Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-06-10
THE SMUGGLER.

/ Inc Ellt, CoflDlaHueu ny jolly Skipper
from Florida, one Nat Martin, dark
skinned Spanish creole, who, "for
short" was always called by his friends
"Nig." The schooner generally carried
out her dry goods and provisions on her
owners account, but l always had an
idea that she "tonned" moro than her
register made her responsible for.
We were only nine days on our run
from New York out 20 the mouth OF
Tampico river, and about noon on tho
tenth day we stretched in over the bar
with leading wind that would easily
have carried US with flowing sheet up
10 the town, which was nearly twelve
miles above; but, for reasons best known
TO himself, the captain anchored as soon
as we passed tho 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
GERS overhauled our papers and manifest.
They seemed little suspicious, and one
of tho 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 tho 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, | could tell by the lively
voices in tho 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 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 sec at n single glance that the cap
laill WIS HllhiIllliISf bituohbh Aio oph-
itual reality" was visible in the Mexi-
can. IIo seemed, however, to retain
some notions Of his duty and to know
that, as ght was over us, if we intended
10 smuggle il was necessary for him 10
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 tho deck, glanc-
ing now and then up and down tho 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 DO 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 Scnor Mexicana had got
fairly under headway the captain arose
lightly from the deck, and passing for
ward took the lantern from the binnacle
and held it for inmate 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 u.s.
In the first one that boarded us was
the mate and n merchant, whom well
knew TO belong TO one of the first houses
in Tampico. The boat came noiselcssly
alongside and their crew crept stealthily
on board. Without n 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 70 his feet hc shouted:
"Guarda costa-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 nanfully 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, ho 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 no,
whether he had sunk or gained tho
shore, nor, 10 tell tho truth, did we care
much.
Bear hand, boysr said the cap
tain: tumble in these packages; ge'
the rest OF the goods into the boats and
let them get ashore II that dngo has
not drank too much water, he may CIV
us some trouble about this matter yet.