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

aud rs the mutineers fell back in
great confusion at this unexpecte /
attack, the capt ain and six OF eight
passengers sprang on deck, the re-
naming two have as yet had No
time to dress or prepare their weap
ons.
Down with them my benrties.
cried the mate. recovering from bis
momentary confusion. "Down
with them ! Strive bravely, and then
for tho goldl
Two Of the passengers, like the
captain aud myself, were armed with
revolvers, and wa kept up brisk
fire on the mutineers, while the rest
welded bnndspikes with good effect.
We fought desperately, knowing
that should we fail our lives should
be the forfeit but the odds agains,
MS were SO heavy that know not
what the issue might have been
had not their leader becia put hors
de conb,t by a blow from hand
spike.
This loss added to those they had
already sustained, seemed to daunt
our assailauts, and catching up the
senseless form Of the mate, they
retreated to tho forecastlo
Although during the melee five OF
the mutineers had beeu seriously
wounded, the damage to our own
party was but triiling, n fact easily
accounted for by the circumstance
Of our possessing firearms, while
not n shot was fired by our oppo-
nents
Henco. strange as it appeared to
us that such should be tue case, we
naturally concluded that they were
destitute OF these important wea-
pons.
Our conclusion was mistaken
one, however, the real fact being
that in the hurry and confusion
consequent upon the mates sudden
aud unexpected attack upon me, the
mrtiueers had neglected to provide
themselves with the firearms they
had concealed below Sd carefully
that they could not be obtained al u
moments notice.
Alas ! had We but known the truth.
If we can only prevent them from
crmins TO clise quarters. said the
csptip, ~ wc held an anxious consul
tation on the quarter deck, where
their numbers might overpowir us,
We can probably keep them at bay
until We meet auother vessel
We heartily conceded in rhi' opin-
ion, but how was il to be done
Buricade the deck !.
Yes that might be done, aud We
lost no Tim, in setting about it.
The cover OF ni,bt Oor, asI hav,
aircady intimatei, 1t was intensely
lark) would conceal our movements
IRON the mu,iueers; but il was ne
ces'ary to be speedy, for dawn was
not lar distant
The engineers were still Mt their
post in tho engineers rom below.
where they were suffered to remiin
unmolested the crew knowing we'll
uppn their knowledge depended up
on tho safety Of the steamer.
"Now, my lads, said tho c.ptain.
Ito work with You. These quarter
boats will make safe barrcade.
Mr.. Hernc, as you are the only sea"
man left us, spring iuto the star
board cutter, and throw US tho Ian
yard"
Very soon the boat was swung in
board, and landed safely on tho deck.
That will do finely, my boys
exclaimed Captain Clay, us we noted
how completely it defended the s,a ar
board.qnarter- deck. "No need to
stuff it, they've no bullets to sead
through the plauks. Now for the
other cutter.'
"By the time tho latter touched
the deck, the irst faint rays Of day
began to reveal the objects about Us ;
still, as our Preparations were now
too nearly completed 10 be thwarted
by our sncmies, we made 90 attempt
to concea. our movements, being fulc
ly satisfied that we had nothing TO
fear 80 long as they were kept at a
distance alas for our terrible
mistake.
As we slowed the cutter round to
her proper position, q flash and res
port startled US, while instan-
taueously our gallant captain leaped
high in the air, and then fell head
long on the deck.
The bullet had penstrated as
brave and true heart as ever beat
in human bosom. As we lifted him
a loud laugh arose from
while q sharp fire was
opened on us.
The command had now devolved
upon me-and my first order was to
bring up the mattresses from below,
aud stuff them into the boats.
But speedy as our work was ac-
complished, the fatal bullet travelled
yet more speedily, aud another OF
our little band met his cruel fate
He was at my side when he fell,
and as I raised his hand upon my
knee, the blood gushed font from bis
mouth the bullet had passed through
his lungs and life was fast ebbing
away.
Poor fellow 7 he was fully con-
scious that his knell had sounded |!
He was the youngest OF our party,
as fine specimen Of youthful joy
ous manhood az one would wish to