The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-07-26

|
ately gave chase, shouting ''stop thief.
and fired his revolver at the fugitive.
His first Shot struck a colored girl
who was crossing the street about tel
yards from where Dick ran, in the heel
and his second went through a tirst-stor,
window and smashed a looking glass
/ he girl hOWled diSmally, and the pro
pmetor Of the starred mirror appeared il
his balcony and discharged several round
of profanity. And there it ended. 1t il
quite regular for policemen Tor, indeed
for any one) to fire at persons who at
tempt to give justice leg bail though
they urge their wild career through the
most crowded thoroughtares.
our Rat Ignorant of the fact that a
New Orleans policeman has never YET
been known to hit anything that he act
ually aimed at--gave in at the second shot
and was walked off in triumph to the
station.
Captain Gilbert spends the evening
with his agent, and then returns to the
ship about II O'clock.
''Sorry to say, sir begins the chief of
ticer, ''that most of the men are on shore. ;
"Without leave Z"
\ shrug Of the shoulders is his answer
'Whose watch is it Z
''Mr. AndreWS'
"Send him here"
''lIoW's this, Mr.. Andrews,' asks the
captain, angrily.
''Its not my fault, sir. They don't go
over the gangway. They crawl over the
side and on to the beams Of the wharf.
It's impossible to stop them"
The captain knows New Orleans and
being a Just man has no more to say 1t
is very provoking. He is going to sail to-
morrow, and these men will come on
board either drunk or stupid with the
effect Of drink. Some of them, perhaps,
will not come at all.
The weather for the last few days has
Been oppressively hot, and now there is
hope of rain. The sky is dark and low,
and the faint evening breeze has gone
down. The captain has gone down to
his cabin, which is on deck, and tries to
read, but the mosquitoes won't let him,
80 he GETS into bed, tucks in his bar, and
sleeps the sleep OF Il tired man.
Something makes him conscious that
two bells, Gone o'clock are striking.
Then he hears a whisper, "Cap'n Capn y
close by his side. In IN instant he had
his reVolverready. and in the act Of strl-
ing a match when the whisper says,
"lluSh Its me, Dick. Don't say Il word ;
don't light 4 match. Hush Is there IL
man named Phil Wood in your crowd ?"
"les, a fireman but he deserted last
week" The captain whispers, too.
''llave you got any specious aboard :"
''Spccious Z Oh, specie YOU mean"
''Wot's that"
"MOney.'
II thought 50. Well, Cap'n, Phil Wood
and five more are after that there spe-
ciouS, and they're aboard now"
"Good God why didn't YOU tell me be
fore " gasps the captain.
"P'lccman cheNied me, COS iii got Il
bundle that the lady gave me. He took
it away he did, and locked me up" ex-
planned Dick, .'but got out"
ION board now, do YOU say :" asks the
captain.
'l'es, and ut work, too. Listcn,"
What the captain hears sends him out
of his berth with i spring
't'irc that" he says. thrusting Il pistol
into Dicks hand, land run forward
help as loud as YOU can scream"
Then he darts out on deck
And no time to spare. The thieves
have oVerpowered and gagged the man
on watch, have cut round the tastenings
of the hatch leading to the specie room,
and already two boxes are out and ready
for spiriting away.
Dick does rs he is told. and then rush
eS back.
-Four Of the thieves are on deck, firing
at the captain, who has Just lodged be
hind the cabin skylght, and is shooting
steadily. Dick has five shots left, and
these he discharges one after the other,
with his eyes shut, is fast as he can pull
the trigger 1t is a brisk affair while it
lasts: which is until the chief officer, doe
tor, steward, and some others. (arouscd
10y Dicks shouts and the tiring) come up
as can do SO jump overheard for their
retreat forward is cut off, Three remain
one, the lcade!-dead, another with his
thigh splintered and Il third with several
balls i'll non-Vtal parts Of the body.
The first thing done is to release poor
Mr. Andrews, whom they find still insen-
sible from the blow on the head which
had put him hors de combat BY this
time the police have come, and are search
ing the ship, lest others of the thieves
might be hiding.
'What's that in the wheel house >"
says the chief officer "bring light here
All it's another of them turn him over
Oh, Lord Captain look here . Here's
gratitude II it isn't that ID Rat that
the lady -
MY God ," cries the captain; Il for
got all about him Is he hurt 2"
''shot right through the body, and
serves him right" is Manstield's reply. 1t
struck the speaker "silly,' as he after
wards said, to see the skipper fall down
on his knees beside the Rat" lift his
head upon his shoulders, and in a voice
hoarse with emotion say Are you hurt
bad, my boy! Don't start I'm your
friend the captain, Dick speak to me !"
lis the p'lice gone Z" he means.
"They shan't hurt you, Dick one
shall. Oh, Doctor, come and attend this
poor brave little fellow Any drop of
his blood is worth more than the lives of
those scoundrcls. Do your best for him,
and send for all the surgeons in the city
il they can help poor Dick Poor little,
faithful chap !"
The wounded thieves are carried off to
the charity hospital by the police Dick
to be taken to the captains cabin, and
placed in his bed. The ships doctor
does his very best for him. The most
famous surgeon in the city comes and
looks grave. Captain Gilbert never leaves
him.
Say. :" Dicks voice has become very
low and tremulous A. ''was that there
money youm !'
"No; but it was in my charge"
"Nou'd a got hell if you'd a lost it, ell ?"
81 should have been ruined"
''She wouldn't ha' liked that"
'She? Who do you mean, my boy I"
"lhe lady-her us you was good to-"
The captain turned aside, and tried
hard to swallow something which had
never passed his lips.
"Was it for her sake" he asked, ''that
you did this :"