San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-07
Knew ven fhere was fun in the wilma.

As soon as the captain and Mexican
had got below, the mate slipped into the
small boat and sculled ashore. In the
meantime, | could tell by the lively
voices in the cabin that the officer and
captain were getting along very well to
gether, and once in awhile the tinkle of
meeting, glasses and jolly song spoke
of spirit potential" that was playing
upon the hearts and senses of both par.
ties.
At last, little after dark, with real
Havana in each of their mouths, they
came on deck, the skipper and the
watcher. Both were decidedly and
equivocally drunk, if one might judge
from their walk and conversation; but
could see at single glance that the cap
tain was shamming, although the "spir
itual reality" was visible in the Mexi.
can He seemed, however, to retain
some notions of his duty and to know
that, as night was over us, if we intended
to smuggle it was necessary for him to
keep his eyes open. So he seated him
self on the taffrail with an air of drunken
dignity, and as he hummed Spanish
barcaarolle, kept watch over the move.
ments of the crew about the deck, glanc>
ing now and then up and down the still
river.
As the night advanced saw that Cap
tain Martin began to look uneasy and
anxious, although he pretended to be
even more drunk than his guest and
spy.
At last, when it was near midnight,
the Mexican became less frequent in his
snatches of song, and the ''liquor browse"
seemed to be coming over him.
Captain Martin now lay down beside
the Mexican and pretended to fall into
sound sleep, attesting the same by long,
loud and regular snoring. This threw
the Mexican completely off his guard,
and wrapping his watch coat closer
around him he followed suit, and then
the twain seemed to be trying which
could snore the loudest.
When the Senior Mexicana had got
fairly under Roadway the captain arose
lightly from the deck, and passing for
ward took the lantern from the pinnacle
and held it for minute over the bows.
Presently saw several dark objects
coming out from under the shadow of
the land, and in few moments more
six large native canoes were alongside
of us. a..
In the first one that boarded us was
the mate and a merchant, whom well
knew to belong to one of the first houses
in Tampico. The boat came noiselessly
alongside and their crew crept stealthily
on board. Without a sound the matches
were raised and package after package
of rich dry goods was passed up from
| the hold and over the side into the boats
by the tawny, half naked rascals.
The boats were nearly all loaded
when |, who had been placed to keep
watch over the sleeping revenue officer,
saw him open his. eyes, and before !
could move or speak he saw and COM
pretended all that was going on. Spring
ing to his feet he shouted:
"Guarda costa-contrabandis
One bound from where he stood by
the main hatchway to the taffrail and
our captain was by the side of the officer
with his brawny hands encircling the
windpipe from which proceeded so much
noise.
The Mexican tried to draw his sword,
and struggled manfully to get free from
the choking grip, but Captain Martin
knew that the entire loss of his vessel
and cargo would follow detection, and
he was not disposed to trife. Raising
] the Mexican, in spite of his kicks and
! writings, he coolly pitched him over
board.
1t was quite dark, and as the tide was
ebbing swiftly downward he passed out
of sight instantly, but for minutes we
could hear him splashing and gurgling
in the water and trying to shout. Then
all was still again. We knew not
whether he had sunk or gained the
shore, nor, to tell the truth, did we care
much.
Bear a hand. boysr said the cap
tain: tumble in these packages: get
the rest of the goods into the boats and
let them get ashore. If that dago has
not drank too much water, he may give
us some trouble about this matter yet. "
In q few moments the last package to
be struggled was passed into the boats,
the patron" who had made the purchase
counted out the pay in doubloons, the
canoes pushed off and soon vanished up
the river In few moments our matches
were replaced. the deck cleared up as be-
fore and the crew retired to their berths
with orders to be sound asleep and not
to wake up on any account
All this was scarcely arranged, wher
the dash of oars coming hastily up the
r;ver u,as heard and in another moment