Ellsworth American., 1871-08-03

He glared at me and ground his
teeth; but he didn't dare to .'smasl
my head" Perhaps twas because no.
body offered him five bob to do it
twould have been dear job To him Il,
twice the money.
That night saw him and Ugly Bar.
ney 90 out on the bowsprit with Their
pipes, and sat down on the stavsail that
was slowed in the netting. They smok
Ell away and talked together vory ear.
nestly, and thought all the time some
mischief was brewing. | said rs much
to my chum, Dave Kent: but Dave
thought was over-nervous and sus-
plcIous. Perhaps was but ] cuuldn't
help thinking all the time about our
having so much money in the brig, and
these fellows knowing it, We were in
al oui-ot-the-way part of the world,
too where they might cut up any VII
lainly, and escaps justice-for wears il
not forever wanted all the while tu
tell the captain of my suspicious. and
put hlm on his guard but somehow.
was ashamed 10 do that for, after all.
| had nothing particular TO tell him.
80 | said nothing about it 10 ANYBODY
but Dave Kent. He promised to keep
his wcaihcr-eyc lifting, and his ears
open.
Alter the precious pair came in from
staysall net. | noticed they did not
keep together, but each one WAS but
ton-hollng some one else all the watch.
ans: 1t was always some one Of their
own ruiiian gang for there were fonr
or five other fellows among Us who
were nearly as bad As Dark Bill him
self, only they were more ignorant and
not 80 fit 10 lead in matter of this
KIND. | really believe they meant TO
rise upon Us that same night, and take
the brig there IN the lagoon, only they
didn see their opportunity near. The
next morning We got under way from
Ebon, and started on a cruise amonu
the other islanis of the chain We
didn't find any gold in any other place.
aad the trade in shells was nothing
alarming. heard the captain 81, he
should shove her off soon. and run
down among the Caroliae islands. ANA
thence TO China. Dark Bill overheard
hin, too; and that night there was
more secret confabs and council, than
ever among his gang. But this all
seemed 10 blow over. aud the duty
went on quietly for two or three DAYS.
We were drawing near StronI's is
land. and expected 10 make the land
next morning. The captain had work.
ell up his reckoning and gwen the
course for the night, while Dark Bill
was at the wheel the first part OF the
watch. soon AFTER he was relieved.
and came forward, SAW hun at the
lee rail by the tore swif(er, watching
the mate, who was walking the quarter
deck. Selling the moment when the
mates back was turned toward him,
he darted into the lee forerigglng. |
stood staring open-mouthed II him.
and wondering what he was after As
the main and midi stavsails were
both set. he was hid from the mate
while going aloft. aud reached the fore
top without being seen. except bv me.
aud those who were with him in the
plot. As soon Is ! perceived that he
stopped IN the forctop, IT occurred to
me that the arm-chest. had been left
there while We lay at Epon; and, as
We expected 10 go from there in few
days to some other savage island, they
had not been sent down. They con
tanned both firearms aud cutiasses.
Pretty soon saw something swing
out by the foremast which gieaincd in
the moonlight and | knew that Bill
was lowering the cutlasses down by 4
piece OF spunyarn, to his mate, Bar
ney, who stood carelcs,ly leaning
against the foot of the mast. no
longer hesitated 10 make known my
suspicious to the Captain and officers.
started aft, but had not made two
steps when | was seized by the throat,
borne 10 the deck and gagged before |
had chance To cry out. Abraham
Hicks and Paine, with the help of the
black "a Parsee he was from Bombay
held me down, secured the gag into
my mouth. and lashed me hand and
foot; then they pushed Inc close under
the lee of the long-boat, where could
not be seen. They flashed their knives
before my eyes as warning 10 b,
quiet, and left me there. They would
have killed me, no doubt. only for feal
of raising an alarm before they wer,
ready to strike the blow ut the mat,
| and captain. But the fools had for
gotten that ! had INV sheath-knife in /;
| belt round my waist. Luckily for me
| too, it was "A little loose in its sheath
But 1t was necessary to work very
carefully, or they would notice m'
movements. lay still till SAW Bill
slide down the topsail sheets forwar,
of the mast. His shirt was heavil,
filled out all around, and he took GU
several pistols as soon as he reache,
the deck, with cartridges TO match
He and Barney went to work TO loa,
and prepare them, while the other
covered their movements by walkin;
before them, carelessly singin,
snatches OF songs. | thought now i
was time for Inc to begin my opera
tons. BY carefully lifting and writi
ing my body few times, cont1ivet
to drop my knife gently Out Of it
sheath TO the deck. Then working my
self feet foremost, little by little, til
my my head was near it. managed
after some difficulty, to cut the lashin
OF the gag. The knife was very SHARP
but this was the worst operation Of al
and l did not succeed till had cut IN
cheek quite severely. But it was II
time to think Of that then. Cleare
OF the gag got the knife in my teetl
and soon severed the seizing thu
, bound my wrists. The rest was cas-,
l still lay quiet after my limbs wei
i free. even put the gag in again, !
that when the Parsee ran round to le
ward and peered ut me, lie thought
. was all secure as l had been left. Tw
Al n