Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-11-29

turDed. They had weapons with them,
and had managed to get some bread and
water. And they had kept the run Of
the time pretty well, for Jack heard them
tell over how long it would be before
night set in, and they had it to very
few minutes. They knew that we should
be outside by dark, and then they meant
to come on deck. l asked Jack if he
was sure they hadn't heard him in the
forepeak.
They couldn't, 2 he said, " for Inever
made bit of noise after knew they
were there. They had been further aft
when l went down, and were crawling
back to their old nest when heard 'em.
No, they don't suspect that they're dis
covered"
When first began to reflect on this
must confess that was more than both
cred l was startled and fearful. l
thought what notorious, blood-thirsty
villains they were, and with what perfect
readiness they would cut our throats and
toss us overheard.
HStephen, " said as saw how thought
ful he was, ''what do you think of it ~
why" said he, raising his head and
speaking as coolly as though he'd been
talking about ordinary business, 81 think
Wen pocket that S4, ,OOOi
'sEh ?'' said l.
''We've got 'em hard and fast" he
added; ''and we can lay low and take
'em. There amt but one way for 'em to
get out Of the hold while the matches are
on, and that's through the forepeak; and
I suppose they've already got a passage
marked out through the bulkhead. The
boards are thin, and they can easily get
one or two of em out of the way. l
rather calculate they'll find something
falling about the time they show them
selves on deck"
AS soon as Stephen began to speak I
saw how simple and practical our advan-
tage was; and when saw that Jack was
cool and confident, I had no more fears,
but set about the work of preparation at
once. I knew that the cargo was so
slowed that the villains could not reach
the cabin bulkhead, and also knew they
could not force the matches. OF course
they could reach the deck in the easiest
way possible, and that would be as my
boy had said. Itwas now past sundown,
and we had left the Dauphin on our
quarter, being well outside. The wind
was from the northwest, SO we had it in
our beam, and needed to pay but little
attention to the sails.
The little hatch or scuttle-way to the
forepeak was just abaft the heel of the
bowspirt, and, as it had seen left open all
day, we left it open now. We had pis-
tolls aboard-good ones-as we always
carried them with us when moving about
the crowded docks; and one Of our first
movements was to see that these were
carefully loaded, for we might have to
use them in case of emergency Then
we arranged that Stephen and I should
conceal ourselves behind the bits by the
bowsprit, each armed with heavy hand
spike, and that, upon a-given signal, Jack
should leave the helm and conceal him
self abaft the foremast, ready to render
such assistance as might be necessary.
AS soon as the night had fairly shut in
Stephen and l crept noiselessly forward
and took our stations by the bits. 1t
was not very dark, for there were no
clouds in the heavens, and the stars
shone bright and clear; still it was dark
enough for our purpose. We had not
lain there fifteen minutes when heard
sound from below, and I whispered to
Stephen and asked him if he had heard
it.
eyes," he said. ''They are moving
away a board from the bulkhead.n
| could hear them very plainly, and
as soon as was satisfied that they were
coming | threw small stone upon the
quarterback. This was the signal agreed
upon with Jack, and he Immediately
came forward and took up his station di
rectly abaft the foremast He had lashed
the tiller, so that all was safe for the time
on that score,
Presently | heard the tread of the vii
lains among the rubbish in the forepeak,
and directly afteward l saw a human
head slowly rise above the opening of the
little hatchway. 1t remained in sight a
moment and then disappeared. 1 asked
Stephen if he saw it.
:. Yes,p said he, "and they'll both be
up presently"
"Your hand is steady ~ I asked.
"As steady as ever dead calm was,
and as stout as hurricane" he re-
piled.
Just as he answered, heard foot
upon the ladder, and grasped my hand
spike with firm grip, and looked to my
pistol to be sure that it was ready for use
in case of need. The head soon reap
peared, and this time body followed it.
One of the rascals came slowly, and step
ped upon the deck, not four feet from
where was concealed, and in few sec
onds afterward his companion followed
him.
"Histl' said the one who had come up
first, as the other reached his side.
= They are aft. Shall we use our knives
first, or get some clubs n
q Get clubs }, was the rnsnnnse @ and