Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-04-14
THE SMUGGLER.

before the mast, took a trip to Tam
pico in a little trading schooner called
The Ella, commanded by jolly skipper
from Florida, one Nat Martin, dark
skinned Spanish creole, who, ''for
Short" was always called by his friends
mig" The schooner generally carried
out her dry goods and provisions on her
owners account, but | always had an
idea that she sstonned" more than her
4 register made her responsible for.
We were only nine days on our run
! from New York out to the mouth Of
Tampico river, and about noon ON the
tenth day we stretched III over the bar
\ with leading wind that would easily
have carried us with a flowing sheet up
to the town, which was nearly twelve
miles above; but, for reasons best known
to himself, the captain anchored as soon
as we passed the fort and rounded Point
Tampico, just above and out of the teeth
of its guns. -
The revenue boat from the guarda
costa came on board before our sails
were furled, and the custom house Off
1 GERS oyerhauled our papers and manifest
They seemed a little suspicious, and one
of the officers was left on board to
watch us, while the rest went on board
their own craft, which lay nearly half a
mile farther down the river, under the
guns Of the fort
4 AS soon as dinner was ready the cap
tain invited the revenue officer down in
the cabin to dine with him, and as they
laughing blue eyes at the mate, and ]
knew well there was fun in the wind
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 tho cabin that the officer and
captain were getting along very well to-
gether, and once i'll awhile the tink1e Of
meeting glasses and a jolly song spoke
of esprit potential that was playing
upon the hearts and senses Of both par
ties.
At last, little after dark, with 4 real
Havana in each of their mouths, they
came on deck. the skipper and ths
watcher. Both were decidedly and
from their walk and conversation; but
could see at a single glance that the cap
tain was sha1nming, although the ''spir-
I itual reality was visible in the Mexi-
can. He seemed, however, to retain
some notions cf his duty and to know
that, as night was over us, if we intended
to smuggle il was necessary for him to
keep his eyes open. So he seated hirn-
self on the taffrsil with III air of drunken
dignity. and as He Unnamed a Spanish
baEcaarolle, 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 a
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 cot
fairly under headway the captain arose
lightly from the deck, and passing for
ward took the lantern from the binnacle
and held it for minute over the bows.
Presently | saw several dark objects
coming out from under the shadow of
the land, and III few moments more
six large native canoes were alongside
of us.
In the first one that boarded us was
the mate and Il 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 We're 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 ta-contrabandistal
One bound from where be 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 trixe 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 s1nk or gained the
shore, nor. to tell tho truth, did we care
much.
Bear hand, boysI' 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 few moments the last package to
be smuggled 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 mp
the river. In few moments our matches
were replaced, the deck cleared up as be-
fore and the crew retired to their bcrths
with orders to be sound asleep and not
to wake up on any account.
All this was scarcely arranged, when
the dash of oars coming hastily up the
river was heard, and in another moment
an armed boat from the guarda costa
was alongside. At the first sound Of the
approaching boat Captain Martin had
laid down where he first pretended to
60 to sleep and he was now snoring
louder than ever Even tho curses
many, loud and deep. Of the Mexicans