The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-08-02

YOull ind you have got hold OF the
wrong hoss And now we understand
each other, come on deck, and give a
hand to get underwegh, for Pm going
to make sail right away, | am"
81 shall do nothing of the kind"
said, "And you had better put me off to
my own ship, the Kingtisher-'
"Now, jest you shut up. he interrupt
ed. 81 want none of your lying yarns.
| tell you plainly, that if you don't 90 to
your duty at once, I'll put you in irons
down in the lazarette until get you in
blue water; and then Tll string you up
by the thumbs to the mizzen rggin' and
lather you properly and lead you dogs
life atterward Whereas, if YOU behave
as q sensible man, | don't see why you
shouldn't be as comfortable on board this
craft as any other
He spoke and looked 50 determinedly,
that | felt he would be as good as his
word, and that my best chance would be
to appear cowed, and convinced; 50 after
a pause, said:
''lt's very hard that a man should be
dragged off and shipped whether he will
or no. But if it cannot be helped sup
pose | must make the best Of it. Only
| warn you, Captain Price, that kidnap-
ping British subject is il serious Of
fence"
ooh, guess I'll take my chance of
that" he replied.
And stepping on deck, be motioned me
to follow him.
'Hcre, Mr.. Smell" he called. ''this new
hand has got sober at last and wants
something to dO.'
"Ay, ay, sir" replied he maze, from
the forward part Of the vessel, where he
was experimenting the men who man
ned the windlass. Then coming aft, he
said "She's hove short. sir"
Every well loose and sheet home the
topsails Wen take 4 starboard cant
with this breeze. Heren to me, ''let's
see how smart you can be in i0osng that
mizzen topsail. And mind YOU no tricks
And he gave a significant look and tap
on his revolver pocket.
| would like to have strangled him but
| could only do as | was bid. AS went
up the mizzen rigging, gazed despair
ngiy at the gunbOat but could expect
DO help from her. She was too far off
for shout to be heard, even if dared
to raise one. And as to swimming, it
would have been certain death, for the
place swarmed with sharks When |
got on the yard | saw small shore skift'
| alongside amidships, which | had not
observed before. Three men came on
board from her and my blood hoiled as
| recognized the villainouS barkeeper as
one Of them
"Come on board to be paid for me-"
said to myself: "and I've been sent here
to be out Of the way"
was confirmed in this belief by seeing
them and the captain disappear down
the companion way, the latter making
warning gesture to me as he did so. He
evidently thought was completely tanned
ana only wanted a, reminder to keep me
quiet. But at that very moment q ray Of
hope had flashed into my mind All the
ships boats except the gig had been
brought on board and secured 1t was
hooked on to the davit fall, but was still
III the water. If could but reach that
! boat, unh0ok the falls, and shove off, |
could surely make such an outcry before
| was captured as would attract the at
tcntiOn of the gunboat. TO cast loose
and lower one of the other boats would
take them at least five minutes 50 had
only the ski1 to take into account. The
| idea was no sooner conceived than acted
upon.
Graspng a back stay | slid rapidly
down. Fortune favored me. All the
men who were not aloft We're at the wind
lass. The fire and main topsaiS had
been sheeted home, and as reached the
boat the cry of ''Al aweigh Y and the
rapid clanking Of the wndass pals told
me that the anchor had left the ground
and the vessel was moving. A moment
atterWard | was discovered. and heard
shouts and hurried tramping along the
deck. With nervous eagerness | unhoob-
ed the falls, but my heart sank as found
the boats painter was made fast on deck.
| felt in my pocket for my clasp knife.
BY the greatest good luck it had not
been taken from me; an instant sutticed
to open il, cut the painter, and give a
vigorous shove against the ships side.
AS drifted under the stern Captain
Bob Prices face appeared Just above me.
He had his revolver in his hand.
"Come back" he cried with horrible
oath, ''or Fll drill hole through you"
My only reply was to throw myself
down in the boat and make as small a
target of myself as possible, for saw by
the mans face he meant murder.
'I'll give you one more chance" he
yelled.
But lay close for knew the ship was
gathering way every second, and his
voice already sounded further off than
before. Another second or two passed
t1,ar hn J,oH
thwart above me and glanced Off Again
and again heard the revolver, and each
time the boat was hit but was not
touched, the distance between us now
being enough for the gunwale of the
boat to be protection to me.
When he had emptied all six chambers
Of his revolver | stood up, and saw the
John Z. Chew some fifty yards off,
gradually stealing away before the wind
but also saw another sight that was
not by any means so pleasant. This
was the skit1 putting off from the ship in
pursuit of me, with the bar-keeper and
his two companions in it, looked
around the gig. There were no oars in
it. | tried to drag out a thwart, but they
all detied my efforts to move them. With
the strength of desperation, then tried
the seats in the stern, and, after repeated
attempts, succeeded in loosening one Of
them. \ final wrench and it came away
in my hands. 1t was about five feet long,
nine inches in width, and an inch thick.
then commenced to paddle with it, first
on one side and then on the other, stand
ing up, and using all my strength, and
shouting as loud as | could to draw the
gunboats notice. But the boat was too
heavy for this mode of propulsion to have
much effect on her, and the skitf gained
fast on me. The bar-keeper was stand
| ing in her bows one man was rowing,
and the other was seated in the stern.
They said not. word as they came up.
| And when the bows of the skitf touched
the stern of the gig, the bar keeper made
a spring. AS he did SO, swung around
my improvised paddle, and hit him with
the edge of it, fairly across the side ofhis
head. lie gave howl, and fell over into
the water, nearly swamping the skit1 as
he went down.
In the confusion that ensued, the rover
dropped one of bis oars: and before they
could recoverit, pick up the half-drowned
I