Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-01-04

who tripped and would have fallen
but for my assistance. | noticed on
her hand a gem that glittered and
sparkled to a wonderful degree,
while the setting was both odd and
very massive. Well, sir, that ring
was once the property of my uncle.
He owned a plantation in Jamaica,
which he left two years ago to vlslt
his people in New Orleans. NeTth-
er he nor the vessel in which he
embarked has been heard from
since. My suspicious were at once
aroused; it was too late to back
out or seek for a passage by some
other craft, while to disclose bare
suspicion without proofs would
have placed me in an unenylable
position. held my peace, walt
lag for what might turn up. While
| have been flirting with her and
she pretending to converse with
me she was in reality perfectlng
plans with the SDaniards for the
seizure of your ship and the mur-
der of us all. They are all mem
bers of one gang, and a fine lot OF
Jail birds they are. | have no doubt
they murdered my uncle, and in
some way the senorita has been
mixed up in IT,"
"What do you propose to do =
"While you were up aloft they
had a last grand cOnfab. To night
they are to rise, take the ship,
make all hands walk the plank,
and then run into Galveston,
which is their rendezvous. They
have not the slightest suspicion
that we understand a word of their
language and imagine that the
vessel will fall an easy prey to
their rapacity, which every conf
dence on their part will be immense
advantage to US when the time is
ripe for action. Their plan is as
follows: They will all sleep on
deck, with two of their number
convenient to the CABIN hatch,
two in close proximity to the man
at the wheel, while the remainder
will attend to the watch on deck
and men forward. The signal for
the attack is to be three rapS on
the hatch and the man at the
wheel will be instantly thrown
overheard. We, that is, sou and
I. are to be attended to by the
senorita, who with her poinard ls
to give the coup de grace. There,
sir, you have the whole of 1t, and
now we must circumvent them at
their own game
IL scarcely knew what to 40, iOr
there were no arms on board the
brig. The MILDLY had a pair OF
pistols we could depend upon but
| managed to communicate with
all the men quietly, while the mid
dy and myself settled upon a plan
of action.
"The Spaniards only counted on
having one watch on deck, but as
| intended to have all hands on the
alert, | resolved to lull suspicion
by pretending that a gale was ap'
pretended. AS fortune would have
it, the appearance of the weather
was all in our favor, and with the
disappearance of the sun the sky
looked wild and brassy. The cook
had been instructed to keep his
coppers full Of boiling water, while
the men deposited beavers and
iron Delaying pins about the deck,
when they could be utilized at a
moments notice.
"The mate was stationed at the
wheel, hatchet ground keen as a
razor concealed in the bosom OF
his shirt, while the MILDLY aud my
self walked the deck, each with a
pistol IN his pocket and the sword
near at hand. Outwardly calm
and with careless demeanor we
W aited for the summons that was
to decide both the fate of the yes
sci and all hands.
"Deeper grew the shades of night
about us, while in the distance
/ lightning played with an ominou'
glare from heavy Threatening
clouds that we're rapidly spreading
over The entire heavens.
COCOA slonally the low warbllnI
of the Spanish girl could be hearC
AS she hummed some love song
while the strategic positions OF th'
murdeIous Spaniards were easll'
dIscernible by the small glowing
light that emanated from thei
ceaseless cigarettes.
"The night was calm, scarcel.
a breath of air ruffled the surfac
of the dark expaDse of waters, AM
the canvas tapped idly to and frc
causing the reef points to dane
and rattle almost continuously.
will confess to a feeling of nervous
ness, with every faculty braced t
its utmost tension, my ear straine
for the first sound that would ar
nounce the commencement OF th
deadly struggle. But my compar
ion, the MILDLY, took matters yer
differently, and laughed, nodde
aud joked as lively as though wall
ing the quarter deck of his ow
, bonnie craft.