The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-01-16

l
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. was much attracted by a
&: nmaker' who displayed a 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 knew nothing of the men
to whom was trusting myself, it might
perhaps be as we'll to have some weapon
OF defense about me. True that in my
traveling-bag I carried life preserver
given me years ago, which had slept
there harmlessly ever since; but still q
revolver would be more useful, in case
OF accidents; so walked into the shop,
and after looking several of them over,
ended by purchasing small one, with
a packet of cartridges.
| now went to the hotel to pack UP my
traps. wished only to take what would
60 into my traveling-bag, so turned out
every thing thought useless. In doing
so, l came across the life-preserver;
was about to chuck it aside, when l
thought might as we'll take it, and re-
placed it in the bag.
My arrangements were soon complete.
called the hotel-keeper and told him
was going away for two or three days,
and proposed to leave the remainder of
my baggage in his charge. l then dined,
paid my bill, and, bag in hand, strolled
down again to the port.
All on board was ready for sailing.
Bartolo came up at once and asked me
for the eighty lire which had agreed
to pay in advance, as he said they had to
complete some purchases before leaving.
AT six o'clock sharp we left the har-
Dor, with fair wind; it was beautiful
evening, not cloud was to be seen, and
soon after dark glorious moon rose out
OF the sea. / sat on 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. l tried several times to get into
conversation, but they seemed rather to
avoid me, and continually whispered to
| each other in a mysterious way. This
somewhat disquieted my mind, and
could not help rejecting that had per-
haps done foolish thing in trusting
! myself to their tender mercies. No one
knew of my expedition. 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 overheard, and then con-
tinuing their regular journey without
any one being the wiser?
l am not nervous, nor do I believe
in presentiments; but the longer I 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 any thing I could
think of. l undid my bag and caught
sight of my revolver, which l had for
gotten until now. This somewhat reas-
sured me and loaded it carefully. l
then pulled out the life-preserver, and,
placing those two friendly weapons by
my side, lay down on my bunk without
undressing.
Looking up, l could see the broad
lateen sail, through the hatchway, with
the moon shining brightly on the white
sheet. All was perfectly still, and
fancied that two of the crew must have
gone down to sleep, leaving the third
man at the wheel, and the boy to look
! out.
tossed about, but could not sleep;
the more l 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-
Elected on the sail. strained my eyes
and ears. They were talking in low
tones, but l caught the words ''Dornae, ~
then ".Saro presto fnito." What could
this mean, if it did not refer to me?
They were evidently preparing to muir
der me in my sleep, and my worst fears
were about to be confirmed. A cold
sweat covered my brow, and seized my
revolver, determined to sell my life
dearly. The shadows had now moved
away. All was still. l stepped out of
my bunk, and, taking my nfe-preserver
in my right hand, and the revolver in
my left, sat in a crouching position to
await events.
O, the agony of these moments! I
could neither stand nor sit, and l dread
ed that before long should be seized
with cramp; yet it was imperative that
I should keep quite still, if wished to
take my assailants at disadvantage.
1t was not very long before the shad-
ows on the sail again reappeared. and
this time l noticed that one of them was
armed with a longlkitchen knife. The
thought of the cold steel made me shud-
der, and my heart stopped beating for a
moment l felt my revolver to assure
myself that it was all right, and then
saw that the hatchway was darkened. 1
had no time for further thought. One
of the men was coming down the steps
into my cabin. I could see him dis
tinctly, but was in the dark, so he was
unable to see me. noticed CLEAN of
steel in his hand, and the second man
was following close behind him. Now
was my time. 1 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 I had
felled him with a fearful blow on the
temples. rushed over his PROSTATE
form, and fired my revolver at the Sec
ond figure, now retreating up the steps.
lie uttered cry of pain and an oath,
showing that had hit him, but still he
ran on. I 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 l. now
saw the third man and the boy, thor
oughly scared, making for the further
hatchway. In moment 1 made up my
mind what to do. / followed then, and
having with difficulty placed the heavy
lid on the hatch, proceeded to cover it
with every thing could lay hands on,
on the deck. Luckily there was some
pig-iron lying about, and with these and
[ o1eSa nkh n~ ~ III