The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-01-26
THE SMUIGGIER.

F'SN fh ~ itNhIC bCUtUIltE Cuiltu
The ELLA, commanded by a lilly skipper
from Florida, one Nat Marin, dark
skinned Spanish creole, Who, "for
short, was always called byhis friends
Mig The schooner generally carried
out her dry goods and provisions on her
owners account, but always had IN
idea that she ''tonned" more than her
register made her responsibldfor
We were only nine days tn our run
from New York out to thl mouth OF
TanIpico river, and about mon on the
tenth day we stretched in over the bar
with leading wind that would easily
have carried us with u flowing sheet up
to the town, which was neirly twelve
miles above; but, for roasonsbest known
to himself, the captain anchored as soon
as we passed the fort and rounded Point
Tampico, just above and outof 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 oyerhauled our papers md manifest.
They seemed a little suspicious, and one
Of the officers was left tIn board to
watch us. while the rest welt on board
their own craft, which lay 5early half
mile farther down the riyef 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 ut 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 III the cabin that the officer and
captain were getting along very well 10
gether, and once in awhile the tinkle Of
meeting glasses and u jolly song spoke
Of o spirit potential that was playing
upon the hearts nnd senses Of both par
ties
At last, u little after dark, with real
!. Havana in each Of their mouths, they
came on deck, the skipper and the
watcher. Both were decidedly and
equiyocally drunk ( if one might Judge
from their walk and conversation but
could see at a single glance that the cap
tain was shamNing, although the "spir-
itual reality WIS visible in the Mexi-
can lie seemed, however, to retain
some notions of his duty and to know
that, AZ night was over us, If we intended
to smnggle IT was necessary for him to
keep his eyes open. So he seated him
self on the taifAail with an air of drunken
dignity, and as he humned a Spanish
barcaarolle, kept watch over the move
menta of the crsw about the deck, glanc-
ing now and thAn up md down the still
river.
AS the night advanced saw that Cap
tain Martin beg an to look uneasy and
anxious. although he pretended to be
even more drunk than his guest and
spy.
At last, when bit was near midnight,
the Mexican became less frequent in his
snatches of song, 4nd the 'liquor browse"
seemed to be comfpg over him.
Captain Martin how lay down beside
the Mexican and pretended to fall -rSo u
sound sleep, attestinA The same by long,
loud and regular snoring This threw
the Mexican completely off his guard,
and wrapping N watch coat closer
around him he @llowed suit, and then
the twain sef Id to be trying which
could snore ioudest.
When tn &anor Mexicana had got
fairly nndl. adway the captain arose
lightly fri ae deck, and passing for
ward took lantern from the pinnacle
and held br n minute over the bows.
Presently saw several dark objects
coming n from under the shadow Of
the land ID In II few moments more
six large tive canoes were alongside
OF us. A
4. 3S,.a Nbns hn,.Ial So ,.,h,