Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-05-14

out undressing.
Looking up, | 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. l strained my eyes
and ears. They were talking in low
tones, but | caught the words "Dorme,"
this mean, if it did not refer to me?
They were evidently preparing to murder
me in my sleep, and my worst fears were
about to be confirmed. A cold sweat
covered my brow, and seized my revolt
yer, determined to sell my life dearly.
The shadows had now moved away. All
was still. l stepped out of my bunk,
and, taking my life-preserver in my right
hand, and the revolver in my left, sat
in crouching position to await events.
Oh, the agony of these moments! l
could neither stand nor sit, and l dreaded
that before long | should be seized with
oramp; yet it was imperative that
should keep quite still if l wished to
take my assailants at disadvantage.
1t was not very long before the shad-
ows appeared on the sail again and this
time noticed that one of them was armed
with a long kitchen knife. The thought of
the cold steel made me shudder, and my
heart stopped beating for moment. |
felt my revolver to assure myself that it
was all right, and then saw that the
hatchway was darkened. | had no time
was coming down the steps into my cab
in. l could see him distinctly, but l was
in the dark. so he was unable see me.
noticed CLEAN of steel in his hand, and
the second man was following close be-
hind him. Now was my time. | 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 l had felled him with fearful
blow on the temples. | rushed over his
PROSTATE form, and fired my revolver at
the second figure, now retreating up the
steps. The man uttered a cry of pain,
an oath, showing that had hit him, but
still he ran on. l followed quickly,
rushed up the hatchway, and again fired
at him just as he was picking up crow
bar. This time he fell on the deck, and
1 now saw the third man and the boy,
thoroughly scared, making for the fur
ther hatchway. In moment l made up
my mind what to do. l followed them,
and having with difficulty placed the
heavy lid on the hatch, proceeded to
cover it with everything l could lay
%ha
was some pig-iron lying about, and with
these bars and various other articles on
the top of them [ was sure that they
were safe prisoners.
l now had to look to the other men, to
see that they were incapable of doing
further mischief.
The one | had shot on deck was Bar
tolo. My two bullets had taken effect,
one in the left arm and the other in the
leg. | drew him to the side of the ship
and dashed him there with some rope,
and / told him that if he attempted to
get loose, should shoot him dead then,
looking into my cabin, l saw Antonio
lying where he fell.
repeated my tactics of covering up
the hatchway to prevent his getting out,
and then went to the tiller, thoroughly
exhausted after all had been through,
both physically and mentally, but most
thankful for my narrow escape.
Soon, however, l saw that if | had got
out of one danger, it was only to fall
into another. | knew nothing of navi-
cation, and was not even aware in which
direction to steer. might run the ship
to ground, or a sudden squall might
swamp her. | did not know how to
shorten the sails, and was afraid to inter
fere with the ropes.
What could do? The moon had now
gone down, and it was pitch dark. There
was no lamp or light of any sort about
the ship, so far as 1 could see. With the
help of match 1 looked at my watch
1t was 2 o'clock.
| thought of calling the man and boy
out of the hold and threatening to shoot
them if they did not navigate the ship
properly, but l myself felt so tired anC
exhausted that did not dare trust them
in case should fall asleep.
On the whole, it was best to leave my
self in the hands of Providence.
Oh! the dreariness of those hours OF
darkness, and the joy with which | hailed
the first streak of dawn!
Every now and then BartolO would
give curse and groan, and that was
the only sound to break the silence Of
the night. | had placed some water by
his side and asked him if he wanted any
thing, but he only swore at me. | lief
him alone.
At last the sun began to rise, and
scanned the horizon for the welcome
sight of land or friendly sail. There
was nothing to break the dull mass o.
water, and L was still miles away from
rescue. The pangs of hunger were be
ginning to make themselves felt, and
had nothing to eat. If this state O.
affairs continued much longer, | SHOULD
be obliged to call up the man and boy
and in my weak state | felt | should b.
entirely at their mercy.
I was beginning thoroughly to despAi
after so many hours of constant watch
ing and straining of my eyes, when about
s O'Clock | saw speck on the horizon
MY heart leaped with excitement as
instantly turned the helm in that direc
ton. The speck grew bigger and bigger
until at last | made out the form of 8
brig sailing toward me. Soon l coult
make out f1ag-the American stars AM
str;nac I fled nv handkerchief TO :