The Monitor., 1884-10-31

was one of peril and danger; peril from the
sea, and danger from the authorities He
was a wrecker, and this crime, under the
then existing laws of the land, was punish
| able by death or life-imprisonment in the
| Castle at Genoa.
Pierre loved a lass in the City of Genoa,
from whom he cautiously kept secret the
| true nature of his mode of livelihood but
led her to believe that he followed the pur-
suit of fisherman.
They had been betrothed for twelve
month, and were looking forward with i'm
two months, when should be performed
that mysterious ceremony which would
link their two lives inseparably for ever.
Just outside of the town where Pierre
lived, and where also dwelt his comrades
in the calling, was ledge of rocks, which
were very dangerous to the vessels bound
to and from Genoa. and which served as
an exceedingly valuable auxiliary to these
men in their plundering.
Although there was lighthouse to
warn ships of the location of the rocks,
many craft would strike eer aware of
the proximity of them, and then these men,
ever alert for such opportunities, would
go out and confiscate all such booty as they
could get ashore; and by the sale of these
goods they gained their sustenance.
1t so happened that Pierre, while in Ge-
noa, the day previous, learned that vessel
would arrive in Genoa the following night,
and that she was heavily burdened with
cloths, linens, and rich laces.
He accordingly met the Crock BuOys,"
as they styled themselves, and notified them
of what he had learned.
The sBuoys" were aglow with excite
ment i'll moment, and many were the
hopes expressed that she would founder ON
the reef
'.But there are many chances that she
will safely pass the ledge, to one that she
will be wrecked said one of the gang,
''and it seems too bad for such prize
does not come along every day
Cant we make her founder?' was the
man who had followed wrecking for many
years.
This proposal gained favor Immediately
ON its utterance, and many different meth
ods for making her get on the rocks
were advanced; but the only one which
seemed at all feasible was that made by
Pierre Ramont:
'Let me go over on the island Ga small
island about five miles nearer Genoa than the
reefs) ''and, with another man, | will build
a fire there which the skipper of the ship
will mistake for the beacon; then let some
of you go to the lighthouse and, if neces-
sary, make way with the keeper and his
grandson, extinguish the light, and the
prey is ours.'
" An excellent planr' cried one of the
ruffians, clapping his hands together as in
dicative of his satisfaction, and one and all
agreed that Pierre's was a brilliant scheme.
Accordingly, on the night on which the
vessel was to enter the harbor, Pierre, with
two of his comrades in vice, went to the
island and prepared fire, ready to light
when they should see the beacon of the
lighthouse extinguished.
The balance, consisting of twenty men,
marched to the lighthouse, and demanded
admission.
This being granted, the leader, tall,
surly, Misunderstanding man, said to the
keeper:
''Old man, we want that light on top out
tonight, and we're going to have it out;
and think it would be about as well to
fix You and the boy in such way as to
keep it OUT
So saying, two of them siezed the poor
old man, and binding him securely, tied
him to a chair, and, after having served the
grandson in similar fashion, they ascend
ed to the lantern and extinguished the
light.
Almost in a moment after the disappear
ance of the beacon a light was suddenly
seen to appear north of the rocks, and the
men knew that at least Pierre's part of the
proceedings was proving success; and
they felt assured that the ship would mis-
take his fire for the lighthouse.
The men then lit pipes and proceeded to
make themselves comfortable while they
awaited the coming of the ship.
The old clock in the corner told the hours
Of twelve, and one, and the large pointer
had nearly reached two when suddenly
gun was heard. and the fiends knew that
their dastardly plot was success. The
ship had struck.
They had then only to await the proper
time. and 90 ont in boats and bring their
plumber ashore, which they did with as
little conjunction as a builder would erect
a house.
Two days later posse of police came in
to the town, and before the wreckers could
take measures to defend themselves, they
were prisoners.
They were taken before tribunal of jus
tice, and the entire gang was sentenced to
Imprisonment for life, with the exception
of Pierre Ramont, who was condemned to
die, as he had been the chief actor in the
nefarious plot
Doomed to die, was the first thought