The Penn's Grove record., 1884-02-23

bothered. was %startled-and fearful.
1 thought Mat notorious, bl0odyhirsty
villains1they were, and with what per-
feet readiness they would cut our
Threats and toss us overheard.
''Stephen," said l as l saw how
thoughtful he was, "what do you think
of it?o
"Why, "said he, raising his head and
speaking as coolIy as though he had been
talking about ordinary business. -
think we'll pocket that $4,000"
"Eh2" said |.
'We've got 'em hard and fast, :" he
added, "and we can lay low and take
'em. There amt but n way for Fem
to get out of the hold while the matches
are on, and that's through the f%orepeaki
and l suppose they've already got a
passage marked out through the bulk
head. 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 themselves on the deck"
AS soon as Stephen began to speak !
saw how simple and practical our adj
vantage was; and when saw that Jack
was cool and confident, l had no o
fears; but set about the work of prepa-
ration at once. | knew that the cargo
was so slowed that the Williams could
not reach the cabin bulkhead, and l
also knew that they could not force the
matches. OF course they could reach
the deck in the easiest way possible,
and that would be as my DO y had SAID.
1t was now past shutdown, and we had
left the Dauphin on our quarter, and
by dark would be well outside. The
wind was from the northwest, so we
had it on our beam, and needed to pay
but little attention to the sails
The little hatch or scuttleway to the
forepeak was just abaft the heel of the
bowsprit, and as it had been left open
all day, we left it open now. We had
pistols a board-go0d ones-as we al
ways carried about the docks; and N
Of our fist movements was to see that
these were carefully loaded, for we
might have to use them in a case of an
emergency. Then we arranged that
Stephen and 1 should conceal ourselves
behind the bits by the powsprit, and
that upon a given signal, Jack should
leave the helm and conceal himself
abaft the foremost, ready to render
such assistance as might be necessary.
AS soon as the night had fairly shut
In Stephen and | crept noiseleSsly for
ward and took II 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 Is minutes when I heard
a sound from below and l whispered to
| Stephen and asked him if he had heard
it.
eyes, he said. "They are moving
a board away from the bulkhead."
could hear them very plainly, and
as soon as l was satisfied that they
were coming l threw a small stone
upon the deck. This was the sign
agreed upon with Jack and he mmedi-
ately came forward and took up his
SYSTEMATICALLY abaft the foremost. He
had dashed the tiller so that all was
safe for the time on that score.
Presently l heard the tread of the
villains among the rubbish in the fore
peak, and directly afterward / saw a
human head slowly rise above the open
ing of the little hatchway. 1t re
manned in sight a moment and then
disappeared. l asked Stephen if he
saw it.
eyes," said be, sand they'll both be
up presently.
"Your hand is steadyp" 1 asked:
GAS steady as ever a dead calm was,
and as stout IS a hurricane" he re-
piled.
Just as he answered, l heard a foot
upon the ladder, and l grasped my
~handspike with a firm grip, and looked
to my pistol to be sure that it was
ready for use in case of need. The
head soon r~eappeared, and tins time a
body followed it. One of the rascals
came slowly, and stepped upon the
deck not four feet from where l was
concealed, and in a few seconds after
ward 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?"
Get clubs" was the response, ''and
use the knives if we need them."
"All right. Wen find handspikes
somewhere. We shall take 'em by sur
prise and finish 'em before"
1 don't know what more the fellow
might have said for at that moment
he began to look around, as though
hunting for a handspike, and l was
fearful that he might discover me in
my hiding place, so l passed the word
to Stephen, and we leaped to our feet.
My man heard the movement behind
him, but before he could turn my hand
spike was upon his head, and he stag
gered against the weather-rail close by
the cat-head. l saw that he was
stunned, and | leaped after him. He
warded off my next blow with his right
arm, but it cost him dear, for it broke
the bone short off above the elbow.
The knife which he had drawn fell to
the deck, and before he could recover
himself l succeeded in knocking him
down
Stephens first blow had been more
effective that mine, for his man sank
beneath 1t, and was securely bound be
fore he could give any signs of return
ing consciousness, Jack had sprung
to my assistance, and was ready with
y >