New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-02-20

suluepudy was IN there. He knew it
could not be either l or Stephen, for he
had heard us both on deck, so he
thought it must be niger. Present.
4 ~ he heard a voice, andthen an an
swer. There were two Of them, and
they were white men, too. Jack sat as
still as mouse, with his ear to the
thin bulkhead, and he could hear NICE
ly all that was said. He soon discov-
cred that they were the two villains
who had escaped from the lookup in
Mobile; and that they meant to kill us
and throw us overheard as soon as we
got outside, and then make run right
across the gulf to Cuba.
| As soon as I heard Jacks story
knew it was all just so, for he could
repeat the very words they had spoken.
They had crawled into the hold two
nights before, and as we had COM
menced to fill up forward before that,
they had not been disturbed. They
had weapons with them, and had man
aged 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
would 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. / asked
Jack if he was sure they hadn't heard
him in the forepeak.
'They couldn't, he said, '.for l never
made a bit of noise after l knew they
were there. They had been further aft
when | first went down, and were
crawling back to their old nest when l
heard 'em. No, they don't suspect
that they're discovered" When l
first began to reflect on this, must
confess That was more than bothered.
l was startled and fearful. l thought
of what notorious blood-thirsty villains
they We're, and with what perfect read
mess they would cut our thrOats and
toss us overheard.
Stephen said I, as I saw how
thoughtful he was, "what do you think
why" said he, raising his head,
and speaking as coolly as though he'd
been talking about ordinary business,
Il think we'll pocket that $4,000.
| ''Eh!' said l.
''We'ye 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 al
ready got a passage marked out through
the bulkhead. The boards are thin,
and they can easily get one or two of
EN- out of the way. rather calculate
they'll find something falling about the
time they show themselves."
AS soon as Stephen began to speak
1 saw how simple and practical our ad-
vantage was; and when l saw that.
Jack was cool and confident had no
fears, but set about the work of prep
aration at once. l knew that the
cargo was so slowed that the villains
could not reach the cabin bulkhead,
and | 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 boy
had said. 1t was now past shutdown
and we had left the Dauphin on our
quarter, being well outside. The wind
was from the northwest, so we had il
on 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 wheel of
the bowsprit, and, as it had often been
left opened all day, we left it open
now. We had pistols 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 ar
ranged that Stephen and should con-
ceal ourselves behind the bits by the
| bowsprit, each armed with heavy hand
| spikes, and that, upon given signal,
Jack should leave the helm and con-
| ceal 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 our station 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
lain there not more than fifteen min
utes when heard sound from below,
and whispered to Stephen and asked
him if he heard it.
EYES," said he; ''they are moving
away a board from the bulkhead.'
l could hear them very plainly, and
as soon as I was satisfied that they
were coming threw q small stone
upon the quarterback. This was the
signal agreed upon, with Jack, and he
Immediately came forward and took
up his station directly abaft the fore
mast. He had dashed the tiller, so that
all was safe for the time on that score.
Presently heard the tread of the
villains among the rubbish in the fore
peak, and directly afterward saw a
human head slowly rise above the
opening of the little hatchway. 1t re-
NAMED in sight moment and then
disappeared. asked Stephen if he
saw it.
EYES," said he; ''and they'll both be
up presently
GAS steady as ever q dead calm was,
and as stout as a hurricane he re-
piled.
just as he answered I heard foos
upon the ladder, and I grasped my
handspike with a firm grip, and looked
up my pistol to be sure that it was
ready for use in case of need. The head
soon reappeared, and this time body
followed it. One of the rascals came
slowly, and stepped upon the deck, not
four feet from where was concealed,
and in few seconds afterward his
companion followed him.
''Hist!' 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 knifes if we need them.
"All right. Wen find handspikes
somewhere. We shall take EN- by sur
prise and finish 'em before ~
don't know what more the fellow
might have said, for at that moment he
began to look around, as though hunt