Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-10
using the top of the empty water cask for

came with the morning! Every passenger
on board possessing jewelry had been
robbed during the night
The three old gentlemen, the young
married couples and the kind-hearted
brother and sister found themselves minus
every article of iewelry that they had
possessed. Even the grumbling old gen.
tleman had lost his gold snuff box.
There was no keeping matters quiet
this time. The thief must be traced and
brought to justice. What was the wisest
mode of procedure? What would Mr..
Moore suggestP
II would suggest. though most reluc.
tantly," said Mr.. Moore, that every
fully searched"
To this proposition we unanimously
agreed.
This" he continued. "must be most
humiliating to the feelings of your'crew,
Captain, and, therefore. in common fair
ness to them, as our fellowmen, let me
suggest that every passenger and every
passengers luggage be also thoroughly
searched"
A little hesitation on the part of one or
two of the passengers was demonstrated
before acceding to this last proposal, but
our pleasant passenger soon contrived to
bring those who at first demurred to his
way of thinking.
"Of course" he said, "there is not a
passenger on board who is not above sus-
picion, yet, in Justice to the feelings of
the crew, it is, in my humble opinion, the
lease we can do"
This delicacy of feeling and this thought
fulness on the part of Reginald Moore
rendered him, if possible, more admirable
and praiseworthy in our eyes than ever.
Many of the crew objected strongly to
this mode of procedure, but all were COM
PEELED to submit. The old boatswain was
furious with indignation and vowed that
if it cost him his life he would trace the
thief who had caused him to be searched
like a common pickpocket. Even the
pleasant passenger failed to soothe his
sense of injury.
Well, a thorough search was made by
myself, in com pany with the kind hearted
old gentleman and his sister. Every ones
traps were ransacked from top to bottom,
but without success.
Further search was useless. What was
to be done?
That night, all having been made snug,
and the passengers having turned in. none
of them, as you imagine, in very fine
spirits, went on deck, it being what We
call at sea. the captains watch"
turned in about four O'Clock in the
morning, the second officer then coming
on duty. My cabin was amdships and on
deck, and from window therein l could
command view Of the afterdeck of the
ship.
Somehow or other could not rest one
atom; so, dressing myself, determined
upon sitting up and smoking. l drew
aside the blind of the window | have
mentioned and looked out.
1t was just the gray light OF early
morning, and there was q stiffish breeze
blowing. To my surprise l beheld Regi-
maid Moore on the deck.
was about to open my cabin door and
invite him to join me in my restlessness,
when the peculiar nature of his proceed.
ings riveted my attention. He looked
around on all sides, as if afraid of attract
ing attention.
Then suddenly, as if assured the coast
was clear, he made rapidly toward the
empty water cask. on which he was ac-
customed to manufacture his model of the
Janet's Pride. Once more glancing eau
tiously about him, he then applied his
hands to the top of the cask, and with q
rapid movement lifted half of the top
bodily off.
My astonishment and my excitement
were intense. Another hasty glance
round, and he plunged his band 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 n hasty survey, and was
about to make another dive into this
strange receptacle for hidden goods, when
he suddenly withdrew, having, with as
tonishing rapidity. replaced the top of the
cask In another moment the cause of
his alarm was made apparent, as couple
of sailors passed him on their way to re-
| lieve the men at the wheel.
When all WAS ag lin quiet for an instant
he seemed determined to at once return to
the cask, and no doubt withdraw some-
thing more that the interruption had pre-
vented him from Withdrawing at 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 ho disappeared when
another figure stealthily crossing the deck,
met my anxious observation. 1t was the
boatswain.
| | saw him glance toward the stairs down
which Reginald Moore had taken his de-
parture. He then made direct for the
water caske. 1t was now obvious to me
that the old boatswain had been watching
the pleasant passenger.
| Just as he reached the water cask
| 1. tb., el,
ward, necessitating the boatswain to hold
on by the ropes SO rs to keep his footing,
and precisely at the same moment Regi-
nald Moore appeared at the top of the
cabin stairs. | shall never forget the
scene.
The instant the ship had steadied her.
self the boatSwain commenced his exami-
nation of the water-cask. For moment
only Moore stood looking at him with as
evil an expression on his face as ever be-
held.
With one bound he was upon the boats
vain before he could turn to protect him
self, waited no longer, but flung open
the door Of my cabin in an instant, and in
another was to the rescue, and in few
moments we had our pleasant passenger
in irons.
So, you see, he was the thief, after all,
hiding his knavery under the pleasantest
exterior ever knew man 10 possess.
The manner in which he had manufacture
ed the top of that water-cask was the
most finished and ingenious piece of
carpentry have 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 jewelry
he had stolen.
You may easily imagine the surprise
evinced by our passengers on discovering
that the thief was the man for whom each
and every one entertained such regard and
even affection.
At the expiration of three days from the
date of the pleasant passengers detection
we landed in Melbourne, where duty COM
PEELED me to hand him over to the police;
but as no one cared to remain in that town
for the purpose of prosecuting him. he
was summarily dealt with. The presid-
ing magistrate sentenced him to six
|