Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-09-06

about the old oman :"
"Why, Dan, you seem greatly inter
ested about her.
. So am, Commodore, an so | an
about the coffin. too. Wouldn't it be wei
for you and TO overhaul it y
"Pshaw, you're as scared as chil'
in graveyard ~
"Nc, not bit Just hark bit. Tha
oman amt no oman"
The Commodore pronounced the name
Of his satanic majesty in the most EN-
phatic manner.
Its the truth, Commodore pur.
tended there was spider on her hair,
and rubbed my hand agin her face. b!
Sam Hides. if it wasn't as rough anc
bearded as a holy stone. You see, she
told me as how I'd let the boom jibe If
didn't look out. | knowed there was nc
oman there, and tried her. Call some
/ body to the wheel and let's go and look
at the coffin
The Commodore was wonderstruck by
wha, he had heard, but, with 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 Garter, and ,hen went down
to look after his passenger. The
latter had turned in and seemed 10 be
/ sleepinc. Turner returned and took Car
ter one side.
No 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.
Its a ball Of twine, said he.
Don't touch it, but run and get Ian
tern" replied Tucker.
Carter sprang 10 obey, and when he
returned a number of the men had gath
cred about the SPOT, The hatch was
raised, and the Commodore carefully pick-
ed up the ball Of twine and found that 1t
was made fas, to something below. He
descended to the hold. and there he found
that the twinc 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 Il screwdriyer. The man
soon returned with a 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 was very carefully lifted from It's
place.
'Grca, God in heaven" burst from the
/ lips Of the Commodore.
BY Sam Hyde" dropped like a
! thunder-clap from the tongue Of young
Dan.
God bless you, Dam" said the Com
modore.
Il know'd il" 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 for the death Of score. The cof-
fin was filed with gunpowder and pitch
wood. upon light framework in the
centre were arranged four pistols, all
cooked, and the string entering the coffin
from without communicated with the
triggers Of each.
The first movement Of the Commodore
was 10 call for water, and when It was
brought he dashed three or four buckets
full into the internal contrivance and then
he b-ea;hed more freely.
"No, no. he uttered, as he leaped
from the hold, No, no-my men. Do
nothing rashly let me go into the cabin
Commodore Tucker strobe into the cab
in, walked up TO the bunk where his pas
senger lay, and grasping hold of the fe-
male dress, he dragged its wearer out up
on the floor. There was a sharp resistance,
and the passenger drew pistol, but it
was quickly knocked away-,he gown
was torn off, and man came forth from
the remnants of calico and linen.
The fellow was assured that his whole
plan 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 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 as the boat fell into the water
he would have pulled smartly upon the
twine.
And | think you know" he continued
with a wicked look, what would have
followed. All can say is that I'm sor,
ry didn't do it."
1t was with much difficulty tina. the
Commodore prevented his men from kill
ing the villain on the spot. He proved
to be one of the enemys officers, and ht
was to have heavy reward if he succeed
ed in destroying the Commodore and hi
crew.
The prisoner was carried on deck ant
lashed to the main rigging.
What horrible death that villaiI
meant for US. uttered Carter.
"Yes, he did," said Tucker, with
shudder.
He belongs to the same gang that
been a robbin' and burnin' the poor folk
houses on the eastern coast" said one O
the men.
Eyes" said the Commodore, with a ner
vous twitch of the mucles about hi
mouth.
A bitter curse from the prisoner nov
| L..l.a 81. 4la LIZ and ,uith clannhnd e.