The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-07-28

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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 YES
sci run to the southwark until the Span
ish 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 in
structions to take care of the officer of the
watch by thrust of a knife. Another
was to take up a position III the rear of
the man at the wheel, who was to be
pitched unceremoniously overheard. A
third was to stand by the cabin COM
panion-way, to brain the captain as he
came Oh deck to ascertain the cause of
the confusion. The remainder of the
gang were to 90 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 below, 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 disabling
the arms which the Hondureans counted
up. 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 scald-
ing hot; and as the galley was in close
proximity to the main hatch, he was to
sprinkle the scoundrels with liberal al
lowance as they rushed on deck
Capt Seth retired as usual, after en-
joining upon Elias to keep his weather
eye lifting.
Pistol in hand, the captain, enveloped
in the darkness of the cabin, waited for
the signal of attack to be given, glancing
cautiously at times up the narrow COM
panion-way, where the dark form of one
of the passengers was discernible keeping
his murderous watch.
1t lacked an hour of eight bells;
naught was heard save the steady tramp
of Elias as he passed to and fro, hum
ming a familiar Methodist air, or the
creak of the main-boom as the vessel
rolled to windward.
Suddenly, Captain Seth, who was half
reclining on the transom, fancied he
heard a suppressed breathing in the
cabin. He listened intently; there was
no mistaking the sound-it was long
drawn inspiration of man crawling eau
tiously forward.
Captain Seth's pulse was beating a
rapid tattoo as he hurriedly struck a
match. The first glimmer revealed the
form of dark-skinned rascal who sprang
to his feet with an oath; at the same time
the glitter of a dirk caught Seth's sharp
eye. The match fell from his hand, but
before the burning fragment struck the
cabin floor, the report of a pistol rang
through the vessel, followed by heavy
| fall
In an instant the silence which had
reigned on the Falcon was changed into
perfect pandemonium. Shouts, oaths,
screams, and numerous jars, followed in
rapid succession, and in the height of
the confusion the excited captain got on
deck. The pistol-shot had alarmed all
hands; the conspirators rushed up from
below, and were met by copious shower
of scalding-hot water by the watchful
cook. Elias had sent one fellow down,
and pitched the one stationed by the
companion-way over the sail. From the
gloom and obscurity astern the mans
voice was heard, growing fainter and
fainter, as he called for help. The man
at the wheel had seized his antagonist
suddenly by the throat, holding him
with grip of iron, while the two
watches, fully armed, stood guard over
the hatch.
The piratical plans had suddenly come
to grief, and unexpectedly, too, for all
hands.
One by one the survivors were sum-
moned from the between decks, and
forced to enter the boat, which Elias had
hastily hoisted over the side, pair of
oars were thrown in, but neither water
nor bread was given the bowling
wretches by the stern mate.
The Falcon filled away, shot ahead, and
the boat rapidly disappeared from sight,
but the hoarse oaths and curses were heard
for some time afterward
Then, after the vessel was free from
the miscreants, Captain Seth and the
mate dove below to examine the cabin.
Stretched at full length on the floor was
one of the late passengers, shot through
the heart His muscular hand still
grasped the keen-bladed dirk, while the
features were distorted by an expression
of such awful ferocity that both Seth
and his mate could not repress shudder.
What the mans object was in penetrat-
ing to the cabin in advance of the gen.
eral attack was more than they could
fathom; but Elias supposed it must have
been a desire to conceal large share of
plumber from his comrades,