Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-08-06

| board. There waS comfort i'll that re. tlcction, anyway; and l should have been perfectly willing that the silver had been gold, could the rogue's death have been hastened by the transmuta- 1 ton.
 | There were in the cargo a number of boxes of tin tacks about twenty inches in length by twelve in breadth, and weighing pretty heavy. l could think of nothing else which would an- swer the purpose of making a splash in the water as well as one of these. | A little after six o'clock I conveyed one of these to my cabin and soon aft CT smuggled it up in top-coat and stepped with an easy air upon the | poop. Then, when no one was look ing, put my coat and the box inside it in the port quarter boat, as though it were my coat only which I had de- posted there, ready to slip on should occasion require it.
 The boatswain observed my action without appearing to notice it, and as he passed me he said his clothes would be ready tor the lady by eight bells, and that l should find them in bum dle near the door, He could stop to say no more, for 1 believed the carpen- ter had become suspicious by our hang ing over the chart, and had spoken to l his chums among the men; it there fore behooved the boatswain and my self not to be seen together any more than we could possibly avoid. One thing was in our favor. It would be very dark night unless some change took place.
 At eight o'clock called Stevens, and saw him well upon deck before l venS- ured to enter the boatswain's berth 1 then softly opened the door, and heard the honest fellow snoring like a trooper in his bunk; but the parcel oi clothes lay ready, and at once took them, and knocked lightly on Miss Rob, ertson's door.
 She immediately appeared, and ] handed her the clothes and also my ou'wester, which had taken from my cabin after quitting the deck.
 'W hat is to be the signalp" she asked.
 Three blows of my heel over your cabin. There is spare cabin next dool for you to use, as your father ought not to see you"
 II will contrive that he does not see me" she answered. ''He fell asleep just now when I was talking to him. had better not leave him, for if he should wake up and call for me, should not like to show myself in these clothes for fear of frightening him whereas if I stop here can dress my self by degrees, and can answer hin: without letting him see me-"
 There is p-enty of time," l said. ''The bosom relieves the carpenter at midnight will join the boson when the carpenter has left the deck. Here is my watch-you have no means oi knowing the time without quitting your cabin.''
 ''ls the night darkp''
 "Very dark. Nothing could be bet ter. Have no fear," I said, handing her my watch; ''we shall get the bosom safely slowed below, and with him a crow-bar. The carpenter will find il rather harder than he imagines to scut- tie the ship. He-I mean the bosom is sound asleep, and snoring like a field-marshal on the eve of glory. His trumpetlng is wonderfully consoling, for no man could snore like that who forebodes dismal ending of life'
 took her hand, receiving as did So brave smile from her hopeful, pretty face, and left her.
 Without much idOa of sleeping, lay down under blanket, but fell asleeE immediately, and slept as soundly, if not as noisily, as the boatswain until eleven o'clock
 The sound of eight bells being struck awoke me and set my heart to beat, ing rather quickly, and almost imme- diately heard Stevens heavy step coming down the companion-ladder.
 Hay quiet, thinking he might look in, as it would better suit my purpose to let him think me asleep. He went and reused out the boatswa ain, and after little the boatswain went on deck.
 But Stephens did not immediately turn in. cautiously abstracted the key, and looked through the key-hole, and observed him bring out bottle of rum and tumbler from the pantry, and help himself to a stiff glass. He swallowed the fiery draught with his back turned upon the main-deck, that the men, if any were about, should not see him; and drying his lips by run- ming his sleeve the full length of his arm over them, he replaced the bottle and glass, and went to his cabin.
 This was now my time. There was nothing to fear from his finding me on deck should he take it into his head to
 
 l, acting as skipper, should at any and all hours be watching the weather and noting the ships course, more partic- ularly now, when we were supposed to be drawing near land.
 Still, left my cabin quietly, as l did not want him to hear me, and sneaked up through the companion on tiptoe.
 The night was not so pitch-dark as might have expected from the appear- ance of it through the port-hole; but it was quite dark enough to answer.
 stepped up to the boatswain who stood near the mizzen-mast
 Are you ready, bosom"
 ''All ready"
 Mot afraid of the ratsp" said, with a laugh.
 "No, nor wuss than rats," he re- piled. Has the lady got my clothes on yet? should like to see her"
 Shell come when we are ready. That light shining on the skylight must be concealed. don't want to put the