Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-07-23

VIC udrhucss VI Vuc AolV Ho uhu uA-
knowingly drained the last drop from
the bottle. After time he could feel
the long swell of the ocean, and he
knew that he was fairly out to sea.
"Time to get to work. he thought,
and, taking out his knife, he cut the
bagging that enclosed the bale over
his head. With knife and fingers he
tore out big pile of cotton that soon
filed the small place where he lay,
but the tightly compressed bale hardly
showed that it had lost anything.
"Ive got to tuck this stuff away some
where, or l won't have room to work
in, he thought. Just at this moment
his knifestruck piece OF wood in the
bale. "The cheats" he said to him
self; "they're trying to sell old boards
for cotton" 1t took some time to cut
through the board, but after he had
made small aperture he was sur
prised to find a number Of small OBJ
jects tumbling over him. He exam
ined them closely.
"Cartridges!" he exclaimed, in
amazement, "and in bale of cotton.
Now I know why they loaded up at
night, and why they were so anxious
to keeppeople away. These cartridges
are for the Cubans, and this is an ex-
pedition to supply arms to them the
same as the Virginius did years ago."
George had studied in history how
that unfortunate vessel had managed
to slip by the United States authori-
ties, only to be captured on the high
seas by Spanish cruiser, and nearly
all the crew and passengers executed.
He dimly understood that something
called international law" prohibited
the United States from allowing the
export of arms and ammunition to the
Cubans. He shuddered as he thought
of what might happen if the Happy
Thought were captured, and then his
thirst, which was almost uncomfortable,
made him think of the work ahead of
him, and he commenced enlarging the
hole in the bale. The cartridges were
easily removed, and by hard work he
soon managed to cut his way through
the top of the bale, but discovered
that other boxes had been placed above
this, and he would have to cut his way
through them. After resting for
time he attacked these and soon had
the satisfaction of feeling his knife
slip through the bottom boards of the
box over his head. A fine powder fell
over his head, and in an instant he
had thrown himself ON his face, yell
ing like Comanche. The box con-
tained red pepper. For a while he
thought his eyes would be burned out
of his head, but, realizing that some
thing must be done to stop this fiery
rain, he seized bit of cotton and
stuffed it into the hole his knife had
made. That he could not get through
the box of red pepper was very EVIL
dent. His only hope was to cut his
way through the side of the bale of
cotton and then work his way up to
the surface. He now worked with a
wild desperation, cutting at the side
of the bale like madman. On
opening the adjoining box he
found it to be filled with rifles.
These were soon thrown aside, and
he commenced to cut through the top
of the box.
He had exhausted himself by his
frantic exertions, and, in spite of the
pain in his eyes and his burning
thirst. he fell asleep for short time.
He awcke slightly refreshed, but thirs-
tier than ever. "Now," he said, "I'll
see what's overhead" Another box
barred his way, and he cautiously cut
into it, not wishing to go through an
other experience with pepper. Again
soft rain of powder fell over his
hand, but he was prepared this tiuae.
and it was quickly stopped. 1t felt
cool on his hand, aud he tasted it to
make sure he was right. "Flour," he
gasped. "Tm all right this time.
Still, l might get smothered if I let it
fall in here. I wish had piece of
pipe so that I could lead it out of the
barrel. I wonder if rifle barrel
wouldn't do the work." He soon put
this plan into execution, and had the
satisfaction of finding that a small
stream of flour was running steadily
into the space behind him. By cut.
ting other holes and inserting the
rifles for conduits he readily emptied
the barrel.
Haitian hour later dusty, red-eyed
boy, with tongue too swollen to speak,
was lifted out Of the hold and laid on
the deck. A small cup of water was
given to him, and then the captain or
dered the men to put him to bed. He
was taken below and placed in bunk,
and by the next morning had recov-
cred both voice and strength. IS
soon as he made his appearance ON
deck the mate told him to 60 down
into the cabin, as the captain wished
to see him. With many misgivings
George went below and found the cap
tain accompanied by small, dark
man, who seemed to be extremely
nervous-so much so, in fact, that
George thought that he, too, might be
a stowaway. Still he looked as if lie
was quite able to pay his fare.
"Well. young man." began the cap
tain, "what did you hide yourself on
board this sooner for?"
II wanted to be . sailor" was the
prompt reply, and then he described
the manner in which he had come
aboard, hidden himself in the hold,
and, finally, how he had dug his way
through the cargo.
"Why did you choose this vessel to
run away in?" said the small man,
regarding George with evident suspi-
cion.
Because J thought she was the
finest ship in the harbor."