The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-08-21


| ported off the weather-bow, and while
the captain went aloft to have look at
the stranger, Elias lounged carelessly
among the Hondureans.
The mate, with shrewdness common
to the land he claimed as his native
place, had disavowed all knowledge of
the Spanish language, when, on the con-
trary, he was perfectly conversant with
| it. The brave fellow never lost his pres
ence of mind, or allowed q muscle of his
face to betray the purport of the alarm
ing conversation that reached his
| ears.
The fact of the gold and silver being
on board had been duly reported to the
gang, and with amazing GOODNESS they
| plotted the destruction of all on board.
Their deep-laid plans to seize the vessel
were to be put in force that very night,
all hands thrown overheard, and the
vessel run to the southwark until the
Spanish main was sighted.
When Captain Seth reached the deck,
the mate cautiously impaired the start
ling news to his superior, and measures
were at once taken to battle the scoun-
drels.
Their plan of attack was as follows
One of their number was to stretch him
self alongside the cabin skylight, with
| instructions to take care of the officer of
the watch by thrust of a knife. An
other was to take up a position in the
rear of the man at the wheel, who was
to be pitched unceremoniously over
board. A third was to stand by the
cabin companion-way to brain the cap
tain as he came on deck to ascertain the
cause of the confusion. The remainder
of the gang were to go below as usual,
so as not to excite suspicion, but at the
| signal, which was to be eight bells
| (midnight), they were to rush on deck
and secure the watch. The remainder
of the crew, who would be sleeping be-
low, would of course prove unresisting
victims.
The small-arm chest was secured to
| the deck abaft the skylight, and after
taking from it half-a-dozen pistols and
as many cutlasses, Captain Seth and his
mate deliberately rammed home a wad
in the barrel of each pistol, thereby dis
abling the arms which the Kondureans
counted upon.
Plenty of ammunition was left, so as
not to excite suspicion, and then the
crew was carefully instructed in the
part they were to play. The cook filled
| his coppers with water, which he kept
scalding hot; and as the galley was in
close proximity to the main hatch, he
was to sprinkle the scoundrels with
| liberal allowance as they rushed ON
deck.
Captain Seth retired as usual after
enjoining upon Elias to keep his wealth.
er-eye lifting, if he ever expected to mar
ry his daughter.
Pistol in hand, the captain, enveloped
in the darkness of the cabin, waited for
the signal of attack to be given, glanc-
ing cautiously at times up the narrow
companion-way where the dark form of
one of the passengers were discernible
keeping his murderous watch.
1t lacked an hour of eight bells !;
naught was heard save the steady tramp
of Elias as he walked to and fro, hum
ming familiar Methodist air, or the
creak of the main-boom as the vessel
rolled to windward.
Suddenly, Captain Seth, who was re-
clining on the transom, fancied he heard
a suppressed breathing in the cabin. He
listened intently; there was no mistak-
ing the sound-it was the long-drawn
respiration of man crawling cautious
| ly forward.
Captain Seth's pulse was beating q
| rapid tattoo as he hurriedly struck q
match. The first gleam revealed the
form of a dark-skinned rascal, who
sprang to his feet with an oath at the
the same the glitter of dirk caught the
skipper's sharp eye.
The match fell from his hand, but
before the burning fragment struck the
cabin floor the report of pistol rang
through the ship, followed by a heavy
fall.
In an instant the silence which had
reigned on the Falcon was changed into
a perfect pandemonium. Shouts, screams,
oaths, and numerous jars, followed in
rapid succession, and in the height of
the confusion the excited captain bounc-
ed on deck.
The pistol-shot had alarmed all hands,