The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-02-11

then il was decided to cali one OF the
old seamen, sturdy, quiet man, and
to do all as quietly as possible, so as
not to alarm the passengers and crew.
! Anderson fetched the old sailor,
who came rolling up, turning the
lump of tobacco in his mouth, and
then from his remarks it was evident
he had been enlightened upon the
business in hand.
"Ah," he growled, "what q thing it
/ Is as any one will go on wasting pre-
cious liquors, and turning blessings
into pysOn I knOwed this would be
the end on it."
"Don't preach man." SAID Ray, an
grily, shut come along. Now look
here" he whispered, as we descended;
''as soon as open the door, all step
quietly in together. He'll dash at US
the same as he did at me a little while
ago bat he can only tackle one man
at once, so that while he is engaged
the Others must secure him."
We had hardly nerved ourselves for
our task, and the mate was holdin &
up his hand as signal as he unlocke d
the door, when we were staggered by
the sharp report OF q pistol, simulta-
neous with which there was dull thud
close by my ear, and I started back
with the knowledge that bullet had
just passed through the cabin door and
whistled By my head. Then came 8
loud. harsh laugh, followed by a couple
more piStoI-ShOts, both OF which
passed through the panel of the door.
Ineed hardly say that we beat re-
treat directly, and as we stood once
more on deck the first mate wiped this
perspiration from his forehead and
looked from one to the other as much
as to say, "What shall we do next ?p
It was indeed trying position, and
for q few moments no one spoke. Then
Mr.. Ray seemed to recover himself,
and spoke out firmly and quietly
"We should only be casting away
our lives if we were to go in now. The
only plan can suggest is to watch
him through the skylight, and go in
when he is asleep"
HI don't think he can do any mis-
chief in the meantime ssid "out
we must seize him SOON"
mischief" said the old sailor dry
ly. "WeIl, L dunno /; but what il he
keeps popping off that revolver thing ?
We shall be having bullet in among
the powder, and blow-upn
"Powder :" 1 said.
"Yes in the magazine.n
''Is there powder on board ?n L said,
with strange tremor in my voice, as
1 turned to Anderson.
'IYes,a a heavy lot of it" he said husk-
ily, aud as he spoke, his eyes glane-
ed nvoluntarily in the direction Ol
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 rush at the boats, We fOrebOre to
answer.
The psTil, though, was indeed great,
for in small cabin, especially strength
ened for its reception, a large quanti-
ty of powder was stored and If one
bullet happened to pass through, the
chances were that the heat evolved in
its passage would explode all, and in a
moment the whole vessel would be
blown to atoms.
There were two courses open to US
to seize the boats at once aud push of,
or to make bold and manly effort to
subdue the madman, in whose hands
our lives seemed to hang.
The same feeling must have pervad-
ed all our breasts as We stood looking
at one another, and then Isaw the old
sailor wet the palms of his hands and
ru them gently together.
"We must run in on him, Master
Ray" he said.
"Could we not shoot him down
through the skylight ?'' said the chief
mate and then, as il blushing at his
own proposition, 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'cO
ing on deck"
As he spoke we heard the cabin door
unlocked then the rafting of keys
and the crashing of door, when Ray
cautiously peered down the hatch
and as be kneeled there, gazing down,
l could see tremor running through
his whole frame, and when at last hl
turned to US his voice was so husky as
to be almost inaudibie, when he whis
pered: "He's got into the powder
room ~
I shall never forget his cOuntsnanee
as he gazed at US fixed-right to 8 de-
gree. For few moments horror and
dread of impending death seemed to
have robbed him Of all power. Then
he sprang up, the man once more.
"QUick p' BE exclaimed" for your
lives !"
Then, leading the way, he dashed
down the cabin stairs, we following
him, but only to find our progress ar
rested by the closed door, which resist
ed all our efforts,
"Listen % whispered Ray; end then
he continued: "What il he were to
fire now !"
The next moment there was a soun 9
which seemed to make every nerve IL
10Y body thrill, and I frankly own
that had my limbs obeyed my will 1
should have rushed cn deck, seized a
coop or grating, and leaped over the
side; for plainly enough to be heard
came a sharp cracking noise, and il
wanted not the mates voice to en-
tighten US as he Missed out, f'Lucifers :"
"Here, quick r' exclaimed Ander-
con 1--WE are forcing the wrong way
at the door,
He dragged at it, but in vain, for a
few minutes, till, running on deck,
tuc Olu LCIGA nC4 III 1A AASL1htf
with a couple of marlin spikes, which
were inserted just as we once more
heard the crackle Of a match.
"Quick it's for dear life ~ cried
Ray, and the door crashed, gave way
and flew open, to reveal to US, stand
ing perfectly unmoved by our forcible
entry, the captain, holding q lighted
splint to an iron-bound chest, which
was already blaekened and charred at
the edge.
For a few moments we could none
of US stir. Itseemed as If at the slight
est motion on our part the chest
which / afterWard learned was filled
with cartridges for the supply of one
of the petty armies engaged in the
Paraguayan war-wOuld explode, fol
lowed by the other chests and kegs
piled around. Then came the cap
tain's low ehuckling laugh, and we
heard him say: "This will drive you
out, then, strong as you are"
Then, with gesture of impatience,
he threw down the burnt-out splint
| took a fresh match from the boXswhich
he held, and was about to strike it,
when, with q cry that did not sound
human, Anderson lsaped upon him,
and with one tremendous blow struck
him down, trampiing on him the next
moment as he applied his moist lips
to the charred aud smoking edge o.
the chest.
The captain was not stunned, though;
and directly after Q fearful struggle
took place among these kegs, my part
being confined to the securing OF the
matchbox, which tore from his hand
trembling as I did so lest it should ex'
plOde. Then came the loud painting
breathing OF the wretched man as
held down by four strong men, he
bowed his body up again and again
with q power that was almost SUPER
human.
But the danger was not passed and
without losing q moment, we dragged
him out into his own cabin. Water
was applied to the eharred side Of the
box; and Mr.. Rays first act was to
make the carpenter screw up the door
in a way that restored confidence, as
every screw was driven in. say his
first act for his second was TO sii
down on the deck and cover his face
with his hands, and remain in thai
position for fully half an hour.
Constant watching, binding, and the
nae 0f nOfant druOs nfaaAd the captain