The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-07-12

the crew, who would be sleeping below,
would Of course prove unresisting vic
tins.
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 HOndureans
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 scald-
ing hot; and as the galley was in close
proximity to the main hatch, he was to
sprinkle the scoundrels with a liberal al
lowance as they rushed on deck.
Captain Seth retired as usual, after
enjoining upon Elias to keep his
weather-eye lifting, if ever he expected
to marry 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 was dlscernlble
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 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 the long
drawn respiration of a man crawling
cautiously forward.
Captain Seth's pulse was beating a
rapid tattoo as he hurriedly struck a
match. The first glimmer revealed the
form of a dark-skinned rascal, who
sprang to his feet with an oath; at the
same time the glitter of a dirk caught
the shippers sharp eye.
The match fell from his hand, but be-
fore the burning fragment struck the
cabin floor the report of a 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, fol-
lowed in rapid succession, and in the
height of the confusion the excited cap
tain bounced on deck.
The pistol-shot had alarmed all hands;
the co%nspirators rushed up from below,
and were met by a copious shower of
scalding-hot water by the watchful cook.
Elias had knocked one fellow down, and
pitched the one stationed by the COM
panion-way over the rail. 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 a grip of iron, while the two
watches, fully armed, stood guard over
the main 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 Falcons boat, which
Elias had hastily hoisted over the side,
a pair of oars was 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 m~iscreants, 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 ex-
preston of such awful ferocity, that
both Seth and his mate could not repress
a shudder. What the mans object was
in penetrating to the cabin in advance
of the general attack was more than
they could fathom, but Elias supposed
it must have been a desire to conceal a
large share of plumber from hiscomrades.
The Falcon reached her destination in
safety, and before leaving port Elias
claimed the hand of his bride, which he
obtained, together with the command of
the Falcon.
As for Captain Seth, he lived to a ripe
old age, and told the yarn over and over
again to the grandchildren who in due
time crowded about his knee.