The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-12-20

best plan would bG ut onco to arm our.
selves. I told him to dress himself,
while l went on deck TO rouse our two
English sailors, whom wc could depend
upon, and bring them aft to the cabin.
I had planted one foot in tho saloon, the
other being still in Mr.. Spencer's cabin,
and had my eyes directed to the stairs
Of the companion, when, in the shade, !
thought deserted n Chinaman. Think
ing that it might bc the steward, I call
cd out to him by name "a Tong" but
no reply came, when I felt pretty Ger.
tain TINT it was not the steward, in which
belief I was not left long in doubt. l
had turned my head into Mr.. Suencer's
cabin, to tell him Of my suspicious,
when I thought I heard steps stealthily
approaching me. Igave rapid glance;
and there, not four feet from where ]
stood, were some five or six rs villain.
ous.lookiug Cinnamon as 1 had ever he.
held, armed, some with bamhoos about
ten feet long, and others with swords.
In MI instant, 1 had sprung into til"
cabin, and closed and b0lted the door.
With yell, the whole Of the gang made
one simultaneous rush toward the door;
but they had missed their mark by Il
second. had planted my back against
the door, mud thanks to my weight and
the bolts, it resisted their combined
efforts to force it. Other measures, how
ever, | knew must be ut once resortcd
to, and that instantly. Calling upon Mr..
Spencer TO move his chest OF drawers
against the door, and placing two large
trunks on tho top OF them, We patiently
waited the coming events. Spencer very
fortunately had a couple OF Colts re.
volvers in his chest Of drawers, with
which we armed ourselves. The gaug
outside were evidently in deep constllta-
ton as 10 their next mode OF attack.
One voice I heard raised above all the
others, and that one voice was without II
doubt A Tong, our much respected
steward !! From the little Chinese I was
acquainted with, gathered that they
we're bent upon the treasure, which had
come on board from the Oriental bank
only that afternoon. It had been slowed
away in the captains cabin, and was
safely lodged in fire and thief proof
safe.
They proceeded to the captains cabin
but in very short time returned, and
knocking at the door with their BAN
boos, demanded it to be opened. At
first they used threats, then entreaties,
promising US that not hair OF our
heads should be hurt. But, though We
feared their threats, We had no faith i'll
their promises, and fully determined
that, il tho worst came to the worst, we
would Il our lives dearly. Oh, how
we lopged for eleven o'clock, for Capt.
Wilkes returnl How patiently and
eagerly wo listened for tho splash Of the
oars OF the six stalwart boatmen We
heard four bells from the different ships
in the harbor, some not couple Of hun.
irel yards away; but it was impossible
to reach or signal them. Instead OF
u large portfolio, there was only the
small headlight, through which we
could not even manage to thrust our
heads, much less our bodies. Well,
when they found that neither threatsnor
promises would avail them, they at once
commenced their work. was standing
on a camp-stool, endeavoring to sec
what they were doing, by looking
through the iron grating on the top OF
the door, when l slw one OF them with
q spear, Mt what, in military phraseology,
would bo termed shorten arms -
that is, with the spear drawn back to its
fullest extent, ready to thrust through
the door. l gave one spring from the
stool, aud lucky indeed l did so; for the
next moment the point of n spear
grazed my check. Another inch to the
left, and I would have been q dead man.
We both then retired to tho further end
Of the cabin, so MS to keep out of harms
way. We knew that they dared not use
firearms for fear OF attreting tho atten-
tion Of the ships iu the neighOorhood;
md no doubt this was our salvation.
Spear after spear WAS thrust through,
some almost reaching us as We crouched
down on the floor OF the cabin, when all
Mt once We heard a crash, and, on look
ing up, to our borror Raw that one Of the
panels Of the door lad been forced in
for man to thrust his body
through. We both Immediately spnng
l,pou our feet, graspin2 our revolvors
more firmly, expecting TINT, III despera-
tion, somo Of them would be hardy
enough to try and force their way into
The cabin. But they were far too cuu-
ming for that. Two OF them now got
upon chairs, but taking care to keep out
of the line Of fire of our rcvolvers, md
by side thrusts compelled US to knecl
md crouch behind tho chest OF drawers
Die moment, in the berths the next, and,
at Inst, under the bottom OF them, where
We were for some time comparatively
safe.
But, cmboliened by their SUCCESS.
they now faced the broken paneling ;
md wo could plainly see that, in another
minute or two, the matter woull end by
pur both being speared like wild boars.
[ whispered to Spencer to fro at tho
first head that showed itself ut the
and would do the samo-he
to take the right, md I the loft, so that
We should not waste ammunition
through both Of us firing at the same
person. remember MS IL it happened
only five minutes ago, woheads sudden
Iy appearing, and myself and Spencer
in the act OF presenting our revolyers
lt them, when, rs fash OF lightning,
two spears were suddenly thrust through
the aperture, and the next instant l felt
D twinge in the right side.
remember no moro until siI weeks
afterwards, when I was lying in bed in
i, strange room, very weak and very
faint. There was my servant keeping
-. -, -. Il nool ,x;kk n louon fan ,rli1n