North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-01-12
ulting, and the sailors cracked jokes over
the galley Ere, and the master dreamed OF
q princelv independence.

DrOken into the cargo. and what we con-
sidered of value and the sea had not dam.
aged was hauled on deck, and the schoon-
er became pretty we'll laden. l think it
was about the last Cay Of working, a. We
were down in The bell, that Grow again
wended his way towards tho cabin. By
this time my suspicious regarding his evil
intentions were quieted, yet there still lin
gered about him traces of sulkincss, 30
that took very little notice of his opera
tions, and l busted myself about different
things in the hold Of the vessel.
l think about half an hour passed by
when returned to the bell, and was
startled by the cunning wicked cast Of
Crows countenance he was shutting
something beneath his Divers clothes; as
the last of it disappeared l guessed it was
o bag, and the thought flashed across my
mind-a bag Of money. quietly asked
Crow what it was.
"Humph nothing. What have ys to
do with it?' he growled.
My curiosity was farther aroused by
this answer.
swell. you must tell me what it is," l
said, keeping myself rs quiet as possible.
1.-The devil will!' he shouted, saw
agely.
"Thcn you shall be forced when we get
on deck" Treplied, resolutely.
"Hs! ha forced y Here he quietly
drew long knife.
Quick as thought mine was out, too, for
l always carried it in my boot.
~ suspected something of this" l
said.
lie scowled heavily at me at the other
side of the bell.
"Now you must tell me what that is,n
l said.
But nothing daunted, the rufian cried,
II will see you dead first y
l knew his mighty strength, but I also
knew my own agility and skill.
Crow said again, IT'S bag of gold l
found in the cabin, and if you hold your
jaw shall ge ye third
"Never shall be dishonest" l said,
after some deliberation, looking pale, l
dare say, but perfectly calm.
Let tie reader imagine the scene in
bell forty feet under water; it would take
at least twenty minutes to pull it up. A
fierce fight, perhaps deadly one, might
be finished by then. Suspicion might be
hashed the body could he flung to the
rayenous sharks with which we sometimes
have to combat with our sharp-pointed
crowbars; but our frightful, gloomy ap-
pearance might have been enough to
terrify the inhabitants Of the deep.
We stood eying each other for some
time; he for the attack, l for resistance
l offered to pull the alarm bell, but he
clutched it from me. attempted nothing
farther.
After few minutes pause, he said,
"Will you take shares ~
"No!" was the firm answer.
"Perhaps it is not large enough?''
"All of it is too small"
''You won't give in ?" he said.
l expected something, and prepared
myself,
"Never!' Ireplied, at length.
''Tben to death! ~ he yelled, sprinaing
at me.
Quick as thought l caught his elevated
arm, poised IN the air, for stab. made
lungc at him. for my blood was reused
at this icpdish attempt on my life. He
parried it, but it caught him on the
shoulder however, he clutched my wrist,
and there we stood scowlins at each other;
the foam burst from his bloodless lips, and
his passion wrought face intimidated me
more than his bloodthirsty strokes.
AT last he made forcible effort to free
his arm, but held it with desperation
Amid oaths and curses he struggled.
Sometimes he was quiet, and the only
sound was the hurried painting of our
excited chests. At last l wrepched my
hand from his, and stabbed him in the
hand. His knife fell, but, with curse
that yet rings in my ears, he threw him
self at me and graspcd my body and arm
in his gigantic clasp. l seized him by the
throat. With the hug of bsar, he tried
to break my back his strength seemed
almost superhuman, but, shifting off the
bars Of wood by a wriygle, We plunged
into the sea beneath. Town, down we
sank. No effort was made to loosen the
hold Of either. Tighter and tighter we
gripped, till we fell on to the coral reef
Death itself seemed to me tri1e. Passion
and hate seemed but the consummation OF
my heart, my strength was that of Hercu-
les, under the influence of this demoniasal
conflict. But want of air stihed our efforts
As the FIRE began to fash before my eyes
and the disc Of Inconsistencies to creep
oyer me, released my hold Crow loos'
ened his. ! know little about this part,
but being an excellent swimmer, | struck
out with al! my force. The water whizzed
by me. l was sitting, choking, dying.
When ! reached the surface, with gasp
of air ! recovered, ard was enabled to
shrek, "lIelp! help!' whsn ! tainted
away. As dream aoated before me-
men, ropes, boat and rescue.
l awokei but the pain and dizsiness
and confusion in my head defy all descrip-
ton. After few hours GOULD rise, but
| was feeble. Inquired for Crow he