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

features relax little at this reply, but
the next question was delivered more
sternly than the others.
"Nhat did you find in the hold?"
Cartridges and guns and red pep
per and -four"
"Put him in irons! Put him in
irons! He's spy!" screamed the lit
tie, dark man.
"Mr. Menendez," said the captain,
impressively, $50 long as I'm captain
of this schooner, I calkerlate to de-
liver my own orders" Then, turning
to the boy, said: you've got pref
ty good idea of what kind of trip
you're takin', 1 reckon?"
eyes, sir; it's filibustering eXpe-
dition, 1 think"
"Just so. An you know what they
do to tilibusters when they catch
'em?"
Eyes, sir; they shoot them"
''Then, if you don't want to get
shot, all you've got to do is to hold
your tongue an tend to your own
business, if we should happen to be
boarded by any one. Now run upon
deck an tell Mr.. Jones to put you to
work"
The mate kept George pretty busy
at odd jobs, but rs he was very anx-
ious to learn and was willing to try
anything, he soon won the favor of
the captain and mate. AS for the
sailors, they simply made hero of
him after his story became known.
One of them even went 80 far as to
present him with small monkey that
he had kept chained behind the
cooks galley, and all his spare time
was spent in teaching the little fellow
to perform.
One morning, about three daye after
he had made his appearance, George
came on deck and found Mr.. Menen-
dez and the captain engaged in very
earnest conversation, frequently cast
ing uneasy glanoes at a vessel that lay
about a mile away. Just then a puff
of smoke shot out from Der side, and
moment later the mufled report OF a
gun rolled over the water.
"Shall we hold our course?" George
heard Mr.. Mendenez anxiously inquire
Of the captain.
"Yes."
Then another puff was seen, and a
shot went skipping along across the
water far in front of the schooner. A
short, savage order from the captain,
aud the schooner was brought into the
wind with all sails fluttering.
care you sure we are safe if they
take it into their heads to examine the
cargop" said Mr.. Menendez.
Perfectly safe. In the first place,
what would they examine the cargo of
a coasting schooner for? No one ever
heard of such vessel doing any fill
clustering. In the second place those
man-o'-war's men are too tarnally lazy
to move the heavy bales we have on
top OF the ammunition.
In spite of the captains declaration,
George could see shade of anxiety
pass over his face, as he watched a
boat that had come alongside. The
officer in the stern sheets clambered
aboard and was coolly received by the
captain, who, after a moments con-
versation, showed his manifest. The
OFFICER was evidently not satisfied, for,
calling to his men, he had them re-
move the battered down matches. The
captain threatened and protested, but
the officer answered with an inso-
lent grin, and, in company with
all but two of his seamen,
who We're detailed to guard the
matches, commenced to overhaul the
cargo. To Georges dismay, they
commenced at the identical spot
where he hud made his exit.
eff they find the guns and cart
ridges, they will confscate the cargo
and kill us all, perhaps, thought he.
Then, to make matters worse, one of
the sailors, finding that the flour bar
rel could be easily moved, lifted it out
and knocked the head in. The fact
that it was empty was regarded with
suspicion. The next thing that was
picked up was the box of red pepper.
The cover was pried off, and, seeing
what the contents were, one of the men
set it OH the empty -four barrel pre-
paratory to jumping into the cleared
space.
eff that box OF pepper would only
upset." thought George, "they
wouldn't want to know anything more
about the cargo"
The thought gave him an idea.
Untying the monkey from the mast,
George showed him a lump of sugar
in his hand and then threw it swiftly
into the hold. 1t was done so quickly
that no one saw but the monkey, who,
not recognizing the authority of the
guards at the hatchway, sprang into
the hold, and, finding every other
way barred to his coveted sugar,
leaped full on to the box of pepper in
its insecure position on the -four bar
rel. The barrel rocked, poised it.
self for one anxious moment and
the pepper fell, only to rise again
in one great cloud that enveloped
everything in the hold. From out Of
this red cloud arose a fearful uproar.
Yells of rage and screams OF pain,
mingled with the shrieks of the mon
key, who was biting apd scratching
all who came within his reach, added
to the pandemonium. Presently a
q man climbed out of the hold, stag
gered to the bulwarks and leaped into
the sea. He was followed by another,
and another, until, last of all, came
the officer and the monkey The two
seamen who had not gone into the
hold regained their senses in time to
rescue those of their mates who could
not swim, and recover the remainder
who were swimming blindly about.
The schooner's crew thoroughly en-
joyed the predicament these poor fel.
lows were in, and hooted and jeered al
them as they vainly endeavored to
rub the smarting substance out OF
their eyes.
"Come alongside" commanded the
captain, "I'll give YOU something