The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-06

/ hNG a. NuoJ IuliiOi VI pOiibutu lu0tu
Gaping seams, with the tar Ooz ng forth
rails sud stanchions SO heated that
hand could not be born upon them, an,
the tween decks sitting as an oven,
was no wonder that we were CONSTANT
longing Tor the comparative cool of th
night; but even then there was not tim
Tor the temperature to grow much lowe
before the sun Olrce more rose, each da.
apparently hotter than the last.
] We were seated one evening, watch
ing the last glow of the setting sun, whel
Anderson, the second mate, made the re
mark that he thought a change was com
ing; and then our attention was takei
, up by Mr.. Ray passing close to us, ant
, descending as If to the captains cabin
Il slow has he been to-day" asked.
"Worse than ever" was the reply. IL
l were Ray. Pa make prisoner OF him
and take sole command. He'd bo quite
: Justified in so doing"
!. Further conversation was cut short by
the reappearance OF the mate. who beck
oned to my companion.
Something Wrong," he exclaimed, as
he leaped to his feet; and quite rs quick
ly L followed him To the hatchway.
"Good heavens, Andersonl" exclaimed
Ray, "Wnat's to be done? he's mani.
Lac"
"ilave you no medicnes?" i said. =
"Medicinesl Yes; but now are we to
deal with q man III his statea just lis
ten."
In effect, as he ceased speaking there
came from below the sound OF breaking
chairs, smashing glass, and NOISE o.
some one leapins from side to side OF the
| ciibiU, followed by a tremendous batter
ing at the door.
"I'ye locked him in," said Bay, "tor
he's not fiL to be on deck. But get help.
and We must secure him, and strap him
into his cot"
"A short consultation was held; and
then il was decided TO eari one Ul the Old
seamen, a sturdy, quiet nan, and 10 do
all as quietly as possible, 50 rs not 10
alarm the passengers ANA cre~.
Anderson ieLcned the old sailor, who
came rolling up, turning the lump of to-
bacco in his mouth; and from his remark
it VAS evident he had been enlightened
upon the business on hand.
"Ab," he gluWIed, 'swnat a thing it is
rs any one Will 20 ON wasting pr cious
liquors, and Turning blessings into py-
SON! knoWed this would be the end ON
it,"
Don't preach man." said Ray, angri-
/ ly, "but come along. Now, look here"
lie whispered, az we descended; "as
lsoon as ! open the door, all step quietly
in together. He'll dash at us the same
as lie did at me little while ago; bul he
:, can only tackle one man al once, so that
| While he is engaged lhe others must Sc
cure him."
! We had hardly nerved ourselves for
our task, and the mate was holding up
his hand as Il signal as he unlocked the
door, when we were staggered by the
sharp report OF Il pistol simultaneous
| with winch there WAS ii dull tnud close
by my ear; and started back with the
knowledge that Il bullet had lust passed
through the cabin door and whislled by
my bead. Then came loud, harsh,
| laugh, followed by a couple OF more pis-
tol shots, hoh of which passed through
| Inc panel Of the door.
/ need harGly say that we beat Il re-
treat directly; and as we stood once
more OIL deck, the first mute W ped the
perspiration from his forehead, and
booked from one to the other, as ml0a as
to say, "N hat snail we ,io?"
1t was, indeed, a trying position; and
ior a lew moments no one spoke. Then
| Mr Ray seemed TO recover himself, and
spoke cut firmly aud quietly: Ave
should only be casting away our lives il
We were to go in now. The onl! plan
can suggest is to watch him through the
skyligui, and 20 in When lie is as seep."
| Il don't tnInk he can dU any mischie |!
| III tuC HNuuhlhC, SoiN pub We uluot
seize hin soon."
s.Mscnict,'' sad the cid sailor dryly.
"Weil, l dunno; but what il he keeps
popping oil that revolver thing? We
Shall be having a bullet i'll among the
powder, ana Il blow-up."
"Powderw said.
''Yes; In the magazine"
SIS there powder ON Joard?" I said,
with a strange trelnor i'll my voice, as
turned to Anderson.
"Yes, a heavy lot of it,n he said huski-
ly; and as he spoke his eyes glanced In.
voluntarily in The direction OF the boats.
Another shot made US all start; and
now passengers and crew began to COL
lect, eagerly asking what Was wrong
questions, though, which, in dread OF a
rush at the Luats, we toretore to ans.
sWer- sft
The peril, though, was indeed great,
for in one small cabin, especially
strengthened for its reception large
quantity OF powder was stored; and il
one bullet happened to pass through,
the chances were that the heat evolved
in it's passage would explode all, ana in
IA IN ment the whole vessel wo'ld be
blown to atoms. A"s
!. There were TWO courses open to us; tC
seize the boats at once, ana push of, OF
to make Il bold and manly effort to sub.
due the mailman, in whose hands our
yes seemed to hang.
ave must run in on him, Master
Ray" he said.
"Could we not shoot him down through
The skylighl" said the ohlei mate; and
then, as II blushng at his own PROPOSE.
tion, he added hastily: "No, no; that
would be like murder. We must dash in
on him at all risks. But what's that:
Look out; he's coming Oh deck.''
\ AS he spoke, we heard te cabin door
unlocked; then the rattling of keys and
the crashing OF door, when Ray can
tiously peered down the hatch; and as
he kleeled there gazing, could see the
tremor running through his whole frame.
ana when at last he turned 10 us, his
voice was SO husky as to be almost i'll
audible, when he whispered: "He's got
into the powder roomw
Il / shall never forget his countenance as
he gazed up at us tixed--right to de-
gree. For II Jew moments, horror and
dread OF impending death seemed 10
have robbed nIm OF all power. Then he
sprung up, the man once more.
"QuIckW he exclaimed, '1or your
| lives!' tfa
ulta .