The Portland daily press., 1892-06-20
THE SMUGGLER.

In 1884, when was yet youngstsz
before the mast, I took a trip to Tam.
pico in little trading schooner called
The Ella, commanded by jolly skipper
from Florida, one Nat Martin, dark
skinned Spanish creole, who, "fo1
short" was always called by his friends
mig" The schooner generally carried
out her dry goods and provisions on hel
owners account, but l always had an
idea that she ''tonned" more than her
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 in over the bal
with leading wind that would easily
have carried us with flowing sheet ul
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 gtlarda
costa came on board before our sails
We're furled, and the custom house Off
GERS overhauled our papers and manifest.
They seemed 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.
AS soon as dinner was ready the cap
tain invited the revenue officer down in
the cabin to dine with him, and as they
went below the former winked his large,
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, 1 could tell by the lively
voices in the cabin that the officer and
captain were getting along very we'll to.
gether, and once in awhile the tirlkle OF
meeting glasses and jolly song spoke
of esprit 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 'sspir.
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 tafrail 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 I 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.
In the first one that boarded lis was
the mate and a merchant, whom well
knew to belong to one of the first houses
in Talnpico. The boat came noiselessly
alongside and their crew crept stealthily
Oh board. Without sound the matches
were raised and package after package
VI I'LL oAy SOOuS Was pdSSeu UP 1TOiu
the hold and over the side into the boats
by the tawny, half naked rascals.
The boats were nearly all loaded
when I, 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 a-contrabandista!"
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