Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-10-10

Captain came riding up at a rattling pace ;
and jumping from the horse said "Heres
the permission, Boss, all correct and com
plete. And now, how many niggers ken l
hev 2"
"Just as many as you like" said the har-
master there they are waiting to be
hired"
"Now, sir, tell me-what time in the morn
in ken l git over the bar ? I draw ten feet
| of water"
"Tide flows at six o'clock, and you could
come over by eight should say" responded
the harbor- master.
Good Wal, now, you boys, I'll give you
seven and sixpence apiece to come and take
turns all night. There's n powerful lot O.
water in the hold by this time, and you'll hev
to work, tell you"
The pay was high, and n murmur of salts
faction ran through the crowd those among
the Kaffirs who did not understand English
having it explained to them by those who did
The terms were good enough for many awhile
man standing round to jump at but to work
side by side with niggers was too degrading,
and they were obliged to let the chance pass
"Wal, boys, what say p asked the Yankee.
Several voices eagerly accepted the terms,
and the harbor-master asked how many he
would engage.
Jest you stand in row, boys, and I'll
|
sun'll be down before we git aboard if you
| don't be slick"
The Kaffirs were soon in line The captain
walked up and down, surveying them, and
carefully picking out the biggest and strong
est, until he had selected about sixty. This
was a large number for the work but it was
put down by Mr.. MKay and the harbor-mas-
ter to Yankee enterprise and in n few min
utes the surf-boats with all the niggers on
| board were afoat.
Il will come of to you in the morning,
Captain, and bring you "a pilot" said the har
bor-mastcr.
oval, now, that's friendly of you, Boss.
Really, if you would | should take it kind "
responded the Yankee.
Il WILL "'sad the harbor master; I'm
come off when the tide makes"
Thank you, sir" said the Captain, as he
stepped into the whale-boat. You won't
| forget to Gomez
Certainly not" replied the lIarbor mas
ter. "Good-night."
Good night" said the stranger, with n
grim smile, waving his hand AS the boat
| pulled away.
When the surf-boats returned the men
with them reported the Southern Cross to be
! Just as smart and trim craft the Captain
had said she was They also reported the
safe tranference of the dingy volunteers The
sun went down, and in ten minutes the
scorching hot day had given place to beau
tiful tropical night.
Before the sun had risen on the following
morning. the port-captqin, Mr.. Mkny and
the lookout men were already assembled on
the standpoint and AS the first flush of day
light came rapidly spreading over land and
sea they strained their eyes across the bay,
eager to catch an early glimpse of the schoon-
or, whose arrival and condition had caused
such excitement the day before. Well might
they start and stare in speechless astonish-
ment. There was the bay all right, and there
was the Bluff beyond it. but nothing else
No Southern Cross No ship at all Moth
ing to mark where she had lain at on the pre-
yious night, What could it mean; Could
she have foundercd with all hands No for
there was not depth of water sufficient to COW
er her masts if she had. Could she have
broken away and gone ashore ? Impossible,
for the wind, Il mere capful, was off the
land.
She's gone :" was the first exclamation
which broke the silence-"clean gone :"
What can it mean 2" asked Mr. SrKay.
Mean 7" said the harbor- mean
That we're all born fools-thats what it
means"
why, how :" gasped the bewildered
agent.
"How 2" responded the harbor. master
"Why was he so particular about the sort of
Kaflrs he engaged Wouldn't any kind of
Kafirs do for working pumps OF course
they would. can see it all now. She WAS
no whaler. She had sprung no leak. She
was Yankee SLAYER that's what she was
and we ought all to be shot for not seeing it
before
4 thrill of horror passed through the
group 1t was as clear as daylight now
But we saw them pumping the water out
of her" said the agent, after pause.
"Of course yOu did. But you didn't see
the other side of her, did you, Mr., MKay =
We'll no, responded the agent.
NO but if you had you'd have seen EN-
pumping the water in? That's what it was,
Mr.. MKay-the rascals were pumpngi it in on
the starboard side, and out again Oh the port
don't You see 7"
YES, l see now," sighed the agent
Sixty niggers kidnapped before our very
eyes :" continued the harbor master. "A
pretty thing, upon my word
beg pardon, sir" said one of the men
"p'raps she's in sight now sir--if We was to
pull off in the boat round the Bluff head, sir"
What's the good of that growled the
harbor- master.
"O'ny praps we might she what course
she was a-taking' and in case the Admiral
was to come round, we could say which way
she was agoin' sir"
"Oh, she's out of sight by this time, never
fear, said the harbor- master, but man the
boat, and wen see"
Away went the men to get the boat out;
and away went the harbor master and Mr..
M'Kay after them down TO the beach.
mo wonder he was so particular, the ras-
cal? Why every Ohe of those Kaffirs will
fetch five hundred dollars in America. He's
done very fair days work, and no mistake,
Mr.. MKay."
Yes; and never paid me for the hire of
my boats" dolefully responded the agent
and lent the scoundrel my horse too !"
"Well, it's no use now. But where our
senses were, Mr. MKay, to be Outwitted like
that, l can't think. shall hear of this again.
| If only the Admiral would cruise round here,
we might catch 'em now; but We shant see
him for months, maybe. It's about the deep
est move that ever heard of.
BY this time the boat was out and manned,
and hearty pull took them TO the Bluff head
in half an hour; but no sign of the SLAYER
was to be seen.
The next day a southern bound brig drop
ped anchor in the outer bay and sent ashore
| for some fresh meat The harbor- master
went off TO her, and gave the captain letter
to deliver to the Admiral if he fell in with
him. or to leave at the Cape If he did not.
Although the letter reached the Admiral with
in week, and he put off to sea on the chance
of falling in with some news of the Southern
Cross, no more was ever heard of that Yankee
whaler- ChdmbersS JOurRdl
Some men will fish for compliments in very
dirty water.
1t isn't right to complain of those who use
great quantities of cologne, as some people
need more than Others
A dead snake can be brought to life with a
pint of whiskey. You drink the whiskey, and
then look at the snake.
Luck is good thing, but pluck is better
thing One has to wait for luck, but pluck is
always ready to go ahead.
1t is good thing to make a sacrifice for a
friend and it is also good thing TO conceal
| the effort made in making the sacrifice.