The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-07-29
LARRY'S ESCAPE.
How Sailor Gave a Brutal Cap-
tain the Slip.

Larry Marker, first two days ashore
from lengthy China cruise, pushed
open the door of one of the numerous
grug shops along the water front and
walking up to the bar called for a drink
His pockets were well lined with the
sinners and he had been having and
was yet having a good time, =" while ne
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
this WAS one of those occasions.
Hello. Larry said = hcavily-beard-
ed man leaning against the bar. where
did v drop from? How long a v been
aShorc?''
Larry looked at the speaker an in
slant and then wrung the hand that
was put ont To him.
BLOW me. Jim, but l never 'spected
to see y. l just came from tn China
seas. What u Y doin'?"
Same OF thing-coastin','
''Thet 50? Well, wouldn't mind try
in it m'>elf. I'm gettin' tired O these
long trips
There's a good many q tn same
mind, tell you. y know the CarstairS?
Well, nine o her men deSartcd to-day;
Civ en-, an now she's a'lyin ont in
tn bay short-handed, all ready 10 sail
but amt got 'nuff men by three or four
to handle her ropes. SarvcS old TaSllcr
right. too, | say. Never was n mcancr
cuss in Il captains berth"
Right v are there, Jim; right V
are" returned Larry, and the two fell
TO talking over old times.
\ fyNy rDiunfaS lofrr M1rl-nr-
had left the place and with bent head
was pushing his way along the uneven
pavement which Dordered upon the
wharves. His lodgings were at n sail
or's boarding house at the 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 dark
one, anyhow, and the lamps which lit
the pavement were 50 few and far be
tween a. to bc 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 claSpcd about his own as he tried
to tear the covering from him.
Then, kicking and struggling with
might and main. hc felt himself picked
up bodily 10y what he judged must be a
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 a double @unnv sack, was over
his head and that Il hand on his month
prevented his making any outcry.
In a few minutes ne heard the steps
of those carrying him rcsOunding on
planking and ne came To the conclu-
sion that they were on one of the
wharvcS Then he heard a man ask If
they had him" and another say yes
but that "he fought like "A demon"
Next, he felt rope being passed
around his body, laShing his arms
tightly to his sides, and instant
later, helpless, he was being lowered
into what he knew from it's move
ments must be boat. Then he could
hear the regular rise and fall of oars
between the tholc pins and the soft run
ming of water close behind him
Fifteen minutes later, as near as he
could Judge, he was hoistcd in the air,
the covering was pulled from his head,
the lashings around him cut loose
deck of a good-sized bark and CON
fronting red-bearded. surly-looking
man in a sort of half uniform. On
either siie Of him were couple of red
shirted men, evidently those who had
just hoisted him up from tho boat
One glance was sufficient for Larry 10
realize the whole thing. lie had been
''shanghied," and 10y the very old
l.. l.. hsaN
talking 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 kidnapping party TO fill the
vacant places.
The Carstairs was off for a long
cruise and Larry was off with her, just
a. he had gotten ashore from two years
of hot suns and hard work. The whole
probable future passed like panorama
before his minds eye.
lie was standing close To the rail. Old
Tasker was waiting for him To burst
out in a torrent of rage and abuse. He
wondered at Larry's silence and stood
there, cycling his captive with a de-
ploniacal leer of satisfaction.
well, guess yer in fer the wage"
he said.
With one bound Larry was up with
/ him, and had knocked him fiat with a
! blow from the shoulder. The next in
slant, before any of the others could
stop him, he had sprung to the rail anC
dived head first into the waters of the
bay.
Tasl1er jumped TO his feet, half dazeG
by the blow.
Unto that boat, all o'y'!' he roared
land bring tn cuss back or drown him"
There was u rush of half dozen OF
the men TO the side. The falls had not
been unlocked, and they swarmed