The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-17

you re two points e the south ard Of
your course
BLOW me! SO am said the man,
bringing III the helm smartly aport.
ssBuf say. didn't you notice any thing
peculiar about the old 'oman?n
why, DAN, You seem greatly inter-
ested about her. -
$50 / am. Commodore. an so I am
about the coffin, too. Wouldn't it ba
well for you and / to overhaul it?''
aPshaw! you're as scared as child
in . graveyard
"No, not bit. lust bark o bit
That oman amt no 'oman.n
The Commodore pronounced the
name OF his satanic majesty in the most
emphatic manner.
sa !. It's the truth, CommodoreI pur-
tended there was spider on her hair,
By Sam Hyde. if it wasn't as rough and
bearded as a lloly-stone. You see. she
told me as how I'd let the boom iibe If
I didn't look out. knowed there was
no 'oman there. and SO I tried her.
Call somebody to the wheel. and let's
go and look ut thai coffin.o
The Commodore was thunderstruck
by what he had heard, but, with a calm
presence of mind that made him what
he was, he set coolly to thinking. In
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 to be
sleeping. Turner returned, and took
Carter one side.
mo noise, now, Carter; follow me,
as though nothing had happened"
'.Sartin."
The two approached the main hatch,
and stopped to raise it, when Dams
hand touched small ball that seemed
to have been pinned up under the
break of the hatch.
'4It's bali of twine,n said he.
Don't touch it, but run and get
lantern" replied tucker. 81
Carter sprang to obey, and when he
returned a number of the men had
gathered about the spot, The hatch
was raised, and the Commodore care
fully picked up the ball of Irvine, aud
found that it was made fast to some
thing below. He descended to the
hold, and there he found that the Irvine
ran in beneath 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-driver. The
man soon returned with stout knife,
and the Commodore set to work. He
worked very carefully. keeping bright
lookout for the string.
At length the screws were out, and
the lid very carefully lifted from its
place.
.'Great Heavenr' burst from the lips
of the Commodore.
s'By Sam HYDE" dropped like a
thunderclap from the tongue of young
Dan.
God bless you, Danr' said theCom-
modore.
al know'd it." muttered Dan.
The two men stood for moment
and gazed into the coffin. There was
no dead man there, but in place there
of was material for the death of a score.
The coffin was filed with gunpowder
and pitchwood upon light frame
work in the centre were arranged four
pistols, all cooked, and the string en-
tering the coffin from without commu-
nicated with the triggers of each.
The first movement of the Commo-
dore was to call for water, and when
it was brought he dashed three or
four bucketfuls into the Internal con-
trivance, and then he breathed more
freely. %
mo, no." he uttered, as he leaped
from the hold. mo, no, my men. Do
nothing rashly; let me go into the cabin
first" s
Commodore Tucker strobe into the
cabin walking up TO the bunk where
his passenger lay, and grasping hold
of the female dress, he dragged its
wearer out upon the floor. There was
sharp resistance, and the passenger
drew q pistol, but it was quickly
knocked away; the gown came forth
from the remnants of calico and linen.
The fellow was assured that his whole
plot had been discovered, and at length
he owned that it had been his plan to
turn out in the course of the night and
get hold of the bali of Irvine then he
intended to have gone aft, carefully
unwinding the string rs he went along,
then to have got into the boat, cut the
falls, and, as the boat llinto the wa
ter, he would have pulled smartly up
on the Irvine. .ftrf svfs
'.And think you know he con-
tirued, with a wicked look, s.what
would have followed. All / can say is
that I'm sorry I didn't do it,
1t was with much difficulty that the
Commodore prevented his men from
killing the villain on the spot. He
proved TO be one of the enemy's off,
GERS, and he was to have a heavy re-
ward if he succeeded in destroying the
Commodore and his crew.
The prisoner was carried on deck,
and dashed to the main-rigging.
t.What horrid death that villain
meant for usr' uttered Carter.
Yes, he did," said Tucker, with o
shudder.
HE belongs to the same gang that's
been D. Robin and burnin' the poor
folks houses on the eastern coast" said
one of the men.
Yes said the Commodore, with
q nervous twitch of the muscles about
his mouth.
A bitter curse from the prisoner now
broke on the air, and with cienched fist
the Commodore went below.
In the morning, when Tucker came
on deck. Seguin was in sight upon the
starboard bow but when he looked for
the prisoner he was gone.
Garter, where's the villain dashed
here last nightP"
..rm sure don't know where he is
Commodore Perhaps he jumped over
board.n ,a
The old Commodore looked sternly
IN Carriers eyes, and he saw twinkle
OF satisfaction cleaning there. he
hesitated moment; then he turned
away. and muttered to himself y
swell, well, can't blame them. III
the murderous villain has gone to his
death. he's only met fate which he de-