Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-09-13

the madman, IN whose hands eur lives
seemed TO hang.
The same feeling must have pervaded all
our breasts As we stood looking at one an
other, and then saw the old sailor wet the
palms Of his hands and rub them gently
together.
we must run in on him. Master Ray
be said.n
"Could we not shoot him down through |
the skylght ~ said the chief mate; and
then, as IL blushing at his own proposition, |
be added hastily: No, no that would be
like murder We must dash in on him AZ |
all risks. But what's thatl Look out
he's coming on deck
As he spoke, We heard the cabin door
unlocked then the attling Of keys and the
crashing Of door, when Ray cautiously
peered down the hatch and as he kneeled
there gazing down, / could see a tremor
running through his whole frame, and when
at last he turned TO US, his voice was so
husky as TO be almost inaudible, when he
whispered: He's got into the powder
ROOM
shall never forget his countenance as
he gazcd up at us, fixed-rigid to degree.
For few moments, horror, and dread of
impending death seemed to have robbed
him Of all power. Then he spraDg up, the
man once more"
"Quick - he exclaimed, "for your lives p
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.
Listen!n whispered Ray and then he
continued: "Good heavens, if he were to
fire nowp
The next moment there was a 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 a coop or grating, and leaped
over the side, for plainly enough to be
heard came a sharp cracking noise, and it
wanted not the mates word to enlighten
us as he hssed out Lucifers!n
"Here, quick, for Gods sake p exclam-
ed Anderson. "Look here; we are forcing
the wrong way at the door,"
; He dragged at it, but in vain, for few
minutes, till, running on deck, the old
sailor returned in an instant with couple
of marline-spikes, which we were inserting
= lust as we once more heard the crackle o
a match.
, "Quick it's for dear lifem cried Ray
: and the door crashed, gave way and flew
open, to reveal to us, standing, perfectly
S unmoved by our forcible entry, the Captain
holding lighted splint to an iron-bount
{ chest, which was already blackened anC
|, charred at the edge.
e For few moments we could none of u
stir. 1t seemed as il at the slightes
Y motion on our part, the chest-whch
o afterward learned was filled with cartridge
for the supply of one of the petty armie
e engaged in the Paraguayan war-woul'
1 explode, followed by the other chests ant
kegs piled around. Then came the Cap
d tain's low chuckling laugh, and we hear
g him say "This will drive you out, ther
strong as you are"
Then, with q gesture of impatience, h
% threw down the bmnt-out splint, took
It fresh match from the box he held, and wa
about to strike it, when, with cry tina
'e did not sound human, Anderson leape
10 upon him, and with one tremendous blo'
Of struck him down, trampling on him tn
le next moment as he applied his moist liz
10 to the charred and smoking edge OF tn
chests.
Or The Captain was not stunned though
D. and directly after fearful struggle too
m place amid these kegs, my part being COZ
fined to the securing of the match-bo.
IN which tore from his hand, trembling 0
IN | did so lest it should, explode. The
t. came the loud painting breathing OF I'll
st wretched man, as, held down by four stror
men, he bowed his body up again and aga
ho with uower that was almost superhuma
C. But the danger was now passed an
it without losing moment, we dragged hi
ed out into his own cabin. Water was abu
dainty applied to the charred side of Il
is | box; and Mr.. Rays first act was to NAL
us the carpenter screw up the door in WI
4! that restored confidence as every screw W
driven in. | say his first act; for /
Iy. second was to sit down on the deck al
he cover his face with his hands, and rema
[ in that position for fully half an hour.
err Constant watching, binding, and the u
ne of patent drugs placed the Captain out
me the reach ofmeans to place us again in per
ed, But though breeze sprung up the ne
day, and our well-managed ship prospe
,ur ously finished her voyage, l never i
his down to sleep the rest of the time witho
or. shudder, and never once dropped
re- without waking with start from hor
ich BILE dream of seeing the Captain, match-b
md in hand, applying a light to the edge,
t the cartridge -chest.-ChdneberS' Journal