The state herald., 1891-12-11
THE SLAYER.

11G CAA Gx0s
We were homeward bound In the
ship Hurknru from ports on the Ma
dras coast loaded with sugar In the
lower hold and our tween decks full
Of bales Of cotton. We had been
favored with splendid southerly winds
ever since rounding the Cape OF Good
Hope. and we had touched at St.
Helena to put sailor ashore who was
dying Of dysentery.
/ was what the owners called q
"midshipmsn. my father having paid
ESQ premium TO them for the privi-
lege Of my wearing brass bound cap
with their house flag on It and q blue
uniform for the few weeks while WAS
ashore. The rest Of the year cleaned
out hen-coops fed tho fowls washed
the captains clothes, kept tho stew
ards books assisted Sambo. the negro
cook. and turned tho grindstone for
Chips" the carpenter. Every Sum
day was allowed on tho poop. and
having an old pig yoke" was allowed
to shoot tho sum-" working out the
latitude by tho old SO. 4S method, and
invariably getting 1t wrong.
On this particular occasion was up
in the mizzentop setting up the top
mast rigging with handy billy"
tackle, assisted by another 'midship-
man" who also hailed from London.
We were not high enough up to make
the strange craft out but In about half
an hour she hove In sight and we could
see her plainly. She was hull down
and her canvass seemed 10 be In rags
tapping in the breeze
'On deck there" I shouted.
"Hallo" sang out the captain. who
was walking the poop. pulling huge
black clouds OF smoke out OF mouth
that stretched from car 10 car. What
In Satan's name do you want now2
Can't you set up that rigging without
any help? Clap a stopper on your jaw
tackle and go on with your work"
please sir. there's n quecr-looking
craft in sight from hero All her sails
seem to have blown away"
Tho old man gave grunt and came
aloft TO have a look mt her carrying
pair Of good marine glnsses slung
around his neck. He got on to tho miz-
zentopsail-yard and observed her close
ly for five minutes Then he hurried
down on deck and told tho steward to
call the chief mate whose watch II
was below. Meanwhile no exchanged
fsw words with the second mate who
Immediately aftcrward roared out In
. stentorian voice:
Lay down from aloft every moth
sr's son Of you, and bring your tar
buckets with you"
All hands got down as smartly ns
they could. feeling very much sur
prIsed.
just at this time tho port watch
came on deck mutterlng and growing.
for II was only four bells in the after
noon watch. and thoy thought they
were safe until o'clock.
Wo took In NIL tho stun sails hauled
the mainsail up snug and kept away n
couple Of pointS heading direct for
the stranger with Tapping sailS which
was now plainly visible from tho dock.
She was thrco-mnsted topsail
schooner. Not n soul wus TO be seen
on her docks II sho had been aban-
doncd II must have been in hurry
for every sail had beon left set This
WINS evident 10 tho nautical eye, ai-
though tho canvas hung In tatters
from yards and gafYs She was long
md low and Judging from her gener-
nj appearance must have boon very
fast. Originally sho had boon painted
black. but only fow patches remained
10 toll the tale. Sum- wind md sea
had left her grnyIsh white, and as
she wallowed In tho trough Of tho sen
sho looked weird and ghastly and
ghostly.
Presently wo got tho order to lower
AWAY tho captains gig. which hung
from tho port dnvits Just ns we had
hoisicd her up after leaving poor Ol.
son ashore mt St Helena Accordingly
VIC lowered her into tho wator and
she was manned by her regular crew
Of four. L who am now spinning this
yarn, pulled bow.
We rowed right around her looking
for convenient place To climb on hcr
deck. but finding none wo Just made
fast .o tho main channels by tho
painter. and !. being tho youngest.
scnlcd hor sidc and jumped over hor
rnil 10 her dock. Just abaft tho main
rigging. Everything was M neat ns
nine.pcnco Tho ropes were all coIlcd
snugly round the Delaying pins and
there was no sign OF disorder about
tho decks. throw tho end Of ono OF
the running gear Into tho boat 10 that
tho skipper might hang on 70 II and
chamber up. Tho old man caught
hold Of II. and. having n lot Of low Gun.
ming. Just tried its strength. II wns 80
rotten that II parted nt once Tho
skipper muttcrcd nm oath md looked
daggerr nj mo- Finally no climbed
up with the help Of the paInter ana.
after pnssing the boat nstorn. with ono
hand 10 tnko cnro Of hcr. wo proceeded
" Investigate
Tho vessel had evidently boon
clipper. Her skyl!ghts wero bcnuti-
fully carved and tho compnnionwny
leading To hcr cabin was IN elegant ns
thnt of u yacht Tho door. however.
wins locked. A thick buc mold In.
erusted tho glass Of tho skyllght on
tho inside and tho frames would not
IN up Tho hntchwny leading 70 tho
forccnsilc wns closely barred md
boltod. wbiio tho fore and main
matches were tightly bat,oncd down.
Captain CULVER while cruising
around tho decks. stumbled across an
old rusty Iron orowbar. and with this
no prled open tho doors Of tho aftcr.
compnnionway. Hc paSred down be-.
low. md II wns dusty and murky Ms
tomb.
lie sang ouii 'l,oiow thcrol II
there anybody bciowp" md thon ho
hcsitntcd M II in = qunndary.
l,ll. VIVA thu ls.sl ilitar 1 nSar sn ~