Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-02-19

aAG HietHigut TIE w dteT LILY
wounded to tie up at her destination.
STEAM was blown off and several
Passengers went ashore, but not those
who carried the carpet-bags. Most
of the crew also went ashore, as
though they belonged there, and
fhings were soon quiet on the eva
ter Lily Hours went by; the fires
under the boilers died out and the
iron grew cold.
u Meantime the deck passenger lay
ssuoring and with dull ears and clos
ed eyes, how was he to hear the
zstealthy tread of feet on the boiler
deck, or see the light that, about
three o'clock in the morning, came
family back among the rude sleeping
hunks? 1t was at this hour that
three men moved quietly about the
deck, one of them carrying a lantern.
- ssWe can't be too careful. Better
make sure" said one, in low tone.
"Well, let's go back and look
responded another.
The three men walked aft, with
their light, and peered into hunks.
They were the captain and the two
carpet-bag passengers.
"Why, what's this ?" asked one of
the latter, in a startled whisper. as
the red light flashed over the ragged
form of the snoring deck passenger.
"Only that stupid young chap that
took deck passage, replied the
captain. GA cannon wouldn't wake
him, probably"
"Let him sleep, then, by all
means. It would be cruel to disturb
him.
After further careful. scrutiny of
the hunks and other dark recesses on
the afterdeck, the three went for
ward to the boilers. When they had
done SO a remarkable change came
over the deck passenger. Without
any warning whatever, and without
the usual preliminary symptoms of
waking, such as moving uneasily,
turning over and signing, he sat bolt
upright and deliberately peeped out
from his bunk. When he did so, he
saw some human figures moving
about in front of the boilers and a
dim light shining in their midst. He
also heard a clinking sound as of
tools at work among the machinery,
and he got ont of his bunk, noiseless-
ly as a spirit and foated forward
over the deck like a shadow.
The captain of the "Water Lily"
and the two passengers with the car
pet-bags, were standing in front of
the boilers and the former was at
work with a wrench, taking the iron
taps from the strong bolts that held
the iron plate in its place over the
man-hole, while one of the passen-
gers held the lignt in such way as
so cast nearly all its rays upon the
work, and few of them anywhere
else. 1t is not unusual for this heavy
iron plate to be taken off for the pur-
pose of examining or cleansing the
interior of the boiler; but the ragged
young deck passenger, who soon
gained a position from which he could
watch their movements closely, he
thought it quite remarkable that a
couple of passengers should remain
on board the "Water Lily" for the
purpose of watching or assisting at
the operation at three o'clock in the
morning.
The iron plate was at last freed from
its place, and the captain, with the
assistance of the passenger who was
not holding the lantern. set it care
fully down on the deck. The former
then thrust his hand into the aperture
and said:
1.-The water is pretty warm yet,
but alls right.
care the bags sound?'' asked the
passenger who held the light.
| eyes"
"Not cooked to shreds?'
ono"
"Can you lift them out?'
eyes, one at a time. Look around
carefully first. 1t would be pretty
rough to be caught now
"Good Lord !"
This was the exclamation of the
passenger with the lantern. He ha6
been on the point of raising it above
his head, that he might be able tt
scan the vicinity closely, when ;
strong hand, coming right out of tn,
/ darkness, snatched it from him.
1t was-a picture-that night seem
/ the three men standing ther
I frightened and amazed, and the dirt,
and ragged little deck passenger con
5 fronting them, with the lantern il
] one hand and revolver in the other
leveled at them, while his face as
e sumed look of firmness and au
: thority.
e ''Put that plate on again !" b
4 said, with a irmness that contraste
y queerly with his inferior size and az
: pearance.
s'Who are you?" the captain aske
e in voice that trembled.
a my name is Donnelly. | belon