Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-09-06


/ bring out men and cannon to the
schooner. A hunt was made
through the schooner for gun car
rages, and the discovery of the
small arms seemed to put the lei
lows in good humor. There was
about 81, 800 in gold aboard in the
cabin, and this was counted out
and divided pro rata, or IN some
other satisfactory manner as we
Law at anchor. Then | was ordered
to draw O pailtul of wine from
cask in sort of lazaretto or store
room, reached from the galley
The cook might have known of the
presence of the wine there, but |
did not. | had never looked into
the place. There was a tin pail,
holding about ten quarts, in the
galley, and this / filed and car
ried to the main hatch, with sew
eral glasses, and everybody pro-
ceeded to help himself. Now that
we we're at anchor all discipline
had ceased, and one man was as
good as another. They were Prov
ling all oyer the schooner, and per-
fectly at home.
The wine must have tickled Their
paIates nightly, for a second pail
full was soon demanded. 1t was
while | was drawing it that l no.
ticed the barrel had no bung IN II,
and | wondered why the wine had
not soured. l retired to the galley
az soon as had filed the second
order, and for halt an hour there
was a great deal of loud talk ana
laughter. All of a sudden, while l
was refectDg on the situation, ana
perhaps crying bit IN my sorrow
and anxiety, it struck me that
things were wonderfully quiet l
looked out Of the galley to see a
half a dozen figures lying on the
deck. and later on, when had
summoned courage to walk tue
length of the schooner, found eV'
cry man aboard apparently SOUND
asleep. Their breathing was Ia
bored, but | supposed this was the
result of too much drink. Inc
night had come down dark and
gusty, with the wind directly Oh
shore, and as the sleepers con''h-
ued TO lie quiet some strange iueaS
came TO me. was tempted to take
one of the knives and begin killing,
but | doubted my nerve. The yawl
was at the davits, and ! planned 10
lower 1t and let the breeze carry
me out to sea. I held to this idea
for a few minutes, and then sur
rendered /. for another. | would
swim ashore and hide in the forest
had to abandon that scheme as
well, for saw at a glance that the
tide was running out strong.
was wondering if | should not
start a fire IN the forecastle or
cabin when | discovered that the
craft was under way. She had her
light anchor out and had been tug
sing heavily under tide and gust
The chain had ground off against
some sharp edged rock or the pin
had slipped from a shackle. 1t was
probably the latter case'as ! heard
a splash as of the end of the chain
falling from the hawse hole. She
drove of stern first and then, as
she began to swing about, | step
ped softly back to the wheel, put
it over to get her Oft, and then ex'
tInguished the two lanterns on
deck and the lamp in the cabin.
am.not boasting of my nerve IN
stepping over the sleepers to dc
this work or of my sagacity III get
ting the idea. | was working IKE
one in a dream aud could hardly
have identified myself.
What occurred between the time
! | put out the lights and daylight
next morning, | never can clearly
remember. The schooner took care
of herself for any effort OF mine
and | think went Into the galley
and crept behind the stove. Al
last | crawled out of that contract
ed space soon after daylight. IN re
sponse 10 call. supposed ] was
called TO prepare breakfast Tor th'
pirates, but was no sooner out 0
the galley than saw Il large shll
hove to a quarter of a mile away
while one of her boats, with nv
men in it. was alongside the schoon
or. | must have looked and acte'
like a stupid, for rs couple OF me
came over the rail one of them CAV
, me a hearty shaking and gro"le
out:
t aYou idiot, can't you get you
= mouth open ?"
D There were % men lying on Ill
I decks and in the cabin sound asleel
!. No! Deadj- Every one OF the
o dead and cold, and the only il
T ing thing aboard. 1t took son
e time to explain matters and get
d all the particulars, but with VIII
d I could tell them and what th'
q could see il finally became PLAIN
Q all. That barrel of wine had be-
y dosed with some deadly drug. II
Vt cook must have done it previous
IS the attack, OF the bung had be-
* lett out by another, and some p'
ls sonous reptile had crept in to d
r, No one could tell for certain, b