Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-21

| should probably pass most OF the time on
| deck, settled to sail with them, and to be
on board again at $50 o'clock. | now
went on deck for look round. There
were three separate hatchways. In the
middle one they were storing away the
cargo, and the one aft was used by the
crew.
| walked to the town and killed some
time by looking into the different shop
windows. l was much attracted by gun
makers who displayed great variety of
arms. don't know what first put it into
my head, but while gazing at these
weapons the thought suddenly struck me,
that as l knew nothing of the men TO
whom was trusting myself, it might per-
haps be as well to have some weapon Of de-
Tense about me. True that in my travel
years ago, which had slept there harm
lessly ever since; but still a revolver
would be more useful, in case of accidents,
so 1 walked into the shop, and after look
ing several of them over, ended by pur-
chasing a small one. with packet of
cartridges.
l now went to the hotel to pack up my
traps. l wished only to take what would
go into my travelling bag, so turned out
everything l thought useless. In doing
so, / came across the life-preserver; l was
about to chuck it aside when l thought 1
might as well take it, and replaced it in
the bag.
My arrangements were soon complete. l
called the hotel-keeper and told him was
going away for two or three days, and pro-
posed to leave the remainder of my bag
gage in his charge. | then dined, paid my
bill, and, bag in hand, strolled down again
to the port.
All on board was ready for sailing. Bar
tolo came up at once and asked me for the
eighty lire which 1 had agreed to pay in
advance as he said they had to complete
some purchases before leaving.
At 6 o'clock, sharp, we left the harbor,
with far wind it was beautiful even
ing, not cloud was to be seen, and soon
after dark glorious moon rose out of the
sea. ! sat on the deck smoking my cigar
and enjoying the tranquility of the scene,
while being famed by the soft sea breeze.
The crew consisted of Bartolo, his cousin,
the tall man called Beppo, and boy called
Gigi.
For Italians they were not sociable
lot. | tried several times to get into con-
versation, but they seemed rather to avoid
me, and continually whispered to each
what disquieted my mind, and l could MT
help rejecting that perhaps had done a
foolish thing in trusting myself to their
tender mercies. No one knew of my ex-
petition. l had paid them in advance,
and they were sailing out Of their course
to please me. What was to prevent them
from numbering me and throwing me over
board, and then continuing their regular
journey without any one being the wiser?
/ am not nervous, nor do believe in
presentiments; but the longer sat there
the more would these lugubrious thoughts
creep over me, until feeling rather chilly,
| went down to my cabin.
1t looked an awful place at night and
more like vault than anything could
think of. ! undid my bag and caught
sight of my revolver, which had forgotten
until now. This somewhat treasured me,
and loaded it carefully. l then pulled
out the life-preserver, and placing these
two friendly weapons by my side, | lay
down on my bunk without undressing.
Looking up l could see the broad lat
teen sail through the hatchway, with the
moon shining brightly on the white
sheet. All was perfectly still, and l fam
cied that two of the crew must have gone
down to sleep, leaving the third man at
the wheel and the boy to look out.
l tossed about, but could not sleep; the
more 1 thought it over the more risky did
my position seem, for, as | said before, no
one knew where | was.
/ had been lying down about an hour
when / saw the shadows of two men re-
fected on the sail | strained my eyes
and ears. They were talking in low tones,
but l caught the words ''Dorme," then
"Sara presto fnito" What could this
mean if it did not refer to me? They
were evidently preparing to murder me
in my sleep, and my worst fears were
about to be confirmed. A cold sweat COW
cred my brow and | seized my revolver,
determined to sell my life dearly. The
shadows had now moved away. All was
still, | stepped out of my bunk, and tax
ing my life preserver in my right hand
and the revolver in my left, sat in
crouching position to await events.
Oh the agony of these moments! |
that before long l should be seized with
cramp yet it was imperative that should
keep quite still, if l wished to take my
assailants at disadvantage.
1t was not very long before the shadows
on the sail again reappeared, and this time
l noticed that one of them was armed with
a long kitchen knife. The thought of the
cold steel made me shudder, and my heart
stopped beating for moment. felt my
revolver to assure myself it was all right,
and then saw that the hatchway was dark
ened. had no time for further thought
One of the men was coming down the
steps into my cabin. L could see him dis
tinctly, but was in the dark, so he could
not see me. | noticed CLEAN of steel in
his hand, and the second man was follow
ing close behind him. Now was my time.
| brought back my right arm for good
cut at him with the life-preserver as soon
as he should come within reach. A second
later l had felled him with fearful blow
on the temples. | rushed over the pros
trate form and fired my revolver at the
second figure, now retreating up the steps.
He uttered a cry of pain and an oath,
showing that / had hit him, but still he
ran on. l followed quickly, rushed up the
hatchway, and again fired at him, just as
he was picking up crowbar. This time
he fell on the deck, and now saw the
third man and the boy, thoroughly scared,
making for the further hatchway. In
moment l made up my mind what to do.
followed them, and having with difficulty
placed the heavy lid on the hatch, pro-
ceeded to cover it with everything could
lay hands on, on the deck. Luckily there
was some pig-iron lyisg about, and with
these and various other articles on the top
of then, was sure that they were safe
prisoners.
l now had to look to the other men, to
see that they were incapable of doing fur
ther mischief.
The one l had shot on deck was Bartolo.
My two bullets had taken effect, one in the