The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-07-28
old and there he found that the Irvine ran

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 mis-
chief boxed up below, and sent Carter for
something that might answer for q screw
driver. The man soon returned with q
stout knife, and the commodore set to work.
He worked very carefully, however, ut the
same time keeping bright lookout for the
string.
lid very carefully lifted from its place.
Great God in heaven| burst from the
lips of the commodore.
'"By Sam Hyde!" dropped like a thunder
clap from the tongue Of young Dan.
"Gol bless you, Danv said the com.
modore.
II know'dit!" uttered Dan.
The two stood for a moment and gazed
into the coffin. There was no dead man
there, but in place thereof there was ma
tertal for the death Of score. The cof-
fin was filled with gunpowder and pitch
wood; upon light framework in the
center were armged four pistols, all cooked,
and the string entering the coffin from with
ont communicated With the trigger Of each.
The first movement of the commodore
was to call for water, and when it was
brought he dashed three or four tckets-
full into the Internal continuance. and
then he breathed more freely.
mo, no." he uttered, as he leaped
from the hold, "No-no-my men. Do
nothing rashly. Let me 20 into the cabin
first. You may follow me-"
Commodore Tucker strobe into the cabin
walked up to the bunk where the passenger
lay, and, grasping hold of the female
dress, he dragged the wearer out upon the
hoor. There was sharp resistance, and
the passenger drew pistol, but it was
quickly knocked away-the gown was
torn of, and the man came orth from the
remnants Of calico and linen.
The fellow was assured that his whole
plot was 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 Irvine, which he had left in convenient
place; then he intended to 60 aft, carefully
unwindng the string as he went along;theh
to have got in 10 boat, cut the falls. and as
the boat fell into the water he would have
pulled smartly upon the twiue.
And think you know" he continued.
with wicked look, what would have fol-
lowed. Il shouldn't have been noticed in
the'fuss-1'd have got out of the way with
the boat, and you'd all have been in the
next world in short order. And all that
can say is that I'm sorry didn't do it,"
It was with much diffic ulty that the CON-
modore prevented his men from killing the
william on the spot. He proved to be one
of the enemy's officers, and he was to have
heavy reward if he succeeded in destroy
ing the commodore and his crew.
The prisoner was carried on deck and
dashed to the main rigging, where he was
told to remain until the vessel got into port
what horrid death that william meant
for us, uttered Carter.
eyes, he did, said Tucker, with shud-
der.
He belongs to the same gang that's been
Robin and hurtin' the poor folks houses
on the eastern coast" said one of the men.
'Yes, said the commodore, with a nerv-
Gus witch of the muscles Of the month
A bitter curse from the prisoner now
broke on the air, and with clenched fist
the commodore went below.
In the morning when Tucker came on
deck, Seguin was in sight upon tbs star
board bow, but when he looked for the
prisoner he was gone.
Garter, where's the villain dashed here
here last night.
I'm sure don't know where he is,
commodore. Perhaps he jumped over-
board"
1Ae OH commodore looked steInly IN
Carter's eyes, and he saw a twinkle of
satisfaction cleaning there. He hesitated
for monent-then he turned away and
muttered to him self:
We'll, WE'LL can't blame them. If the
murderous villains gone to his death he's
only met a fate which he richly deserved.
Better fal be it for him than my noble
crew were all now in the oceans cold
grave"