The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-02-13

ieiihB Wretcues. Diu you ever see q
man walk tho plank 7 Not Well,
III show yon some rare sport, then.
Now be off to your posss. And
bark ye, Robbins, do you see this
bowie knife z
"Of course | do, was the reply,
spoken, il seemed to me, rather
family.
''Of course you do 4! Well, then.
tell the men that il il ready to drink
the life blood OF the first man who
shows the white feather. They have
gone too far to shirk now, nud let
them remember tho gold.
The conversation Terminated, and
M the speakers moved away, also
left my perilous station on the lad
der.
To describe my feelings. ~ list
ened to this dlabolical plot, were im
possible /; my blood ran cold with
horror, my powers of thought were
paralyzed
l was conscious OF one idea only.
that l must wake the captain, and
acquaint him with the imminent
danger that threatened us.
To make my way to his stateroom
was the work OF an instant.
"Captaio,captai gasped. shak-
ing him by the shoulder. "Wake up,
for Gods sake, wake up I
He sat up in his berth, rubbing
his eyes aud staring vacantly.
"Captain, captain, rouse up :
reiterated. stamping my foot in my
excitement. "ihero is mutiny on
board "A plot to murder us all y
He was fully awakened by such
startling intelligence, aud in q lew
hasty words explained all that l
hsu learned of Mr.. Briggs perlidy.
Captain Clay listened in silence /;
he expressed no surprise. time was
too precious to be wasted in idle
words, but the dark frown on his
face and the sternly knit brows prov
ed that ho was fully alive to the aw-
ful responsibility devolviug upon
him.
A single false step might sacrifice
the lives OF the passengers entrusted
to his care no wonder then that
his cheeks grew pale.
But he was not the man to shrink
when danger started him in tue face.
In few moments his decision was
made.
'Sr IIsrno, I believe you always
carry q revolver -
"Ye-, sir, here it is" tapping my
brenst, "a four barrel"
That is well l have one also,
and two cutlasses. Do you take
oue-yet stay not yet Look to
your pistol, is it all righ:?"
"Ay ay. sir y
"Mr. lIerne, I am going to inn
pose a dangerous task on you
Those villains do not expect you on
deck for half an hour, you say
suppose yon return at once, before
they have time to complete their
arrangement IL may have tho
effect of postponing them for to
night"
80 it may, SIR exclaimed,
rising, "I'll 80 at once"
I'm the meantime I will rouse
the passengers fortunately they
are all mcn-and give them the
alarm +; at the least call from you we
will be ready to rush on deck to
your support"
SAY ay sir.
The mate was standing near the
after hatchway as approached he
turned sharply at the sound OF my
footsteps, exclaiming:
"Whv, Mr.. Ilerne, hopod you
were asleep by this time your head
has got better very suddenly. But
I'm glad it has, for yon are the very
man want. The lookout declares
he sees u light off yonder, but I
cant see it. l was just going for
ward to look from the bows--but
your eyes are younger than mine
Let us go and see,
lie walked hastily away, expect
ing me to follow, but knowing all
that did. it may we'll be believed
that had no intention Of doing So
He stopped and hailed me to
come on.
1T is not necessary I answered
in as indifferent q manner rs could
answer-'I can see the light from
here
you're dreaming, Herns,' he
cried "Come along"
"rhank you, but moving about
makes my head worse, and ! can
see the light just as well from here,
right off the starboard bow it is"
Listening intently heard smoth, |,
cred curse,
Come forward, sir, | order youl"
he shouted.
/ made no reply ;all my faculties
were absorbed in endeavoring to
discover among tho men, who, | had
every reason to believe, were by this
time collected on the forecastle.
But it was in vain that l sought to
pierce the deep gloom around me,
while the signing Of the wind amidst
the rigging rendered it impossible
to detect any slight sounds that
might be made.
"By---,' shouted the mate, los
ing all caution in the rage that pos,
sessed him, as thus tacitly detied
him. 'by--, the villain smells a
rat Knock him on the head. bows |