Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-01-31

in very brilliant spirits, went on deck,
it being what we call at sea the cap
tain's watch"
] turned in about four A. NJ, the
second officer then coming on duty. My
cabin was amidships and on deck, and
from window therein ] could command
a view of the after.deck of the ship.
Somehow or other, could not rest
one atom, 80, dressing myself, deter
mined upon sitting up and smoking. !
drew aside the blind of the window l
have mentioned, and looked out.
1t was just the gray light of early
morning, and there was a stiftish breeze
blowing. To my surprise, I beheld Mr..
Reginald Moore on deck.
was about to open my cabin-door
and invite him in to join me in my rest.
lessness, when the peculiar nature of
his proceedings riveted my attention.
NJ icokad aronnd on all sides. as IT,
afraid of attracting observation.
Then, suddenly, as if assured the
coast was clear, he made rapidly toward
the empty water cask, on which he was
accustomed to manufacture his model
of the Janet's Pride. Once more
glancing cautiously about him, he then
applied his hands to the top of the cask,
and with rapid movement lifted half
of the top bodily off.
Ny astonishment and my excitement
were intense. Another hasty glance
round, and he plunged his hand down
into the cask, then quickly withdrew it,
holding in his grasp a small bag, which
he rapidly concealed in the breast of
his coat.
Again he took hasty survey, and was
about making another dive into this
strange receptacle for hidden goods,
when he suddenly withdrew, having,
with astonishing rapidity, replaced the
lid of the cask. In another moment the
cause of his alarm was made apparent,
as couple of sailors passed him on
their way to relieve the man at the
wheel.
When ell was again quiet, for an in
slant he seemed determined to at once
return to the cask, and no doubt with
draw something that the interruption
had prevented him withdrawing in the
first instance. But suddenly changing
his mind, he went down the stairs that
led from the deck to the saloon and
sleeping cabins.
Scarcely had he disappeared, when
another figure, stealthily crossing the
deck, met my anxious observation. 1t
was the boatswain.
saw him glance toward the stairs,
down which Mr.. Reginald Moore had
taken his departure. He then made
direct for the water-cask. It was now
obvious to me that the old boatswain
had been watching the pleasant passen-
ger.
Just as he reached the water cask, a
heavy green sea struck the ship to wind
ward, necessitating the boatswain to
hold on by rore so as to keep his foot.
ing, and precisely at the same moment
Reginald Moore appeared at the top of
the cabin stairs. I shall never forget
| the scene.
The instant the ship had steadied her.
self, the boatswain commenced his OK.
animation of the water. cask. For a
moment only, Moore stood looking at
him with as evil an expression on his
face as I ever beheld.
With one bound he was upon the
boatswain, before he could turn to pro-
tect himself. waited no longer, but
flung open the door Cf my cabin in an
instant, and in another was to the rescue,
and in few moments we had our pleas
ant passenger in irons. So, you see,
he was the thief, after all, hiding his
knavery under the pleasantest exterior
I ever knew man possess. The man.
ner in which he had manufactured the
top of that water-cask was the most fin
ished and ingenious piece of carpentry
I ever beheld.
In the interior of the side of the cask
he had driven several nails, about two
feet from the top, on which he had sus.
pended, in wash-leather bags, the Jew.
elrv he had stolen.
You may easily imagine the surprise
evinced by our passengers on discover.
ing that the thief was tie man for whom
each and every one of them enter taineG
such regard and even affection.
At the expiration Of three days frou
the date of the pleasant passengers de-
lection, we landed in Melbourne, where
duty compelled me to hand him over tx
the police; but as no one cared to re
main in that town for the purpose o
prosecuting him, he was summaril,
dealt with. The presiding magistrate
sentenced him to six mouths imprison
ment with hard labor.