The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-12-16

l.
English sailors, whom we could depend
upon, aud bring them aft to the cabin.
L had planted one foot in the 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, 1
thought deserted Chinaman. Think
ing that it might be the steward, I call
ed out to him by name CA Tong" but
no reply came, when 1 felt pretty GER
tain that it was not the steward, in which
belief 1 was not left long in doubt.
had turned my head into Mr.. Spencer's
cabin, to tell him of my suspicious,
when thought heard steps stealthily
approaching me. 1 gave rapid glance;
and there, not four feet from where I
stood, were some five or six as villain
ous-looking Cinnamon as 1 had ever he
held, armed, some with bamboos about
ten feet long, and others with swords.
In an instant, 1 had sprung into the
cabin, and closed and bolted the door.
With yell, the whole of the gang made
one simultaneous rush toward the door
but they had missed their mark by
second. ] had planted my back against
the door, and thanks to my weight and
the bolts, it resisted their combined
efforts to force it. Other measures, how
ever, knew must be at once resorted
to, and that instantly. Calling upon Mr..
Spencer to move his chest of drawers
against the door, and placing two large
trunks on the top of them, we patiently
waited the coming events. Spencer very
fortunately had couple of Colts re-
volyers in his chest Of drawers, with
IL. Il,
outside were evidently in deep consulta-
tion as to their next mode of attack.
One voice heard raised above all the
others, and that one voice was without "a
doubt A Tong, our much respected
steward From the little Chinese was
acquainted with, gathered that they
were bent upon the treasure, which had
come on board from the Oriental bank
only that afternoon. 1t had been slowed
away in the captains cabin, and was
safely lodged in a 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 in
their promises. and fully determined
| that, if the worst came to the worst, we
would Il our lives dearly. Oh, how
we longed for eleven o'clock, for Capt.
Wilkes return How patiently and
eagerly we listened for the splash of the
oars of the six stalwart boatmen ! We
heard four bells from the different ships
in the harbor, some not a couple of hun
dred yards away; but it was impossible
to reach or signal them. Instead of
large port-hoie, 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 threats nor
promises would avail them, they at once
commenced their work. was standing
on camp-stool, endeavoring to see
what they were doing, by looking
through the iron grating ON the top OF
the door, when l saw one of them with
a spear, at what, in military phraseology,
would be 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, and lucky indeed did SO; for the
next moment the point of spear
grazed my cheek. Another inch to the
| left, and [ would have been a dead man.
| We both then retired to the further end
of the cabin, SO as to keep out of harm S
way. We knew that they dared not use
firearms for fear of attracting the atten-
ton of the ships in the neighborhood
and no doubt this was our salvation
Spear after spear was thrust through
some almost reaching us rs we crouched
down on the floor of the cabin, when al
at once we heard a crash, and, on look
ing up, to our horror saw that one of the
panels of the door had been forced il
sufficiently for man to thrust his body
through. We both Immediately sprane
upon our feet, grasping our revolver'
more firmly, expecting that, in despera
ton, some of them would be hardy
enough to try and force their way into
the cabin. But they were far too Gun
ming for that. Two of them now go
upon chairs, but taking care to keep ou
of the line of fire of our revolvers, ant
by side thrusts compelled us to knee
and crouch behind the chest of drawer:
one moment, in the berths the next, and
at last, under the bottom OF them, where
we were for some time comparatively
safe.
But, emboldened by their success
they now faced the broken paneling
and we could plainly see that, in anothe,
minute or two, the matter would end by
our both being speared like wild boars
L whispered to Spencer to fire at th'
first head that showed itself at thu
paneling, and would do the same-h'
to take the right, and the left, so tina
we should not waste ammunition
through both of us firing at the sam,
person. 1 remember as if it happened
only five minutes ago, two heads sudden
ly appearing, and myself and Spence
in the act of presenting our revolver
at them, when, as flash of lightning
two spears were suddenly thrust through
the aperture, and the next instant fel
a twinge in the right side.
l remember no more until six week
afterwards, when was lying in bed il
q strange room, very weak and yer,
faint. There was my servant keeping
me nice and cool with large fan, Will
on my forehead was a cloth stepped il
vinegar. By degrees some slight recol
lection came back to my mind of tn
events that had happened on that fear
full night but when 1 interrogated m.
Chinese nurse, l could only obtain fron
him such replies as My no sabby
doctor berry angry me talkee tina
pigeon" By which he meant that h
knew nothing about the matter /; an,
that if he did, he was enjoined by tn
doctor to silence, otherwise he would b