The Portland daily press., 1874-08-22
Tricks that are VAIN
CHAPTER J.

Captain Obediah Skllllns, starting nerVously,
and peering over the side of the Lively Tur-
tie into the darkness.
Schooner ahoy" again came the sum-
mons, and this time so close under the good
captains nose, as he leaned far out over the
rail, in his anxiety to discover the hailers,
that he started back involuntarily, and so
suddenly as to double up Jake Pendergrast,
first mate, who stood close beside him, by q
swinging blow of his elbow in that gentle
mans stomach.
''Wal, that beats all, now," said the
captain, referring to the unexpected sum-
mons, and not at all to the damaging assault
upon his first officer; "who do you suppose
it is, Jake?"
.sWho do suppose the devil;'' gasped the
mate, clasping his waistcoat buttons in an
guish, ''what in thunder do you mean by
knocking the wind outer me. Why don't you
answer their hail if you want to know who
they are and not go staving in feler's ribs
with your pesky fiippers ?''
''Sho now, Jake, don't git ried. l didn't
go to do it,' answered the captain soothing
ly. 81 swan to man, if they amt towing
astarn now; heard 'em hook on. Guess I'll
see who it is, any way. HelloF' he roared,
stepping aft, and staring over the rail, ''Who
is it? What yer want?"
s'Want to come aboard" replied voice
from the boat, which the captain now per-
ceived, dimly, through the darkness, to be
towing astern, holding on to his rudder chains
l,o
several men in her and in the bottom some
object covered over with a tarpauln.
.'Smugglers, jake" said Obadiah, turning
to his mate after careful survey of the vari-
GUS objects enumerated 81 don't want none
of that in mine-not much - and he shook
little lapses of his more youthful days and
certain packages detained at the receipt OF
customs down to Machias on account of some
little informaites in the manifest. "Had
enough of that, by gum; don't ketch me in
40 such pickle again." he muttered to him.
SELF
''What?" said Jake, not catching the drift
of the captains soliloquy.
II say" said Skillins, 81 don't have no
smuggling aboard my vessel, if / know it."
''No, of course not" replied Jake, with a
grin which was happily lost to the captain in
the darkness.
81 say, captain, do you intend TO keep us
here all night?" at this point inquired the
spokesman of the boat in an impatient tone.
mo, I DON'T" returned Obediah, sharply,
''you kin cast off just as soon as you like
and a little sooner. Come now, clear out, l
say" he continued, as the boats crew showed
no disposition TO accept his delicate hint that
their company was not acceptable.
"Good heavens, manr' said the spokes-
man of the boat, now rising in his seal.
ssyou don't mean to send us adrift out here
in the middle of Chesapeake Bay in the
night. There is storm coming on, too, and
we shall be swamped. Come, come, captain
he continued, in a persuasive tone, "give us
lift and we will pay you well for your
trouble"
81 don't want nothing to do with no snug
glers, and l won't have you aboard this YES
sci; SO clear out, say" replied the captain
in surly tone.
the stranger, angrily; Il tell you we are no
smugglers," turning to the captain, eve
want to 60 up to Baltimore. One of my men
is wounded and will die if he does not re-
ceive assistance. I'll give you hundred dol
lars to take us-what say you?"
"a hundred dollars" repeated the captain
in softened tone. ''He talks well, don't he,
Jake? What do you say? Best to take
'em ?''
81 don't like the looks on it, no how,'
returned Jake, shaking his head wisely;
show came they out here in That Ii tile cookie
shell at this time of night?. Tell me that,
will you?'
''That's so,' said Obediah, IT guess I'll
have that pint cleared up afore go any fur
Their. say, you," turning to the boat. elbow
came you out here in this way? Just tell me
that now"
cpl tell you no such thing" replied the
stranger, angrily. cit is none of your bust
ness how we came here. You can take us or
leave us, as you like; all can say is, if you
don't you are hundred dollars out of pock-
ct, and likely several drowned men to answer
for,'' saying which he cast glance around
the darkening sky and sat down.
sWall, now, that sounds reasonable, Jake.
1 callate that tim about the drognin' is
about SO, and don't want 10 be a murderer
at my time of life."
more like you amt goin to lose that
hundred dollars" muttered Jake, walking
forward to get the ladder.
swell, squire, you kin come aboard, l
5 pose, if you are sure you amt in the smug-
Cling line. l couldn't allow that, nohow,"
said Obediah to the stranger. "Here you
ke.ch this line, and I'll haul you alongside.
Throw over that ladder, Jake. Be lively.
now;'' aud the captain walking forward with
the painter, made it fast with turn around
the fire shrouds, bringing the little boat to
the gangway where Jake stood with the lad |
der ready to assist the strangers aboard. The |
transfer of the crew and luggage of the boat
to the schooner's deck was speedily and safe |
ly accomplished as the craft lay almost mo- |
tionless Oh the water, her tall sails and mas |
sire booms swinging idly, with the occasional |
puffs OF vino, from side TO side, dragging the |
heavy sheet blocks noisily back and forth /
along the traveller.
"Here you Bob, Dave, lay aft here and |
lend hand with the dunnage," cried the
C lptain to the balance of the crew who |
stood with their hands in their pockets idly
the performance. This order re-
ferred to a heavy non box which the crew of
the boat were lifting, with some difficulty.
over the rail.
I'VE do not require any help, sir,' said the
captain OF the boat, who now stood on the
deck by obediah's side giving directions to
his men,
AN right Captlng,' said Obediah, Offend
ed at the strangers sharp refusal. "vou amt
obliged fur to have none."
'No offence, sir" said the stranger bv
way of apology; "my cwn men can mon
age it.''
'sNot at all, not at all, sir, just fetch vour
.raps right down into the cabin" said Skill
ins, briskly, preparing to lead the wav and |