Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-05


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 l saw
how simple and practical our advantage
was and when | saw that Jack was cool
and confident | had no fears, but set about
the work of preparation at once. | knew
that the cargo was so stored that the
villains could not reach the cabin bulk
head. and | also knew that they could not
force the matches. OF course they would
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 out
side. The wind was from the northwest,
50 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 al
| ways 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
|
ranged that Stephen and | should conceal
ourselves behind the bits by the bowsprit,
each armed with heavy handspikes, and
that, upon given signal, Jack should
| leave the helm and conceal himself abaft
/ the foremost, ready to render such assist
ance as might be necessary.
! ,As soon as the night had fairly shut in,
| Stephen and | crept noiseleSsly forward
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 minutes when | heard sound from
below, and I whispered to Stephen and
asked him if he heard it.
yes" said he; they are moving away
! board from the bulkhead."
! could hear them very plainly, and as
! soon as was satisfied that they were COM
! ing | threw small stone upon the quarter
deck. This was the signal agreed upon
with Jack, and he Immediately came for
ward and took up his station directly abaft
the foremost: He had dashed the tiller, so
that all was safe for the time on that score
Presently heard the tread of the vii
lains among the rubbish in the forepeak
and directly afterward | saw a human head
slowly rise above the opening of the little
hatchway 1t remained in sight moment
and then disappeared. | asked Stephen if
he saw it.
yes" said he; land they'll both be up
presently"
Your hand is steady ," l asked,
As steady as ever dead calm was, and
as stout as hurricane he replied.
Just as he answered | heard a foot upon
the ladder and | grasped my handspike
with affirm 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 con-
cealed, 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, q" and use
knives if we need them"
All right. Wen find handspikeS some
where We shall take EN- by surprise 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 hunting for a hand
spike, and | was fearful lest he might dis
cover me in my hiding place; 50 passed
the word to Stephen, and we leaped to our
feet. Ny man heard the movement behind
him, but before he could turn, my hand
spike was upon his head, and he staggered
against the weather-rail, close by the cat
head. | 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 above the
elbow. The knife which he had drawn fell
to the deck, and before he could recover
himself succeeded in knocking him down.
Stephens first blow was more effective
than mine, for his man sank beneath it,
and was securely bound before he could
give any signs Of returning consciousness.
Jack had sprung to my assistance, and was
ready with xhis. pistol Just as ] broke the
villains arm But he saw how matters
were going, so he reserved his fire, know
ing that | wished to take the fellow alive
if possible We bound his legs together
but when found how badly his right arm
was broken let that one hang and dashed
the left to his body.
As soon As this was accomplished we put
the schooner about and made back towards
the bav, for was determined to land the
rascals in Mobile as quickly as possible
We moved them aft upon the quarterback,
and when they came to their senses and
realized what had happened, they raved in
all, sorts of shapes. They swore that no
Jail or prison could hold them-that they
should surely get away agaln-and their
first work would be to send me and my two
boys out of.the world but, if we would let
them go, they would be more considerable,
and would not harm Us. They kept up
that strain until they found it would not
work, and then they assured Us that they
had untold sums of money concealed in
various places, and if We would let them go
they would make US rich,
But, they succeeded no better than be-
fore and then they went. into bloody
threats again. This they kept up until
they found we were paying no attention to
them, and then the one whom | had at
tended to, and who proved to be Matt Wick
ers, seemed to discover that his arm wanted
caring for. and ere long he began to groan
with pain. But ] could give him little
help. | fixed cushion for his arm to rest
uuon and thus he had to remain and make
the best of it. He begged to be let up, but
there was 50 much uglinesS in his tone that
| wouldn't trust him.
We dropped anchor close to the city
about II o'clocl, at night, and Jack pulled
ashore in the boat, and soon had some Off
Gers aboard, into whose hands we resigned
our prisoners. Matt Nickcrs had his arm
set by an experienced surgeon when he got
ashore; but not long afterward he had his
neck broken by the hangman, and in this
latter catastrophe Adolph Leroy bore him
company.
The reward of $4,000 was cheerfully paid
over To us. 50 that our little bit of trouble
and excitement turned ont well for both
us and the community al large.