The daily Panola star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1871-1872, 1871-11-02

themHlmsn ii Wiioso hands oar lives iesin
~ nos 90 hang.
The nme faaiing mnst have pefyHlri al
ouf breasts as W stool looking Al one an
other. and then saN che oli ttilof wrt fba
palms oi hla hands and rub them gently o.
grihfr.
I'VE must run IN on him, Master Ray. 81
hs slid.
"Cuuld W. nat shoot him down through
the skyllghti" sald tho chief mate; ana
then, a. u blushing NJ his own proposition.
be added hastily" No, no, that would be-
Ike murder. We must dash In on hin al
al risks. But what's thati Look out; be-.
coming on deck"
As be- spoke. we heard the cabin door nm.
locked; then the rattling ~ Keys and the
crashing OF door, when Ray cautiously
pecrcd down the hatch; and a. he kneeled
there, gazing down. | could see tremnr
running through his whole frame. and when
at last he turned to us. his yuIca was so
husky ne TO b. almost inaudble. when he
whispered; Hes got into the powder
room ~
shall never forget his countamncc az he
gazcd up at us-iixed, rigid TO a degree.
For few moments horror and dread of
impending death seemed 10 have robbed
him of all power. Then be sprang up, the
man once more.
"Qulck " heexclalmed, "fOr your llyes!'
Then leading the way, he dashed down
the cabin stairs, we following HIM, but
only TO find our progress arrested by the
closed door, which resisted all our efforts.
"Llsten!" whispered Ray; and then he
continued" Good heavens, II he were to
fire now ~
The next moment then was sound
which seemed TO make every nerve IN my
body thrill, and frankly own that had my
limbs obeyed my will, | should have rushed
| ON deck, seized coop or grating, and
leaped over the side, for plainly enough TO
be heard came sharp cracking noise, aud
II wanted not the mates word 10 cnlighten
us as he hssed out, "Lucifers ~
Here, quick, for God's sake !" exclaimed
Anderson. Look here I'VE are forcing the
wrong way at the door,"
| He dragged at 1t, but In vain, for few MI
nutes, till, running on deck. the Old sailor
| returned In an instant with couple OF mar
| line spikes, which were inserted Just as we
once more heard the cracklc Of a match.
"Qulck Its for dear life" cried Ray; and
the door crashed, gave way, and flew open,
to reveal to us, standing perfectly unmoved
by our forcibe entry, the captain holding a
lighted splint to an iron-bound chest, which
was already blackened and charred at the
edge.
For few moments we could none Of us
stir. It seemed as II at the slightest motion
on our part the chest--which afterward
learned was filed with cartridges, for the
supply Of one Of the petty armies engaged
In the Paraguayan war--would explode, lol
lowed by the other chests and kegs piled
around. Then came the cap hins low
chuckling laugh, and we heard him say
"Thls will drive you out, then, strong as
youare."
Then, with gesture OF impatlence, he
threw down the burnt-out splint, took 6
fresh match from the box he held and was
about to strike 1t, when, with cry that did
not sound human, Anderson leaped upon
him, and with one tremendous blow struck
him down, trampling on him the next mo
ment as he applied his moist lips TO the
chsrred and smoking edge Of the chest.
Tho captain was not stunned, though;
and directly after fearful struggle took
place amid these kegs, my part being con-
which tore from his hand, trembling az
| hib eos lthb ~ DhVhth NAPiVtts Auth
the loud painting breathing OF the wretched
man, as, held down by four strong men, he
bowed his body up again and again with a
power that was almost superhuman.
But the danger was now past; and with
out losing a moment we dragged him out
into bis own cabin. Water was abundantly
applied to the cliarred side or the box; and
Mr.. Rays first action was to make the car
pentcr screw up the door In way that re-
stored confidence as every screw was driven
In. | say his first act; for his second was TO
sit down on the deck and cover his face with
his hands, and remain In that position for
fully half an hour.
Constant watching, binding, and the use
of potent drugs, placed the captain out OF
the reach Of means to place us again In peril.
But though breeze sprang up the next
day; and our well-managed ship prosper
ously finished her voyage, never lay down |
to sleep the rest OF the time without q shud- |
der, and never once dropped off without !
waking with start from a horrible dream
OF seeing the captain, matchbox in hand,
applying light to the edge Of the cartridge
chest.