The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1892-08-06
LARRY'S ESCAPE.
How a Sailor Gave a Brutal Cap.
tain the Slip.

from lengthy China cruise, pushed
open the door of one of the numerous
grog shops along the water front and
walking up to the bar called for drink.
His pockets were we'll lined with the
"shiners,' y and he had been having and
was yet having good time" while he
saw the town and got some of the kinks
out of his legs. Larry was by no means
a reckless fellow, but he did like to
spend money freely when he had it, and
Ibis was one of those occasions
Hello, Larry said heavily-beard-
ed man leaning against the BAR where
did X drop from? How long a " been
nshore?'
Larry looked at the speaker an in
stant and then wrung the hand that
was put out to him.
Blow me, jim, but / never. 'spected
to see y! | just came from tn China
seas. What a y doin'?"
Same OF thing-coastin'r'
s'Thet SO? Well, | wouldn't mind try
in it m'self. I'm gettin' tired O. these
long trips.'
There's good many o. th' same
mind, | tell you. Y know the Carstairs?
Well, nine O her men desarted to-day;
couldn't stand tn treatment old Tasker
CIV EN-, an now she's a'lyin' out in
tn bay short-handed, all ready to sail.
but amt got 'nuff men by three or four
to handle her ropes. Sarves old Tasker
right, too, say. Never was meaner
cuss in captains BERTH
Right y are there, Jim; right "
are, /" returned Larry, and the two fell
to talking over old times.
A few minutes later Larry Marker
had left the place and with bent head
was pushing his way along the uneven
pavement which bordered upon the
wharves. His lodgings were at sail
or's boarding house at the lower end of
the shipping front.
The rain beat furiously in his face
md the water got in his eyes and half
blinded him. The night was a dark
one, anyhow, and the lamps which lit
the pavement were so few and far be-
tween as to be almost useless.
he had gone a couple of blocks in
this way, hardly looking around at all,
when suddenly something thick was
thrown over his head and pair of arms
were clasped about his own as he tried
to tear the covering from him.
Then, kicking and struggling with
might and main, he felt himself picked
up bodily by what he judged must be
couple of men and carried along at a
dog trot.
Where he was going he had not the
least idea. As to who had him he had even
less idea, if that was possible. All he
knew was that a thick covering, which
felt like double gunny sack, was over
his head and that hand on his mouth
prevented his making any outcry.
In few minutes he heard the steps
OF those carrying him resounding on
planking and he came to the conclu-
sion that they were on one of the
wharves. Then he heard man ask if
they 'had him" and another say ''yes,"
but that she fought like demon"
Next. he felt rope being passed
around his body, lashing his arms
tightly to his sides, and an instant
later, helpless, he was being lowered
into what he knew from it's move
ments must be a boat. Then he could
hear the regular rise and fall of oars
between the thole pins and the soft run
ming of water close behind him.
Fifteen minutes later, as near as he
could judge. he was hoisted in the air,
the cove ing was pulled from his head,
the lashings around him cut loose
and he found himself standing on the
deck of a good-sized bark and con-
fronting a red-bearded, surly-looking
man in sort of half uniform. On
either side of him were couple of red
shirted men, evidently those who had
just hoisted him up from the boat
One glance was suffi icient for Larry to
realize the whole thing. He had been
"shanghied," and by the very old
Tasker of whom he and Jim had been
talking a short while before. Tasker
was short handed, could not get men
because of his brutal treatment of
them, and being all ready to sail had
sent out a kidnapping party to fill the
vacant places,