The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-08-25

say, didn't you notice anything peculiar
about the old 'oman?"
"Why, Dan, you seem greatly interest
ed about her"
$50 am commodore, an so ! am about
the coffin, too. Wouldn't it be we'll for
you and to overhaul it ?"
"PshaW you're as scared as a child in
gTayeyardm "
"No, not bit. just hark 4 bit That
oman amt no oman
The commodore pronounced the name
OF his satanic majesty in the most en-
| phatic manner.
"lts the truth, commodore i purtend-
ed there was a spider on her hair, and |
rubbed my hand agin her face. BY Sam
Hides if it wasn't as rough and bearded
rs Il holy stone. You see, she told me as
how I'd LET the boom ibe if | didn't look
out | knOWed there was no 0man there
and 50 | tried her. Call somebody to the
| wheel and lets 60 and look at the cottin.'
The commodore was WondcrstruCk by
what he had heard, but, with a calm
presence of mind that made him what he
was he set coolly to thinking. In q few
minutes he called one Of the men aft to
relieve Carter, and then went down to
look after his passenger. The latter had
| turned in and seemed 10 b6 sleeping.
| Turncrretulned and took Carter one-side.
mo noise now Carter; follow me as
though nothing had happened"
"Sartin'
he two approached the main hatch
and stopped to raise it, when Dams hand
touched a small ball that seemed to have
been pinned up under the break of the
hatch
"It's ball of tWine," said he.
"DOn't touch it, but run and get a Ian
tenn" replied Tucker
Carter sprang to obey, and when he
returned a number of the men had gath
cred about the spot. The hatch was
raised. and the commodore carefully
picked up the ball Of tWinc and found
that it was made fast to something be-
low. He descended to the hold, and
there he found that the tWne ran in be
meath the lid of the coffin. He had no
doubt in his mind now that there was
mischief boxed up below, and sent Carter
for something that might answer for a
screW-driyer. The man soon returned
with a stout knife, and the commodore
set to work He worked very carefully,
keeping a bright lookout for the string.
At length the screws were out and the
lid very carefully lifted from its place.
"Great God IN heaven :" burst from the
lips Of the commodore.
"By sam IIyde" " dropped like a thun-
| der-ciap from the tongue Of young Dan.
"God bless You, Dan y said the COM
modorc.
II know'd it, muttcrcd Dan.
| The two men stood for moment and
gazcd into the coffin. There was no dead
man there, but in place thereof was ma
terials ior the death Of a score. The
coffin was filled with gunpoWdcr and
pitch wood, upon a light framework in
the centre were arranged four pistols, I'LL
cooked. and the string entering the coffin
from without communicated with the
| triggers Of each.
The first movement Of the commodore
was to call for water, and when it was
| brought he dashed three or four buckets
| full into the internal c0ntriyance and
then he bTeathed more freely
"No. no, he uttered, rs he lcaped
from the hold "No, no-my men. DO
nothing ra~hly: let me 90 into the cabin
| first"
Commodore Tucker strobe into the
| cabin, walked up to the bunk where his
| passenger lay, and grasping hold Of the
| female dress he dragged its Wearcr out
upon the floor There was sharp resis-
| tancc, and the passenger drew 4 pistol,
but it was quickly knocked away-the
| Gown was torn Off, and man came forth
from the remnants Of calico and linen.
/ The fellow was assured that his whole
/ ! 4 Ion. !,
he owned that it had been his plan to
| turn out in the course Of the night and
get hold of the ball of twine, then he in
tended to have gone aft carefully un-
winding the string as he went along:
! then to have got into the boat, cut the
| falls, and us the boat fell into the water
he would have pulled smarty upon the
| tNine.
and think you know he continued,
with il wicked look, ''what would have
followed. All can say is that I'm sorry
didn't do it"
1t was with much difficulty that the
commodore prevented his men from kill
ING the villain on the spot He proved
to be one of the enemy's officers, and he
was to have q heavy reward if he sue
ceeded in destroying the Commodore and
his crew.
The prisoner was carried on deck and
/ lasned to the main rigging.
'What horrible death that villain
meant for us" uttered Carter.
"Nes, he did, said Tucker with a
shudder.
''IIe belongs to the same gang that's
been a robbin' and burnin' the poor folks
houses on the eastern coast said one Of
| the men.
"Nes, said the commodore with ner
v0us twitch of the muscles about his
mouth.
A bitter curse from the prisoner now
broke on the air and with clencled fist
the commodore went below.
In the morning, when Tucker came on
deck Seguin was in sight upon the star
board bow, but when he looked for the
| prisoner he was gone.
''Carter, where's the villain | lashcd
here last night ~
'1'm sure | don't know where he is,
commodore. Perhaps he jumped over
| board"
The old commodore looked sternly in
Carters eyes, and he saw q twinkle Of
satisfaction cleaning there. He hesltat-
ed a moment-then he turned away and
muttered to himself
"Well, WE'LL can't blame them. If
the murderous Villains gone to death he's
only met a fate which he deserved.'
THE KENNEBEC SCHOONER or THE ENGLISHMAN
Al FAULT.
Any one who lived near the kennebec
during the last war with great Britain,
cannot fail to remember the excitement
and anxiety Of the inhabitants of kenne
bee and Lincoln counties, when the river
was blockaded by the British. In many
Of the towns on the banks Of the river
towns which owed much of their means
of sustenance to their maritime trade
the people were for some time actually
Strengthened for want of food as nothing