The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-11-11

biz spider on your hair. No-not
there. Here-rli ughr'
The last ejacul ton Dan made as he
seemed to pull something from the
woman's hair, which he threw upon
the deck with the ugh" above meu-
toned.
Shortly after the passenger went be-
low, and ere long Tucker came on
deck.
Commodore" said Carter, with q
remarkable degree of raruestneSs in his
manner, rs the oman turned in?"
Il rather think So" said Tucker,
looking at the compass. Look out,
look out, Carterl Why, man alive,
you're two points to the south ard Of
your course
BLOW mel 80 1 am" said the man.
bringing in the helm smartly apOrt.
"Buf ~ay. didn't you notice any thing
peculiar about the old 'oman?"
WHY. Dan. you seem greatly inter-
ested about herr
so | am. Commodore. an so l am
about the coffin, too. Wouldn't it be
well for you and to overhaul it?'
''Pshawi you're as scared as a child
in a gravevardr'
No, not a bit. just bark a bit
That oman amt no oman"
The Commodore pronounced the
name of his satanic majesty in the most
en- pha'ic manner.
Its the truth, Commodore pur-
tended there was a spider on her hair,
and rubbed my hand agin' her face.
BY Sam HYDE. if it wasd't rs rough and
bearded as a holv-stOne. You see, she
to d me as now I'd let the boom jibe if
l di MT look on. | knOwe there was
no oman there, and so / Iried her.
Call somebody to the wheel. and let's
90 and look at thai coffin
The Commodore was thunderstruck
by what he had heard. but with calm
presence of mind that made him what
he was, he set coOlly to thinking. In a
few minutes he called one Of the men
aft to relieve Carter. and then went
wn to look after his passenger. The
latter a turned in, and seemed to be
sleeping. Turner returned, and took
Carter one sid.
No noise, now. Carter; follow me,
as though nothing had happened"
''Sartin."
The two approached the main hatch,
and stooped to raise il, when Dams
hand touched a small ball that seemed
TO have been pinned up under the
break Of the hatcl.
''It's a ball of twine," said he.
Don't touch it. but run aud get q
lantern" replied tucker.
Carter spraug to obey. and when he
returned a mum rer of the men had
gathered alb ut the spot. TIE ha'ch
was r is T.. and the Commodore care
fu IL picked up the bill of twine and
found that it was mad fast to s5me-
y 4
hold, and there he found that 2 twine
ran in beneath the lid of the coffin. He
had no dou bt in his mind now that
there was mischief boxed up be ow.
and sent Garter for sonnet ing that
might answer for a screw-drIvrr. The
MAJ soon returned with stnul knife.
and the Commod re set to work. He
worked very carfu ". keeping a bright
lookout for The string.
At length the screws were out. and
the lid very carefully lifted from its
piure-
Great Heavenr' burst from the lips
of the Commodore.
'.Bv Sum Hvde:'' dropped like a
thunderclap from the tongue Of young
Dan.
God bless you, Danr' said theCom-
modore.
Il know'd it." muttered Dan.
The two men stood for a m oment
and gaz-d into the fin. Tuere was
no dead man there, but IN place there
of was material Z the 4 ath of i score.
The coffin was filed with gunUowder
and puchwoOd; upOl a light frame
work in the .utre were 1rra gel four
pistols. all cock q, and the string m
tering the coffi1 from without commu-
nicated with the triggers Of each.
Tne first movement of the CommO-
dore was to call for wHtnr, and when
it was brou ht he dashed three or
four bucketfuls into the Internal n
tlivauce. and then he breathed more
freely.
No, no,'' he uttered, as he leaped
from the boll. mo, no, my men. Do
nothin- rashiy; let me go in,O the cabin
first"
Commodore Tucker s,rode into the
cabin W lking up to the bunk where
his pass n Eer lav, and grasoinE hold
of he female dr IS, he dragged its
wcarer out upon the floor. There was
2 sharp resistance, and the passenger
drew a pistol. but it was quickly
knocked away; the gown came forth
from the remnants of calico and linen.
The low was assured thai his whole
plot had been discovered, and TT length
he owned that it had been S plan "a
turn out in the course of the night and
get hold of the ball of twine /; then me
intended to have gone aft, carefully
unwindiug the string as he went along,
then TO have got into the boat, cut the
falls, and, as he boat fell into the wa
ter. he w uld have pulled smartly up
on the twine.
"And / think you know" he con-
tirued, with a wicked look, "what
would have followed. All L can say is
tn 1T I'm sorry l iii mt Do it."
1t was with much d fficuty that the
Commodore prevented his men from
killing the villain on the spot. He
proved 10 be one of the enemy's ofli-
GERS, and he was to have a heavy re-
war,l if he succeeded in destro ing the
Commodore and his crew.
The prisoner was carried on deck,
and lashed to the main-ri rging.
What = horrid death that villain
meant for usr' uttered Carter
Yes, he did," said Tucker, with 9
shu ID T.
He belongs to the same gang that's
been a robbin' and burnin' tie poor
folks houses on the eastern coast. said
one of the men.
Yes" said the Commodorn, with
a nervous twitch of the muscles about
his mouth.
A bitter curse from the prisoner now
broke on the air, and with clenched fist
the Comm ,dore went below.
II the morning, when Tucker came
on deck. Seguin was in 81 ht uron the
starboard bow. but when he looked for
the prisoner he was gone.
''Clrter, where's the vill..in lashed
here last night?'
I'm sure | don't know where he is
Commodore. Perhaps he jumped over