The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1880-11-25

Ill
ternGon about three o'clock n gale
sprung mp, which required all hands
to reef topsails. The yards were
soon manued, ani went aloft nv.
se,f, as is generally the custom when
all han Is are called.
While 4 was passing the weather
earring aud taking the last turn.
bearl Shading (bnc of the foremost
hands, who wa- knotting reef-point
next TO me- ask
Where is Barkeri I don't see
him on the yard.
| loDkei over the line Of men, and
sure enough he wasn't there. tel.
YOU, | wasn't long in getting on
deck'snl stating my suspicious 90
tho Captain. We at once rushed
forward, followed by several of the
guard, and just as we reached tho
f'rocastle who shonl1 make his ap
pearance but Barker.
The old man yelel at him (:
"What aro yon doing down there Z
Speak up ! What nro You shirking
below for when all hands were cllloi
for duty Z
~ was sick, growls1 tho sc)un-
drel, "and could not 20 alous."
You are lying, you villain ! an1
you know it, sail the skipper, III
be bound yon are mp toshm deviltry.
Mr.. Steeraway, jnst keep your eye
on him TIL ] cIn, back"
Aye, aye, sir - Irospouded.
By this time all hauls hal come
down from alOft.
The Captain soon returned anl
stated that he cuull fad nothing
ont of tho way, but | WAS convinced
in my own ninl that something
WAS out of the way. So the ol man
gave me leave TO - below and sltis-
fy myself 1 could hnl nothing,
hut at tho same time was far from
being satisfied askej WAY was
Barker, OF al others, down below /!
Hu told lhe crew Of olr Fuspic Ons
aud ordered them 10 kcep lookout
On Barser's mOyrmont4.
IA the night came on the gunrl
WAS relieve ! aul ctatiDnei by the
sergeant - be on tue alert /, seem
ell Kin ! of qnrer to mo thit the cpu-
vict- remained 80 qu!st, for bayou | u
low conversation tneir voices werc
scarcely nIllble. bat / Thought af.
terward that probably they INTENDED
10 got n goo | nj ghts rcst, aud pre-.
ferred tD Keep sll,l.
lay awlto some time after turn
ing ia bat ny eyes liW,llv grew
heAyy, aal | was IN the bad o!
droams away If III Bos;ln My
mother came mp 10 NV room vas
Sill ia my lretnsJt) tlGk in the
usl. clothes. felt her gentle touch
On the blauScts but why dli ellie
place her hand over my mouth ! |
opened my eyes 10 sea ths rei4pn.
The glittering blade Of II shenths
knie WAS held before tuem Iknew
the reason then piclty qnick, | as
slro yon, for Barker held tt
"NoS, Steeraway. slys he, lyon
just keep quiet, aud YOU won't be-
hart. Opeu yonr mouth aud You
won't know what hunt you
| knew that my movement on my
part woull be my death warrant.
""ill You keep Iniot If l take my
hani from yonr mpntn 2
1 nol.lol my bead III tha aNlrmI-
tive anl MS htul HaI remJvni.
Now, S;ecrGway' says he, ii am
going to pnta little stopper Ia yonr
mouth. | won't hurt you, for | know
how to do those Things,
He evidently dil, Tor | was very
soon bound hall aul foIt, gag
placed IN my month and your hum.
Lle servant was rendered IA useless
n dead man. The convict then
left me aud disappeared. | had not
been alone more thau ten minutes
when | heard a voice near the berth
say. "All right"
In moment moro light draft of
mir entered my stateroon, aud it
snelt strongly of pent-up air--a sort
Dl convict odor, 30 to speak
The bnlkneaI hal been remove
ini the cioil WAS soon croYlDi
with prisoners. Not sound did
they make, for their irons were off,
and tho thought dashed quickly mp,
On me, our ship is IN their hands,
may the Lord have mercy on our
crew.
Silently they won't up tho cabin
stairs then | heard a quick rushiny
sound. shouts, yells, curses, then u
few shots in quick succession ;
several splashes near my cabin d1al
light more shouts AMI yells.
"Down with them Now or new
er!"
mo Van Diemau's for US, Down
with them
In vain heard several voices
pleading for mercy. Finally the
shouts and yells ceased, then tue
quick. hurriel tramp of feet over
head. Presently step descenl l4
the stairs, the rope binding me was
cut, the gag torn from my m,ath,
and u gruii voice said
Come, Steera way, yon are want
Oh on deck Lveif, NV.
Icams to the conclusion that it
was useless to deliberate, aud
obeyed the order ut once. IL WAS