The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-04-26


enough for two to pass.
One night about eleven, after al
the other passengers had retired,
had been walking the after dec
with the captain, enjoying a quie
cigar. The moon shone brightly
and the scene was SO captivating
that l fingered on deck to observe
after had biddden the captain goo,
night. / sat down between one @
the small boats and the railing, an,
watched the cloudless heavens, tn
distant shore, and the long swell O
the sun, Illuminated by a broa,
pathway of light. / could see tn
vigilant captain pacing the decl
from me and the sailors from thi
watch | had seen some minutes be
| fore about the forward ladder. TIL,
sound ofsubdued voices from tn,
other side of the boat talking hur
riedly in French. My heart almos
stopped its motion as these word,
came into my ears (:
II might shoot him from here"
NAY, you fool the report woulG
rouse them below, and they nigh
Ecome and give us trouble"
But they are not armed?"
Half of them have pistols, ant
that American with the beard (my
self has one of those toys of The
friends. What do you call it?-si1
pistols in one. And he always car
ries it about with him, too. Lool
out for him."
"Well, but"
Listen ! Go you back and serve
out the hkshdy to the men ; DOM
spare il. III 60 forward and guard
the head of the stairs. Presently
the captain-may the fiend seize
him for those handouts he clapped
on me Tuesdayl-will see and come
to order me forward. Then"
But the hem ?"
Don't you see he's lashed it
The course is straight one all night
He comes to order me forward, and
I'll knife him. Right through his
heart, Jacques-ha Then l yell
for signal. You hurry forward
with the fellows, and we have the
deck. As the milords come by, we
seize them and throw them astern
Ha, ha, but that will be fine"
"And the women and children
ooh, they'll fare as it happens
Send them over, too. But there is
Conner and the mulatto; they are
impatient. Go then, quickly, and
fire them with the brandy, and be
ready to rush aft at my signal"
Crouching close to the side of the
boat to avoid discovery, l heard the
sound OF stealthy feet departing.
Perhaps two minutes elapsed, and
then the figure OF the little French
man whom the consul had suspect
ed of being the spy of a secret order,
stole aft to the stairway with a
stealthy step.
NY heart gave great bound, for
| knew the work that | must now
do. Thank heaven, / was pre-
pared | drew my revolver from my
pocket, cooked it, and bent my eye
on the Frenchman. He stood lean
ing carelessly on the baluster thatin.
closed the head of the stair, but he
was really watching the captain In
tentlv. His back was turned to me,
so that l remained undiscovered.
The captain turned about in his
walk, and saw him standing there.
Who's that?" he sharply de-
manded, approaching him.
The maa made no answer.
Pierre" said the captain, walk
ing rapidly towards him, and recog-
nizing him. whats wanted ?"
The man placed his hand behind
him, and from the back of his jacket
he half drew a long, slender knife
only half drew it, for a bullet from
my pisto, struck him in the neck,
and he fell dead down stairs.
The captain started back at the
report. and his own revolver was in
stantly in his hand. With spring
I was at his side.
"Mutiny?" he whispered, compre-
hending the situation at once.
Yes" l replied; and here they
Gomez
Steady" said the brave fellow.
"Don't miss a man. Well lre 0y
turns. There take thatw
Aswarm of figures now came rash
ing aft, headed by the mulatto, tow
ering head and shoulders above the
others, rnd brandishing a huge knife.
At the captains first shot he threw
up his arms and fell at full length
over the rail, where his great body
hung quivering an instant, and then
fell with loud splash into the sea.
l fred again and broke the arm OF
another Of the ruffians, who ran for
ward bowling with pain. The rest
stopped, d:smayed at the pnexpect-
ed and bloody reception. Let 'em
have it now, both tog-ther" Cryder
shouted.
We each fred twice more, the shots
killing three more outright, and
wounding another, when the mutin-
eers beat basty retreat forward.
Throw down your knives" the
captain cried, following them W
sharply, and covering the nea1Esi
one with his pistol. ! kept cloae q
his side. taking rood aim 6 anoth.