The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-09-07

woman's eyes ran over the schooners
deck with a strange quickness, and
Carter eyed her very sharply. Soon
she went to the tail'rail, and then she
came and stood by the pinnacle again.
look out, or you'll jibe the BOOM"
uttered the passenger.
Carter started, and found that the
mainsail was shivering. lie gave the
helm a couple of spokes aport, and then
cast his eyes again upon the woman.
"Thank'e, ma am" said Dan. "Ha,
hold on-why, bless my soul, there's
biz spider on your hair. No-not
there. Here--Tllugh"'
The 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 men
toned.
Shortly after the passenger went be-
low, and ere long Tucker came on
deck.
Commodore" said Carter, with a
remarkable degree OF earnestness in his
manner, ''is the oman turned inP'
81 rather think So" said Tucker,
looking at the compass. 'Look out,
look out, Carter! Why, man alive,
you're two points to the southland OF
your course.
elbow me! so l am" said the man,
bringing in the helm smarlly aport
"Bul say, didn't you notice any thing
peculiar about the old 'omanp"
"Why, Dan. you seem greatly inter-
ested about her."
$50 | am, Commodore. an so | am
about the coffin, too. Wouldn't it DO
well for you and to overhaul itP"
"Pshaw! you're as scared rs Ii child
in a graycyard"
mo, not bit. just bark bit,
That oman amt no oman"
The Commodore pronounced the
name of his satanic majesty in the most
emphatic manner.
ats the truth, Commodore pur-
tended there was q spider on her hair,
and rubbed my hand agin' her face.
BY Sam Hyde, if it wasn't as rough and
bearded as holy-stone. You see, she
told me as how I'd let the boom jibe if
| didn't look out. knowed there was
no oman there, and so | tried her.
Call somebody to the wheel, and let's
90 and look at that 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 II
few minutes he called one of the men
aft to relieve Carter, and then went
down to look after his passenger. The
latter hal 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 49,,
'.Itss q ball q twine,n said ii6. ~
y s.Isan't touch ii, but funsand get a
lantern, ',srsplied tucker. "
Carter sprang to obey, and when he
returned number of the men had
gathered about the spot. The hatch
was raised, and the Commodore care
fully picked up the ball of Irvine, and
found that it was made fast to some
thing below. He descended to the
hold, and there he found that the Irvine
ran in bencnt 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 screw-driver. The
man soon returned with stout knife,
and the Commodore set to work, He
worked very carefully, keeping a 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.
"By Sam HYDE" dropped like
thunderclap from the tongue of young
Dan.
God bless you, DAMP said theCom-
modore.
al know'd it," muttered Dan.
The two men stood for moment
and gazed into tho 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 Fleetwood upon u light frame
work in the centre were arranged four
pistols, all cooked, and the string en-
tering the coffin from without conYihu-
nicatod 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.
"No, no." he uttered, as no leaped
from the hold. mo, no. my men. Do
nothing rashly; let me gointo the cabin
first"
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 ut length
he owned that 1t had been his plan to
turn out in the course of the night and
get hold of the ball OF Irvine then he