Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-09

With growl the Maltese crept owe,
the low bulwarks, and stealthily as o
cat worked his way aft, where. with 0
low "Hist!" he signaled the man at the
wheel that he ready for his share of the
deadly work ahead.
Captain Crowell was slowly walking
on the weather side, unconscious of the
danger that was brewing, while /.
scarcely knowing what to do, and at 9
loss how to communicate with the
master without creating suspicion, crept
aft, revolver in hand, keeping well tc
leeward and under cover of the high,
protecting bulwarks. Occasionally ]
could see the outline of the Maltese
sailor as he peered over the rail and
noted the gesture of the man at the
wheel in response to the cautious signals
given by his confederate, who was evi.
IDENTIFY becoming impatient of delay. As
l gripped my revolver felt assured
that the storm threatening would moi
be long delayed, and my heart beat
rapidly as the crisis approached. One
incautious move on my part, and all
might be lost.
A slight tap of the bell forward, q
mere jingle, was heard, and in an in.
slant the tall, 1.-THE form of the fellow
at the wheel started into activity With
one stealthy movement he drew long
claspknife from the bosom of his shirt.
his body inclining forward, the weapon
poised, ready to plunge it into the back
Of the unsuspecting master, whose back
was turned to the murderous scoundrel.
From my hiding place I could note
every movement made in the moonlight,
and my nerves had become steady as
drew bead on the figure who would
have committed murder without qualm
Of conscience, if indeed he had any.
1t was the first time in my life had
ever been called upon to shed human
blood, and l must confess, gentlemen.
I felt awfully queer. But it was no time
for sentiment or delay. 1t was my life
or his, to say nothing of the others Oh
board. / aimed for his broad, stalwart
breast, and with the sharp crack of the
revolver the man leaped convulsively
into the air, falling dead at the feet OF
the startled Crowell.
In an instant was by his side. The
master took in the situation at once, and
ere the Maltese had gained footing Oh
deck my cool headed sailor had finished
his villainous career, the body dropping
into the sea, and was soon whirline
astern in the bubbling wake of the
yacht. Then shoulder to shoulder we
turned as the crew in a confused mob
came swarming aft, their knives gleam-
ing in the moonlight, uttering savage
oaths for vengeance as they charged
bodily up to the quarter deck. Fortu-
nately for Crowell and myself they did
not possess firearms.
"Be sure Of your aim, sir" was the
masters caution in low, cool voice,
"and don't spare them"
And you may depend we didn't. We
fired into the surging, struggling mass
at a pointblank range, winding up the
careers of four mutineers in less time
than it takes to relate it. The remainder,
warned, fell back irresolute, and as we
advanced upon them, our weapons still
smoking at the muzzles, they beat a
precipitate retreat.
By this time the party in the cabin
had taken the alarm. In body they
came to our assistance, and but little
trouble was experienced in cowing the
survivors into submission. Securely
shackled they were placed below, and
the yacht was once more safe.
Of course the cruise was broken up.
Like myself, the balance of the party
had no desire to keep on when they real
lied the danger they had been in and
the narrow escape we had all expert.
enced.
We all lent hand in working the
craft into Gibraltar, where the men
were tried and condemned to the chain
gang.
During the excitement and row Of the
melee the frail hold that Mr.. Raymond
retained upon life was loosened. The
shock and fright proved too much fo1
the poor old gentleman, and he breathed
his last as we were giving the mutineers
their coup de grace. He was laid to rest
in the beautiful English burying ground
at Gibraltar, and his daughter was left
an orphan.
One year from that date led her to
the altar, and that was the outcome of
my yachting cruise, gentlemen, my first
and last. Neither Isabel nor myself
has any desire to ever step on board Of
pleasure craft of any description. The
associations, for her at least, are too
painful, and we are content to remain
upon terra firma.
The yacht turned over to Crowell,
and the brave fellow deserved all I did
for him. The understanding was if he
could do anything with her he was to
pay me one-half of what I originally
gave for her. He took her round the
cape, went into the China sea and al
though cannot vouch for all that fol-
lowed always suspected he went into
opium smuggling. At all events, in a
little more than year he owned the
yacht, and l was glad to have the i'll
omened craft off my hands. Captain H.
D. Smith in True Flag.