The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-08-31

mans eyes ran over the schooner's
deck with a strange quickness, and
Carter eyed her very sharply. Soon
she went to the taffrail and looked
over at the stern boat, and then she
came back and stood by the binnacle
again.
Look out, or you'll jibe the
boom," uttered the passenger.
Carter started, and found that the
main sail was shivering. He gave
the helm a couple of spokes aport,
and then cast his eyes again upon the
woman, whose features were lighted
by the pinnacle lamp.
"Thank'ee ma am, said,Dan. 'Ha
hold on-why bless my soul, there's
a big spider right on your hair. No
NOT there. Here-I'll-Ugh. :"
This last ejaculation Dan made
as he seemed to pull something
from the woman's hair, which he
threw upon the deck with the Ugh"
above mentioned
Shortly after the passenger went
below, and ere longTucker came on
deck.
Commodore, said Carter, with a
remarkable degree of earnestncss in
his manner, ''is the women turned
in?"
II rather think so, said Tucker,
looking at the com mpass. Look out,
look out, Carter Why, man alive,
you're two points to the southland
of your course.
BLOW me, so l am" said the
man, bringing the helm smartly
aport. "But say, did't you notice
anything peculiar about the old
woman"
"Why. man, you seem greatly in
terested about her"
80 l am, commodore, an SO | am
about the coffin, too. Wouldn't it
be well for you and ! to overhaul
it"
"Pshawl you're as scared as a
child in graveyard !"
"Nc, not a bit. Just bark a bit. |
That woman amt no woman"
The commodore pronounced the |
name of his satanic majesty in the
most emphatic manner"
"It's the truth commodore can
swear to it. l purtended there was
a spider on her hair, and | rubbed
my hand agin her face. BY Sam
Hyde, if he wasn't as rough and |
bearded as holy-stone. You see
she told me as how I'd let the boom |
iibe if / didn't look out. ! knowed |
as there wasn't no woman there, and |
so / tried her. Call somebody at the
wheel, and lets 90 and look at the
coffin"
The commodore was wonderstruck
by what he had heard, but with a
calm presence of mind that made |
him what he was, he sat coolly to
thinking. In few minutes he call
ed one Of the men aft to relieve Car
ter. and then he went down to look |
after his passenger. The latter had |
turned in and seemed to be sleeping.
Tucker returned and took Carter to
one side.
"No noise, 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 after break of the
hatch.
"It's ball of twine," said he
Don't touch it, but run and get a
lantern" said Tucker.
Carter sprang to obey, and when
he returned number of the men
had gathered about the spot. The
hatch was raised, and the commo-
dore carefully picked up the ball of
twine and found that it was made
fast to something below. He de-
scended to the hold and there he
found that the twine ran in between
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 a stout
knife, and the commodore set to
work. He worked very carefully,
however, at the same time 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 p burst
from the lips of the commodore.
by Sam Hyde." dropped like a
thunder clap from the tongue of old
Dan.
God bless you, Dan," said the
commodore.
Il know'd it !" said Dan.
The two men stood for moment
and gazed into the coffin. There was
no dead man there, but in place
thereof there was material for the
death of score. The coffin was
filed with gun powder and pitch
wood; upon a light framework in
the centre were arranged four pis-
tolls, all cooked and the string en-
tering the coffin from without COM
municated with the trigger of
each.
The first movement of the COM
modore was to call for water, and
when it was brought he dashed 8 or
4 bucketfuls into the internal con-
trivance, and then he breathed more
freely. |