Nevada County picayune., 1891-04-30

the heavy coffin out of the boat. The col
fin was large and heavy; evidently the
dead man must have been of portly pro-
portions. The seamen seemed tenderly
attached to their dead comrade. They
insisted on lifting the coffin themselves.
1t was most anxious moment for all
concerned.
But the invaders still had far more
laborious and dangerous task before
them. The summit Of the island where
the people lived, and whore the chapel
stood, was over ono hundred feet above
the landing and could be reached only
by narrow, steep steps, cut in the rock,
up which it was simply impossible to
carry the coffin. There was only one
way of getting it to the top; this was to
hoist 1t with stout ropes by main force.
Surely never was dead sailor buried
under greater difficulties! Not only did
the sailors have to do this very hard,
severe duty, harder far than hosting
wet topsail, but it was also necessary
that not one Of the pirates should lend
hand in hauling up the coffin; at the
same time the task had to be done
without arousing their suspicious.
Death was in the air; blood must flow
before the day would close.
The pirates were not men to show
mercy, and the least suspicion on their
part meant the massacre of every one or
the invaders If attacked before they
were ready. The landing party con.
trived to start up the cliff steps first,
and while some, nimble as cats,
e1,t r,ntcly1, and prnppaUpd to
hoist the coffin, the others fingered
along the steps keeping the inpatient,
but yet unsuspicious pirates in the rear.
While the above incidents were oc-
curing several of the pirates, moved by
their covetous and treacherous natures,
thought it would be good idea to take
the ships boat and steal on board the
ship, whose crew they supposed to be
all on shore engaged in the funeral GER
emonies. They hoped to be able to
anticipate the reward promised them
by ransacking the cabin. But when
they sprang on deck they were fearfully
taken aback to see number Of lusty
fellows spring up armed from behind
the bulwarks, who few at them with
great fury, overpowered them, and
gagged and chained them to ringbolts
In the deck.
This done, the sailors sprang Into tho
boat and rowed to the aid of their com
panions on shore. As we shall see, they
reached there mono too soon. Imme'
aiately on getting the coffin to the top
of the cliff the invaders gathered around
Ii, and hurried with it TO the chapel.
The pirates also hastened to arrive
there first; it was nip and tuck which
party should first enter the chapel. But
the coffin bearers, knowing well the
chances at stake, put forth hercuIean
exertions; keeping together in close
group the sailors crowded into the chapel
with haste most unseemingly for a
funeral, and closed and fastened the
floor. As soon as this was done they
opened the mysterious coffin in a
twinkling. Instead of a corpse it proved
to be packed with daggers, cleavers,
halberds, swords and blunderbuss or
two, with which the sailors hurriedly
armed themselves and were soon ready
for the deadly ARRAY.
The pirates were now furiously knock
ing for admittance. II not exactly sure
y
were by this time exceedingly suspic'
ious that such singular proceedings at
funeral BODIED no good. There was mis-
chief brewing, and it behooved them to
find out what all this meant without a
moments delay.
They found out sooner than they ex'
pected, and in a very unpleasant way,
when the capita in of the ship in a tone
of thunder cried: open the door! And
now my brave men, do your best! Cut
and Stay! Give no quarter! Strike
home"
The door few open and forth rushed
a troop of armed men falling into the
midst of the band of pirates. Taken
altogether unawarcs, the latter, al
though the most numerous, fed in
every direction pursued by the
ships crew Some were cut down
on the spot; others leaped panic-struck
over the edge of the cliffs and were
dashed to pieces on the rocks below
Others threw them selves into the sea
and were drowned. But "a good mum
Der gathered in a rocky angle, and be
ing armed prepared to make desper'
ate resistance which might have been
successful, as they still nearly equaled
the invaders in number. But at that
critical moment the other men from the
ship arrived; after short and desperate
fight the pirates were overcome. Those
who were taken alive were thrown from
the cliffs, not one being left on the
island AT sunset the other pira ties
who had been seized on the ship were
also hanged at the yardarm. Not one
escaped. The vengeance was bloody in
deed: bat then it should be remem bered
that many hopeless crew had been
sent to the bottom of the sea by these
same cruel and treacherous rufiians who
for so long time had made the island
Of Sark terror to the mariners of all
nations. Since that bloody tragedy the
island has been the abode of peace. S,
G.. w. Benjamin, in n, Y. Independents
BISMARCk'S BOOTS.