Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-04-12

| the seaTCH NdFfaut HulIlulf apoloSiHoN'
The chief talked of removing Donnells |
fl ON the force.
The "Water Lily" steamed up the
river at half-past four, with half dozen
cabin passengers and one deck passen-
ger. The latter was ragged, dirty |
faced boy, of apparently seventeen.
He wanted to 60 to M, and had
barely enough money to take deck
passage.
The black columns Of smoke and
the white wreaihs Of steam rolled up
into the sky. The green shores glided
by on either side, and new pictures OF
nature unfolded up the river at every
curve; the passengers loHnged and
smoke the day faded, night came on,
and the lonely pilot watched the hill
tops and the stars, and the solitary deck
passenger, after gazing on the rushing
water and the picturesque shores till
all were swallowed up in darkness, be-
came drowsy, crawled into bunk and
snored.
At midnight the Water Lily
rounded To tie up at her destination.
Steam was blown off and several pas
sengers went ashore, as though they
belonged there, and things were soon
quiet on the Water Lily" Hours
went by; the fires under the boilers
died out and the iron grew cold.
Meantime the deck passenger lay
snoring; and with dull ears aud closed
eyes, how was he to hear the stealthy
tread of feet on the boiler deck, or see
the light that, about three o'clock IN
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
lantern. ave can't be too careful.
Better make sure" said one in low
tone.
"Well, let's 60 back and look, re-
sponded another.
The three men walked aft, with their
light and peered into the hunks. They
we're the captain and the two carpet
bag passengers.
"Why, what's this?" asked enc of
the latter, in 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 cap
tain. "a cannon wouldn't wake him
/ probably"
] "Let him sleep then by all means. 1t
t would be cruel to disturb him."
After futher careful scrutiny of the
1 hunks and other recesses on the after
9 deck, the three went forward to the
3 boilers. When they had done 30 a re-
= markablo change came over the deck
r passenger. Without any warning what
? ever, and without the usual prelimina-
7 ny symptoms of waking, such as NOV
, ing uneasily, turning over and signing,
! he sat bolt upright and deliberately
peeped out from his bunk When he
7 did go, he saw some human figures
3 moving about in front of the boilers
, and dim light shining in their midst.
: He also heard clinking sound as OF
tools at work among the machinery,
and he got out of his bunk, noiselessly
r as spirit and Hoated forward over the
2 deck like shadow.
The captain of the "Water Lily" and
e the two passe myers with the carpet bags
z were standing in front of the boilers
3 and the former WAS at work with q
s wrench taking the iron taps from the
z strong bolts that held the iron plate in
| its place over the main hole, while one
? of the passengers held the light in such
way as to cast all its rays Hpon the
, work, and few of them anywhere else.
= IL is not unusual fer this heavy irCx
D plate to be taken off for the purpose OIL
g examining or cleansing the interior Of
d the boiler; but the ragged young deck
d passenger, VINO soon gained position
from which he could watch their move
= ments closely, he thought it quite re
e should remain on board the "Wate
Lily" for the purpose of watching o.
assisting at the operation at three o
3, clock i'll the morning.
b The iron plate was at last freed from
is place, and the captain with the rs
1t sistance of the passenger who was no
holding the lantern, set it CAREFUL,
Ie down on the deck. The former thei
thrust his hand into the aperture ant
a said:
4 THE waters pretty warm yet, bu
(, allP5 right"
Ie "Are the bags sound, asked the pas
" seuger VINO neld the light.
ID Yes"
"Not cooked to shreds?'
d ono"
Can you lift them QUIZ"
Yes, one at time. Look aroun
Id carefully first. 1t would be prett
rough to be caught now"
IS Good LordW
ne This was the exclamation of the pas
lie senger with the lantern. He had bee
st on the point of raising it above hi
We head that he might be able to scan tn
vicinity closely, whom strong hanC
~ coming out of the darkness, snatche
1t from him.
- Ii was picture-thst night scene
all the three men standing there frightene
and amazed and the dirty and ragge
IL little deck passenger confronting ther
Sc with the lantern in enc hand aud r,
ne volver in the other, leveled at then
while his face assumed look of firm
ur ness and authority.
Pot the plate on again. he raj
with a firmness that oontrasted queer
he ~ with his Inferior size and appear
auce.