Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-23
md scrambllng forward the irate cap

dangerous foe. But the steward, quick
as flash of lightning, evaded the cap
tain's blow, dealt him one as he glided
by, while Sylvester was foundering
around among the boxes and barrels,
bewiidered and half stunned, the Chi
nese steward sprang through the low
door, darted out of the cabin and dis
appeared on deck.
No one took particular notice of the
fellows as he sauntered carelessly along,
pausing for moment by the iron cage
which covered the main hatch. The
latter was crowded with coolies, and to
them he addressed few rapid, cultural
sentences, at the same time applying a
key to the door which he had purloined
from the captains state room. CHANGING
quickly aft, he Withdrew to one side,
and at that instant prolonged and ter
rible cry burst from the coolies, follow
ed by tremendous rush up the ladders.
With one bound the treacherous ma
tive sprang upon the nearest sentinel,
and before the sailor, completely
taken by surprise, could recover, his
musket had been snatched from his
hand and blow from the same stretch
ed the poor fellow ifeless on the deck
Like the rush of some mountain tor
rent the coolies swarmed on deck, car
rying everything before them. The
sentinels were literally swallowed up by
the Infatuated mob of yelling demons,
and were never seen again.
Maynard, together with the second
mate and a man at the wheel, were the
sole occupants of the quarter deck, and
upon them, all unarmed as they were,
the mob rushed.
Amid the din and uproar Maynard
heard the voice of Captain Sylvester
calling upon him to Jump through the
skylight.
"Jump, my lad. and bear hand. !
have the cabin door barricaded."
| The mate required no second bidding.
! With shout to the second mate to fol
low, he spraHg through the frail struc-
ture, and the next instant the two Off
GERS were side by side with Sylvester,
who hurriedly thrust into their hands a
loaded revolver apiece.
There was no time for congratulations,
the aperture above their heads was
darkened for moment by huge coolie,
who was on the point of leaping after
the fugitives, wheel the crack of May
nard's revolver saved him the trouble,
and he fell headlong into the cabin.
Another and another followed in quick
succession, but not Chinaman sue
ceeded in gaining an entrance alive.
With yell of baffled rage the coolies
renewed the assault, but this time their
efforts were directed against the doors
of the forward cabin. They speedily
yielded to the shower of blows, and in a
few moments were reduced to so many
| splinters. But Captain Sylvester had
not been idle after recovering from the
blow dealt him by his steward.
| Every available article of furniture,
tables, chests and movable articles had
been converted into barricade which
efectually resisted the furious attempts
of the now thoroughly aroused mob.
MAYNARD and his companions FREQ
with a cool collected aim over the
friendly cover, and at every discharge
coolie passed to his last account.
Their cries OF fendish rage rent the air
with redoubled violence at being SO
| long baked of their prey, while their
leader, ex-steward, danced and capered
about like lunatic.
The dead bodies of the coolies lay
piled up one across another, the sur
vivors making no attempt to assist their
wounded comrades. Their ador had
been dampened by the severe check
they had sustained, and retiring from
the scene Of the conflict, they held
hurried consultations respite that
was made the most of by Maynard and
his companions in repairing and
Strengthening the barricade which had
suffered somewhat from the frantic
efforts of the mob.
! An ominous silence had fallen upon
the ship, which BODIED no good to the
three resolute men who held possession
of the cabin. With anxious hearts and
fingers pressing the triggers of their
and eyes to discover what might be
going on among their enemies.
/ Suddenly simultaneous yell burst
from the hoarse throats of the gang,
followed by united rush which shook
the vessel.
ssLook to the cabin doors, Maynard,
I will look to the skylght I" shouted
Sylvester. in an undaunted tone, and
again the crash of firearms, mingled
with cries of pain, resoun,led through
the ship. In the meantime 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
well aware that both shoals and reefs
atounded in the vicinity, which added
to tie deep anxiety preying upon them.
Unless the contest was decided in their
favor, and the coolies driven below in q
short time, common death might over
whelm besieged and besiegers. To add
to the perpleuties and dangers which
appeared to the little band on all sides
night was coming on, and, under the
cover of darkness, the Chinese steward
might obtain the mastery by some subtle
Istrategy. ~
The whistling of the wind, the dash
of the rising waves, and the flashing of
the canvas aloft, were the only sounds
that reached the ears of those in the
| cabin.