The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-06-26

the fugftives, when the crack OF May
nard's revolver saved him the trouble
and he fell headlong into the cabin
Another and another followed In qulcl
succession, but not a Chinaman suc
seeded in gaining an entrance alive.
With . yell OF bafled rage the coolies
renewed the assault, but this tii,ne thei
efforts were directed against the door
Ct the forward cabin. They speedily
yielded to the shower of blows, and in
few moments were reduced to SO man,
splinters. But Captain Sylvester haf
not been idle after recovering from the
blow dealt him by his steward.
Every available article of furniture
tables, chests and movable articles hai
been converted into barricade which
OF the now thoroughly aroused mob.
Maynard and his companions free
with a cool collected atm over the
coolie passed to his last account. Theil
cries oil hendish rage rent the air with
redoabled violence at being so long
baked Of their prey, while their leader
ex-steward, danced and capered about
like Q Iunatic.
The dead bodies Of tho coolies lay
piled up one acro0s another, the sur.
vivors making no attempt to assist thei1
wounded comrades. Their ardor had
been dampened by the severe check
they had sustaine i, and retiring from
the scene Of tho conflict, they held 9
hurried consultat'on-nr respite that wa
made the mott Of by Maynard and his
companions IN repairing and strenthen
ing The bar.icade which had suffered
somewhat from the frantic efforts of the
mob.
An ominous silence had fallen upor
the ship, which boded no good to the
three resolute men who held possession
of the cabin. With anxious hearts and
fingers pressing the triggers of theil
firearms they stood Btraining both ears
and eyes to discover what might be
going on among their enemies.
Suddenly q simultaneous yell burst
from the hoarse throats of the gang,
followed by q united rush which shook
the vessel.
LOOK to the cabin doors, Maynard,
I will look to the skylieht shouted
Sylvester, in an undaunted tone, and
again the crash of firearms, mingled
with cries of pain resounded through
the ship. In the mean time the ship.
left to the mercy of the winds and
waves, was driving along before the
wind with no one to control her move
ments.
Both Sylvester and Maynard were
we'll aware that both shoals and reefs
abounded in the vicinity, which added
to the deep anxiety preying upon them.
Unless the contest was decided in their
favor, and the coolies driven below in a
short time q common death might over
whelm besieged and besiegers. To add
to the perplexities and dangers which
appeared to the little band on all sides
night was coming on, and, under the
cover Of darkness, the Chinese steward
Rieht shtsin the rs'tesy b some sub
The whistling of the wind, the dash
Of the rising waves, and the flashing of
the CANVAS a,oft. were the only sounds
that reached the ears of those in the
cabin. ~ Il
but it was only for moment Or two
that the treaeherous calm reigned over
the ship. - * EEg s.
A shout Of triumph rang through the
vessel, followed by few rapid orders,
then, without q moments warning, q
bale of oakum, soaked in tn. pentine,
was hurled through the open skylight.
about the cabin, and as flames and
smoke followed, . cry of dismay es-
capped Sylvester's lips.
any God they have MS now" he
murmured.
And he staggered back, his face pale
as death in the xuddy glow of the
flames.
But the calm, deep voice of the mate
resounded in his ears, restoring both
confidence and courage.
"Give me some wet blankets, cap
tain, and bear q hand, We will soon
smother the fire. The second mate is
guarding the forward door and he is
more than o match for the devils.
Work sharp, sir, andyw viii yet gain
the day." -
The two men aworked With q viii,
knowing full veil what depended upon
their EFFORTS. Despite the clouds of
binding smoke which nearly drove
them out of the cabin, they persevered,
fighting the new enemy inch by inch,
which every moment gained despite
their utmost efforts.
The situation was certainly a desper-
ate one, as inch by inch the binding
smoke drove them back until they were
forced to take refuge in the forward
cabin.
"'Tis useless to struggle, Maynard.
Help may come"
Even as he spoke a deep heavy report
over the ocean. What
was that 2" he asked, in the next
breath.
at sounded like q cannon. Hank !
there it is again !"
And three men crowded close up to the
barricade, while low hum of conster-
nation was heard among the insurgents.
"Now is your time, Captain Sylves-
ter. A man-of-war is bearing down
upon Ms. In less than half an hour we
shall be rescued-if We can hold out.
The coolies are too intent upon the
strange vessel to watch NJ. We'll make
a dash for the main rigging, and under
cover Of the darkne1s there win be no
trouble. Stand by Halpin.r
st am ready, and my revolver also, I"
growled the second mate.
care you, Captain SylvesterT"
"You have saved our lives you lead,
and I will follow" s - ? =,
"Then forward, and shoot the first
one that stands in our way"
And, with q bound the three men
cleared the barricade, gained the deck,
springing ON to the rail before the as
tonished coolies knew what was going
on.
They rushed in q body towards the
three fugitives, but the rapid crack of
the revolvers soon quelled their ardor,
and sent them bowling to cover, while
the whistling of a round shot above
their heads caused all to look to wind
ward, where large, heavy-sparred YES
sci. under all sail, doomed up, the open
ports revealing her deck crowded with
men.
The coolies could make no use of the
muskets they had wrested from the
hands of the murdered sentinels, having
no ammunition, and they had already
expended the charges with which they
had been loaded.
The survivors were therefore compsr-
atively safe, and from the maintop,
where they had taken refuge, contented
themselves with Watching the move
ments of the man of-war.
She was soon withing speaking dis.
tauca and ranging CJoaa aIoro.;1o