The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-12-21

SIDE.
"No noise now, Carter follow me
as though nothing happened"
"sartin."
The two approached the main
hatch and stopped to raise it, when
Dams hand touched a small ball that
seemed TO have been pinned up un.
der the after break of the hatch. w
ITS a ball of twine,a said he.
Don't touch it, but run and get a
lantern" replied Tucker.
Carter sprang to obey, and when
he returned a 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 twas made
fast % spmetking balalS 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 screw.driver. The man
soon returned with q stout knife. and
the Commodore set to work. He
worked very careful, keeping a bright
lookout for the string. %
At Atlength the screws were out, and
the lid very carefully lifted from its
place.
"Great God in heavensm burst from
the lips Of the Commodore.
"By Sam Hydel" dropped like a
thuuder.clap from the tongue of
young Dan. ut
"God bless you, Damp said the
Commodore. @
81 know'd itl' uttered Dan
The two men stood for moment
and gazed into the coffin. There
was no dead man there, but in place
thereof was material for the death of
a score. The coffin was filled with
gun powder and pitchwood; upon a
light framework in the center were
arranged four pistols, all cooked, and
the string entering the coffin from
without communicated with the trig.
ger of each. al loau.
The first movement Of the Commo.
dore was to call for water, and when
it was brought he dashed three or
four buckets full into the internal
contrivance, and then lie breathed
more freely.
"No, no. he uttered, as he leaped
from the hold. mo, no, my men; do
nothing rashly, ''Let me go into 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 the
wearer out upon the floor. There
was a sharp resistance, and the pas
senger drew pistol, but it was
quickly knocked awqy-the gown
was torn off, and a man came forth
from the remnantsof calico and linen,
The fellow was assured that his
whole plot had been discovered, and
at length he owned that it had been
his plan to turn out during the course
Of the night and get hold of the ball
of twine; then he intended to have
gone aft, carefully unwinding 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
Irvine.
"And l think you know" he con-
tinued, with a wicked look, "what
would have followed. All can say
is that I'm sorry didn't do it,"
1t was with much difficulty that
the Commodore prevented his men
from killing the villain on the spot.
He proved to be one of the enemy's
officers, and was to have heavy re.
ward if he succeeded in destroying
the Commodore and his crew.
The prisoner was carried on deck
and lashed to the main rigging.
"What a horrid death that villain
meant for u.s." uttered Carter.
"Yes, he did," said Tucker with a
shudder.
"He belongs TO the same gang that's
been a robin and burnin' the poor
folks houses on the eastern coast