work in
in the center was arranged four pistols,
all cooked, and the string centering the
coffin from without, communicating with
the trigger of each.
The first movement of the Commodore
was to call for water, and when it was
brought, he dashed three or four buckets
full into the Internal contrivance. and thcr
he brcathed more freely.
"No, no" he uttered, as he leaped from
the hold. Let me go 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, grasping hold of the femal,
dress, he dragged its wearcr out upon the
floor, There was a sharp resistance, and
the passenger drew pistol, but it wa,
quickly Knocked away-the gown wai
torn off, and man came forth from the
remnants of calico and linen.
The fellow was assured that his Who'll,
plan had been discovered, and at length
he owned that it had been his plan t.
turn out in the course of the night. anC
get hold of the ball of twine, which h,
had left in a convenient place; he ther
intended to have gone off, carefully un
winding the string as he went along
then to have got into the boat, cut thu
falls, as the boat fell into the water, h,
would have pulled smartly on the twine
And | think you know" he continued
with a wicked look, what would hav
followed, shouldn't have been noticed
in the fuss-Id have got out of the wa,
with the boat, and you'd all have bee
in the next world in short order. An,
all that | can say, is that I'm sorry
didn't do it,"
1t was with much difficulty that tn
Commodore prevented his men from kill
ling the villain ON the spot. He prove
to be one of the enemy's off GERS, and h
was to have received heavy reward
he succeeded in destroying the CommC
dore and his crew.
The prisoner was carried on dec
, and lashed to the main rigging, wher
he was told to remain until the vessel g
in port.
What horrid death that villai
meant for u.s." said Carter.
"He did," said Tucker, with a shuC
der.
! f" He belongs to the same gang that
: been robbin' and burnin' the poor folk
houses on the Eastern coast" said one {
: the men.
"Yes said the Commodore with
nervous twitch of the muscles about h
, mouth.
i A bitter curse from the prisoner no
: broke on the air, and with clenched f'