The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-07-12
CAPTAIN sETH's PASSENGERS.

"Did you hear a hail, Mr.. Adams, or
was it the shrill note of a sea-gull?"
az hear nothing, Captain Williams.
You would scarce expect to meet with
any one midway in Honduras Bay"
every true, Adams; but these are
strange times for this part of the coun-
try. They are in a state of excitement
and revolution half the time. The I'M
successful ones have to fly for their
lives. There-there it is again.
Schooner ahoyl 1t is some one adrift in
a boat, surel Heave to, MI. Adams,
and we'll see what it all means"
1t was decidedly what, in nautical
parlance, would be termed "a dirty
night" The wind, in ftful gusts, blew
directly on shore; the rain, in binding
showers, drove full in the faces of the
seamen as they strove to pierce the i'm
penetrable darkness, which was rem
dered all the more intense by occasional
vivid flashes of lightning. A heavy
swell had suddenly set in from the east
ward-a sure harbinger of a gale of
wind.
The Falcon was a ieet-sailing topsail
schooner, engaged in the Havana trade
some thirty years ago, owned and COM
manded by Captain Williams. Elias
Adams, the mate, was the true type of a
Down-Easter, and was in love with his
shippers daughter-a fact the captain
made no objection to.
The Falcon was tolerably wellarmed,
carrying a long n~ine-pounder forward,
and a sufficient number of small arms to
supply the crew in case of an attack
from pirates, who at that time abounded.
"Here comes a boat full of menl"
shouted the mate from forward; and the
next instant a long unwieldy craft drop
ped suddenly out of the murky gloom,
rasping and pounding alongside the
schooner.
Almost before Williams was ware of
it, fifteen as Misunderstanding rascals as
ever shouted "Viva revolutionl" stood
on the deck of the pretty Falcon, all
talking, gesticulating and struggling
their shoulders at once.
To say that Captain Williams was
startled would but ill-express the alarm
and uneasiness which he felt. His
weather-beaten features assumed a
pallid cast meath the rim of his old SOU
wester, as he held a lantern on high and
scanned the motley group before him.
Who and what are ye," he de-
manded, "and what do yer want aboard
of my vessel?"
"Say the word, Captain Seth, and I'll
have clear decks fore you can strike
eight BELLS"
"No, no, Adams; it would be worse
than murder to turn them adrift in the
teeth of a gale of wind brewing. Listen
to what the spokesman says, in his
broken lingo"
They were adherents and supporters
of the Senior Amoreno, who at that time
was a prominent agitator in the affairs
of his country. A popular demonstra-
ton in his favor had been defeated.
They had been forced to fly for their
lives, and they now offered Captain Seth
Williams seventy-fve dollars in gold,
per man, to land them on any of the
West India Islands, or the Spanish main.
"What do you think of it, Elias?'
said the captain, as he drew his stalwart
mate and son-in-law prospective to one
side.
"Well, if it was me, 1 had sooner see
them out of the ship than in it. But
as long as they are here, why make them
show the color of their money. Then
keep a good lookout on them, and land
'em as o as you get a chance"
Captain Williams at once mustered
the self-imposed passengers in the cabin,
who promptly paid their passage-moneY
without a murmur. They were given
quarters between decks, made as com
Portable as circumstances would admit,
and the Falcon proceeded on her way,
beating out of the bay.
Captain Williams had made up his
mind to land his passengers on the
western extremely Of Cuba, but events
occurred which caused him to radically
change his plans.
1t was the second day of the passen-
gers being IN board. Everything was
quiet on deck, and the Falcon slipping
along with a fair wind, so Captain VIII
liams improved the opportunity to
straighten out his accounts, and count
over his outward freight money, amount
ing to we thirty-fve hundred dollars
in specie.
Amid the metallic ring of the gold
and silver, as the coins slid rapidly
through his fingers, Captain Seth heard
asuppressed breathing. Looking quickly
over his shoulder, he saw a black-whisk
cred visage gazing through the air port
of his state-room. The instant he found
himself detected the interloper disap
peared.
Captain Williams reported the sus
80, ,-o,4onaa - L., ,aoA 81
advised him to load up the small arms
which he did quietly, while the money
was secured in canvas bags and slowed
in a secret locker attached to his state
room.
Late that afternoon a sail was re
ported off the weather-bow, and while
the captain went aloft to have a look al
the stranger, Elias lounged carelessly
among the Hondureans.
The mate, with a shrewdness common
to the land he claimed as his native
place, had disavowed all knowledge O
the Spanish language, when, on the con
trary, he was perfectly conversant witt
it. The brave fellow never lost hi
presence Of mind, or allowed a muscle
of his face to betray the purport of tn,
alarming conversation that reached hi
ears.
The fact of the gold and silver being
on board had been duly reported to tn,
gang, and with amazing GOODNESS they
plotted the destruction Of all on board
Their deep-laid plans to seize the vesse
were to be put in force that very night
all hands thrown overheard, and tn,
vessel run to the southwark until tn,
. Spanish main was sighted.
When Captain Seth reached the deck
the mate cautiously impaired the start
ling news to his superior, and measure
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, will
Instructions to take care of the officer O
the watch by a thrust of a knife. An
other was to take up a position in tn,
rear of the man at the wheel, who wa
to be pitched unceremoniously over
board. A third was to stand by tn
cabin companion-way, to brain the cap
tain as he came on deck to ascertain tn
cause of the confusion. The remainde
of the gang were to go below as usual
SO as not to excite suspicion. but at tn,