The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-02
LARRY'S ESCAPE.
How Sailor Gave q Brutal Cap
tain tho 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 Il drink.
Ills pockets were we'll lined with tho
sinners" and he had been having and
was yet having good time" while he
saw the town and got some of the kinks
ont OF his legs. Larry was by no means
reckless fellow, but he did like to
spend money freely when he had it, and
this was one of those occasions.
Hello, Larry" said n hcavily-bcard-
cd man leaning against the bar, ''whcrc
did y drop from? How long a. " been
ashorc?"
Larry looked at the speaker an in
slant and then wrung the hand that
was put out to him.
blow me, jim, but never 'spcctcd
to see y! just came from tn China
seas. What a y doin'?"
Same oil thing-coustin'!"
"Thct SO? Well, wouldn't mind try
in it m'self. I'm gettin' tired O. these
long trips"
There's good many o. tn same
mind, tell you. " know the Carstairs?
we'll nine o her men dcsartcd to-day;
couldn't stand tn treatment old Tasllcr
CIV en-. an now she's alvin out in
Tn bay short-handed. all ready to Gail,
but amt got huff men by three or four
to handle her ropes. Sarvcs old Tasl,cr
right, too, say. Never was mcancr
cuss in Il captains berth"
Fright y arc there, Jim: right W
arc" returned Larry, and the two fell
to talking over old times.
n few nlipntnc lnfnr ,r,,- NY,,,1.
had left the place and with bent head
was pushing his way along the uneven
pavement which bordcrcd upon the
wharvcs. His lodgings were at Il sail
or's boarding house at'thc lower end of
the shipping front.
The rain beat furiously in his face
and the water got in his eyes and half
blinded him. The night was a darl,
one anyhow. and the lamps which lit
the pavement were SO few and far be-
tween rs to be almost useless
He had gone couple of blocks in
this way, hardly looking around ut all,
when suddenly something thick was
thrown over his head and Il pair of arms
were clasped about his own us 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 ut q
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 thick covering, which
felt like Il double gunny sack, was over
his head and that hand ON his mouth
prevented his making any outcry.
In few minutes lie heard the steps
of those carrying him resounding on
planliing and he came to the conclu-
sion that they were on one of the
wharves. Then he heard n man ask if
they had him" and another say YES"
but that ''he fought like a demon"
Next, he felt a rope being passed
around his body, flashing his arms
tightly to his sides, and an instant
later, helpless, he was being lowered
into what he knew from its move
mcnts must be 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 covering was pulled from his head,
the lashings around him cut loose
and he found himself standing on the
deck of q good-sizcd bark and con-
fronting a rcd-beardcd, urly-loolting
man in sort of half uniform. On
either side of him were IL couple of red
shifted men, evidently those who had
just hoistcd him up from the boat
One glance was sufficient for Larry to
realize the whole thing. lie had been
"shanghied," and by the very old
Tasker of whom he and Jim had been
talking short while before. Taskcr
was short handed, could not get mon
because OF his brutal treatment of
them, and being all ready to sail had
sent out a kidnapping party to fill the
vacant places.
The Carstairs was off for long
cruise and Larry was off with her, Just
as he had gotten ashore from two wears
Of hot suns and hard work. The whole
probable future passed like n panorama
before his minds eye
He was standing close to the rail. Old
Taskcr was waiting for him to burst
out in torrent of rage and abuse. He
wondered at Larrys silence and stood
there, cycling his captive with a de-
Uoniacal lccr of satisfaction.
"Well, guess yer in fer the v'yacc!"
ne said.
With one bound Larry was up with
him, and had knocked him fiat with a
blow from the shoulder. Tho next in