Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-01-27
GUILDHALL, VT, SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1877.

ton of all sweet things), bewildered the
Rat. If he had ever heard of fairyland
he would have thought himself there.
He had never heard Of fairyland, or of
the enchanters, giants, dwarfs, genii,
and all the dear old myths which sur
round its beautiful princesses and the
exemplary third sons of its kings.
A drunkard who would drop a dime as
he staggered from the barroom was the
nearest approach to a good fairy that
Dick knew. He gazed about him be-
wildered, and some dim sense of shame
stole over him as he saw his own refec-
ton in the looking glass doors.
Mayn't put 'em ON now 2" he asks,
as "the things" are selected.
'Better not" says the lady. Put
them on in the morning. Come here
again about ten o'clock, and we'll see
what can be done for you"
He submits, and goes down reluctant
ly, with two whole suits of Charley's left
off clothes bundled up in large hand
kerchief and fifty cents in his pocket.
AS soon as the hall door closes after him,
the brute instincts of secrecy and evasion
pull his Jelly bag hat over his eyes and
send him off at run.
Outside barroom at the corner is
policeman. Here was a victim worthy
of his STEAL" so he Immediately gave
chase, shouting "StOp thief p and firing
his revolver at the fugitive.
Our Rat gave in at the second shot,
and was walked off in triumph to the
station.
4
Captain Gilbert spends the evening
with his agent, and returns to the ship
about eleven o'clock.
Sorry to say, sir" begins the chief
officer, "that most of the men are
ashore"
Without leave?'
A shrugof his shoulders is his answer.
"Whose watch is it?'
Mr.. Andrews"
"Send him here. How's this, Mr..
Andrews?" asks the captain, angrily.
cts 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 just man, has no more to say.
1t is very provoking He is going to
sail tomorrow, and those men will come
on board drunk OF stupid with the effect
of drink. Some Of them, perhaps, won't
come at all.
The weather for t,.e Last few days has
been oppressiyely hot, and now there is
hope Of rain. The sky IS dark and low,
and the faint evening breeze las gone
down. The captain goes to his cabin,
which is on deck, and tries to read, but
the mosquitoes won't let him, SO he gets
into bed, tucks in his bar, and sleeps the
sleep of a tired man.
Something makes him conscious that
two bells Zone o'clock are striking
Then he hears whisper: "Cap'n! Cap'n"
close by his side. In an instant he has
his revolver ready, and is i'll the act of
striking a match when the whisper says:
Hush! it's me, Dick. DON'T say word;
don't light a match. Hush Is there a
man named Phil Wood in your crowd ?"
Yes, fireman but he deserted last
week. The captain whispers too.
Have you got specious aboard? ?"
"Specious? Oh, specie, you mean."
"Wot's that ?"
"Money."
81 thought so Well, capn, Phil
Wood and five more is after that there
specious, and they's aboard now."
"Good God Why didn't you tell me
before?" gasps the captain.
"Pliceman chevied me, COS I'd got
bundle that the lady give me. Took it
away, he did, and locked me up" ex-
plains the Rat " but I got out. ="
"On board now, do you say" asks the
captain.
"Yes, and at work, too. Listen !''
What the captain hears sends him out
of his berth with spring.
"Fire that" he says, thrusting pistol
into Dicks hand, "and run forward,
shouting 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 fastenings
Of the hatch leading to the specie room,
and already two boxes are out and ready
for spiriting away.
Dick does as he was told and then
rushes back. -Four of the thieves are
on deck, firing at the captain, who has
lodged behind the cabin skylight, and is
shooting steadily. Dick has five shots
left, and these he discharges one after
the other, with his eyes shut, as fast as
he can pull trigger. It is brisk affair
while it lasts; which is until the chief
officer, doctor, steward and some others
(aroused by Dicks shouts and the firing)
come upon the scene. Then such of
the thieves as can do 50, Jump overheard
for their retreat forward is cut off.
Three remain; one-the leader-dead,
another with his thigh splintered, and q
third with several balls in non-vital parts
Of his 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 du combat. BY this
time the police have come, and are search
ing the ship, lest others of the thieves
might be hiding.
Whats that in the wheel house 2"
says the chief officer; "bring q light
here. All it's another of them; turn
him over, Oh, Lord Captain, look
here Here's gratitude If it isn't
that Rat that the LADY,
"My God !' cries the captain; 81 for
got all about him Is he hurt ?"
"Shot through the body, and serve
him right" is Mansfeld's reply. 1t
struck the speaker " silly" as he after
ward said, to see the skipper fall down
on his knees beside the RAT" lift his