Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-05-21

his ear 10 the thin bulkhead, and nc
could hear nearly all thai was SAID
He soon discovered that they were
two VILLAINS who had escaped from the
lookup 10 Mobile, and that they meant
TO kill us aud throw US overheard as
soon as We got outside and then make
a ruu across the gulf to Cuba.
Az soon as 1 heard Jacks story L
kne " it was all just so, for he could re-
peat the very words they had spoken.
They had crawled INTO the hold two
nights before, and as wa had commen-
ced to fll up forward before that, they
had not been disturbed. They had
weapons with them; aud had managed
10 get some bread and water. And
they had kept the run of the time pret'
I, well, for Jack heard them tell over
how long it wopld be before night set
in, and they had il 10 very lev nln-
utes. They knew that we shoulc be
outside by dark, and thea they meant
to come Oh deck. Iasked Jack If he
was sure they hadn't head him in the
ferepeak.
They couldn't he said, Tor l never
made BIT of noise after knew they
were there. They had been farther AFT
when went down, and we're crawling
back to their old nest when heard 'em
No, they don't suspect that they're
discoYered.'
When | first began 10 reflect on this
| must confess that was more than
bothered. l was startled and fearful. l
thought what notorious, blood-thlr'ty
villains they were, and with what per-
| feet readiness they would cut our
taroats and toss US overheard.
Stephen said l as 1 saw ho"
thoughtful be was, what do you think
oiitf'
why SAID he. raising bis head aud
speaking as coolly as though bed ben
talking about Ordinary business, l
think we'll pocket that 81, 900!
'Eh p said /.
'We've got 'em hard and fat, he
added: and we can lay low aud take
'em. There amt but one way tor 'em
10 yet out of lhe hold while the halcheS
are on, and hats through the forepeak;
and suppose they've already got =
passage marked out through the bulk
/ head. The boaids are thin, and they
can easily get one or two of 'em out OF
the way. rather calculate they il
6nd something falling about the time
they show themselves on deck
AS soon as Stephen began 10 speak
saw how simple and practical our ad-
vantage Was; and When l saw that
Jack was cool and confident, had no
Il more fears, but set about the work ol
preparation al once. knew that the
cargo was so slowed That the Williams
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 posi-
Bile. and that would be as my boy had
said. 1t was now past suDdo"n, and
we had left The Dauphin on. our quar-
ter, being well outside. The wind
was from the northwest, 80 we bad Il
in our beam, and needed to pay but
| little attention 10 the sails.
The little batch or scuttle-way 10 The
] forepeak was just abaft the heel OF the
bowsprt, and, as it had been left open
| al day, w0 LETT it open now. we had
pistols aboard ones-as we al
ways carried them with Us when NOV
ing about The crowded docks; and one
| Of our frat movements was to- see that
| these were CT le;ullJ loaded, for we
nigh, have to l'e them in case of
emergency. Then We arranged that
Stephen and | shOp'd conceal ourselves
behind the bits by the bowsprit, each
armed with a Aeavy handspike, and
tba, upon a gven signal, Jack should
Floovs The ielm and conceal h;msel
sbart the fremast, ready TO render such
.i''.ssistanc. as might be necessary.
i soon as the night bad fairly shut
liz tephen and l crept noselessly for.
y; d and took our. stations by the bits.
ItSas not very dark, for there were no
RI. ads 10 the heavens. and the stars
. .fane bright and clear; still 1t was
daik enough for our purpose. We had
not lain there fifteen minutes when l
heard a sound from below, aud whls-
persd 10 Stephen and asked him If be
| had heard il.
! 'Yee,' he said. They are moving
away board from the bulkhead.'
| l could hear them verv plainly, and
as soon as 1 was satisfied that they
we're coming threw small stones up
on the quarter, deck. This sfas the
signal agreed upon with Jack, aud he
| Immediately came forward aud took up
his station directly abaft the foremast.
He had lashed the liller, so that all
! was safe for The iime on that scOre,yrr
pfs.enay 1 heard the ireac Of The
williams among the rubbish in The fore
peak, aud directly afterward l saw a
Ibuman head slowly rise above the
4 opening Of The little hatchway. tire
{ NAMED In sight moment aud then
disappeared. asken Stephen II be
saw 1t.
I Yes said be, 'and they'll both be
up presently.' zt.
| Your hand Is steadyr p | asked.
| 'As steady as ever q dead calm wa',
and as stout as hurricane he re-