Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-04-09

WHEN tQ0y Io8CQeO the 8100 OF the
lagoon Muley accosted boatman,
with whom he seemed to be on very
good terms. Olsen was ordered to get
into the boat with the bundle, and he
was followed by Muley and the boatman.
The latter rowed them across the lagoon,
but when the boat got little way out
into the strait they found the way OBJ
structed by lighter, which had cap
sized, and which delayed them about
two hours. The lad heard the black tell
the boatman that the bundle which he
had brought contained some presents
which his master designed for his friend,
the ALGERIAN pirate, whose vessel then
lay at anchor in the boy. When the
harbor was reached the boatman had
some difficulty in finding the Algerian
vessel, which was lying outside the other
shipping. At length the bundle was de-
ivered, and Muley was invited on board
the vessel. where he remained over an
hour. The boatman grumblea while
waiting. 1t was already nearly dark, and
several hours had been wasted. It
might be impossible to get back to Tunis
before the gates were closed for the
night he said.
At length Mnley appeared. He had
been drinking and held large bottle
under his arm. When the boat had
pushed away from the vessel he gave the
boatman drink from the bottle. o.
sen was ordered to take the oars. He
handled them awkwardly, and when
among the shipping he did not row di.
rect]y toward the shore but lodged
around among the vessels, sometimes
retracing the course he had gone over.
In the meantime Muley and the boat
man were occupied with the bottle and
paid little attention to anything else.
Finally, to Oleen's surprise he found
himself outside OF the shipping. It was
now past sunset and the darkness was
rapidly coming on. The boatman then
observed his position, and pushing the
lad from the oars, took them himself.
Muley rose with curse and knocked
Olsen down. The lad was thrown ap-
parently senseless into the stern-sheet
of the boat.
The boatman pulled vigorously to-
ward the strait, and Muley took seat
facing his friend. Olsen was perfectly
conscious, but he lay still. He noticed
that the boat in threading her way
among the shipping would be certain to
pass directly under the bowsprit of the
brig. The lad had conceived desper-
ate design for making his escape, and
he felt that his last chance of carrying it
into effect must now he seized upon.
He arose cautiously and stood up in the
stern Of the boat. Neither Muley nor
the boatman were looking toward him.
The boat was about to pass under the
bowsprit of the brig. but it was so dark
that he could scarcely make out the
ropes which ran from the bow to
the martingale. When one of these
ropes was just in front of him and Lit.
tie above his head, he seized 1t with both
hands, and, raising his feet, allowed the
boat to pass from under him. He hung
from the rope for moment, and then
drawing himself up, got on to it and
took hold OF the martingale to steady
himself. He could see the dim outlines
OF the boat tor some moments, but it
soon appeared to change its course, and
another vessel hid it from view. Olsen
had no doubt that Muley and the boat
man thought that he was still lying in
the stern-sheets of the boat.
The lad now knew that he had merely
jumped out of the frying.pan into the
fire. The chances were that the brig
belonged to some nation which permit
ted piracy. Even if her people would
consent to take him from Tunis he was
likely to be sold as slave in some
Mohammedan port. His only chance of
escape depended upon the vessel being
taken by q man of-war belonging to
some Christian nation. He decided to
wait a few hours and then steal on
board the brig and hide himself IN the
hold. While waiting under the bowsprit
he found some consolation in rejecting
that he had outwitted the tyrant Muley.
For some time he heard people moving
about the deck, but finally all became
still. It was almost midnight, however,
before he ventured to climb up the bow
spirit. PeeriHg cautiously about he OBJ
served figure moving toward deck
house into which it disappeared. This
was doubtless the night watch. Olsen
climbed along the bowsprit and reached
the deck. He stole past the open hatch
way of the forecastle and car fully
avoided the deck-house which the night
watch had entered. Near the mainmast
lie found an open hatch. Cropping
around the combings of this he found q
ladder running down into the hold, He
descended until his feet struck quaint.
ty of ballast. Olsen crawled along un-
til he touched the side of the ship. and
moving close to this he reached the az
ter end of the hold. Here he found a
quantity OF mating, on which he lay
down and went to sleep.
When he awoke it was still dark, but
he heard noises on the deck. Soon after.
wards he felt an easy motion as if the
vessel had got under way. He CROPPED
about until he found the ladder which
he had descended the night before. he
climbed up this and found that the
hatch had been securely fastened. A
feeling of terrible loneliness stole owe,
him and he cried out and struck against
the hatch. But no one came to let him
out and he returned to the bottom Of
the hold. He found number of casks
and barrels which contained supplies,
The top of barrel of bread was loose,
and he found cask Of water with the
bung somewhat on the side. With the
help of a piece of rock which he found
among the ballast, he removed the bung.
which he replaced after he bad satisfied
his thirst. He did lot Think it probable
that the seamen would open the hatch
in order to get atthe supplies for mum.
Der of days. Olsen had no means Of
telling night from day in the dark,
sitting hold. He made good bed oui
of the mating, and when awake he
listened eagerly for the sound of guns,
as an action with some Christian vessel
might result in his obtaining bis liberty.
At last he heard unususl noises on
deck, and the brig soon shook under the
discharge of her cannon. From the
noises it was evident that q sharp action
was going on, but the triumphant yelh
which he afterward heard made Olsen
fear that the brig had won the fight.
All was again quiet, and he expected to
see the hold opened, and the booty and
prisoners sent down into his hiding.
place; but suddenly the roar of cannon
was again heard. After several mo.
ments Of continual firing there was q
terrific noiee on the deck, as if the brig
had been boarded by her enemy. Soon
all was still again. Olsen climbed up
the ladder, and had almost reached the