Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-09-21
CHAPTER xvII.-CoNr1NuEp.
By chAUNcY G. noTchklss


missed that they would themselves be
guided by the drift, only using their oars
that they might make their speed greater
than that of the schooner. By so following
they might hope to overtake us, and doubt
iesA would have done so only we were now at
the point where the rush of the Hudson
meets that of the Sound river, and the rips
and whirlpools formed by the mingling of
these waters off and below Nutten's island
were constantly creating counter streams
and cross currents that shifted and spun
with the minutes, ever changing and never
at rest save at the brief intervals of slack
water on the turning of the tides.
Beyond the gurgling and rushing of the
stream not sound could I now hear,
though once or twice l was sure l caught
the humping Of oars in their tholes and
heard voices of men. But if l did, they went
wide of us, for the minutes swung into half
an hour at least, and the half hour into
whole one, yet nothing of the boats from
the Ajax did see.
And now took deep breath and moved,
for during this time of terrible suspense we
on deck had barely stirred. Not sound
had come from below, nor had an attempt
to uncover the windows been made, and
yet knew one man had broken nose from
I musket butt, and both must be pressed
for want of air. Mistress Gertrude still sat
on the cabin top, and crouched low near the
companion door, with pistol in hand, was
hel brother.
As patient as was this girl, she was human
flesh, and delicate bit of femininity at that
The cabin top could not be made perma.
nent quarters for her, and, though believe
she would have collapsed from sheer exhaus-
ton ere offering word of complaint, it was
an uncalled-for sacrifice for her to remain
longer unsheltered and seated on bare, hard
planking. Up to the present comfort had
not been considered. but now that imme-
date danger was past, turned my thoughts
to the young lady, and cast about for re-
treat to which she might retire. Save the
hold or the forecastle, no spot was avail
able, and either would be rep,gnant to one
of her fastidious tastes. Still, shelter she
must have; l would see to it presently, but
now I became more than curious to know
what devilment was meant by the continued
silence of the two desperate men Gagged in
the cabin.
1t struck me that the quiet, coupled with
what had gone before, might bear mighty
significance, and going softly to a corner of
the tarpaulin, l quickly threw it up and
looked in. The light was out. Drawing
back out of range l called Scammell by
name, and then Lounsbury, but received no
reply. Putting the threat of death in my
demand for an answer, still received moth
ing in return; SO clambering to the cabin
top, l laid my ear above headlight to
catch a sound of movement within, but had
hardly taken my position when both nose
and lungs were assaulted by such mixed
stencil of burned powder, lamp SCOT, rum
and foulness in general as to almost turn
my stomach, though it at once cleared up the
mystery.
Here, now, was my threat to stife them
carried out better than knew. Dragging
off the tarpaulin, l pushed away the hatch
cover, drew the bayonet from the staple,
forced back the companion slide and en-
tered. The first thing did was to stumble
over a mans body on the floor, and then
turned and got to the deck, for the air in
the cabin was more than l could at once
endure. Letting the place clear for little,
fetched the galley lantern and went down
once more. The cabin was yet filled with
heavy blue mist, and the sulphurous fumes
were choking. Lounsbury lay on the floor
with his face covered with blood, apparent
~ dead, both eyes being swollen and his
countenance blackened beyond recognition.
His companion sat on the cushioned tran
som, jammed into corner betwixt berth
and the bulkhead He was unconscious,
and, with his tongue hanging out, was
breathing feebly. Physically he was alive,
but, through liquor and foul air, was 50
dead drunk that nothing could have reused
him. Three empty brandy bottles lay
about, together with ScammelFs saber, a
broken sword, pistols and tobacco pipes,
while on the table, the cotton cover of which
was burned to ashes, were the remains of
leathern powder pouch rent by explosion.
No wonder they had succumbed. In
their tipsiness, or through the carelessness
o: desperation, they had fired their ammuni
ton, the amount not having been sufficient
to cause more than the muffled blow and
flash I had heard and seen on the instant
Of our being hailed by the Ajax. This, with
the smoke of the previous firing, together
with the heat and closeness of the quarters,
had created a smudge and foulness in which
none but drunkard could have lived a
minute. They had evidently been deep in
some scheme to blow open the forward door
(which showed signs Of attack when a
spark from pipe caused the plot to harass
the plotters. Lounsbury had been the chief
sufferer, and thus was accounted for his
blackened face and his cry for air and water
However, it could not have hit my turn
better had laid the train of events myself,
nor was it long before I had the two lying
on the deck and knew the cabin was sweet
en;ng and would soon be fit retreat for
Miss King. Neither was it long before l
discovered that Lounsbury was not as dead
- he was drunk, though hardly as far gone
in liquor as Scammell, who could have been
st,ho 49, To fbo ,ovf
world without the slightest inconvenience
to himself. And mores the pity twas not
done.
Like bags of dunnage took them by their
collars, hauling them amidships, and then
clapped the wrists and legs of both into
irons, articles which in those days stood
somewhat ahead of the medicine chest in
importance, and frequently in use. With a
mingled feeling of pity, hatred, and disgust,
soused the sots with bucket of salt water,
and then left them for Nature to bring to
life. As l moved aft l caught the freshness
of small, early morning breeze, and felt
that ere long the protecting blanket of fog
would be rolled away. Much would have
given for a knowledge of our exact where
abouts, but as this was impossible, nothing
remained but to prepare The schooner for
sailing as soon as we could get our bearings.
Twas small job to cast off the gaskets and
get loose the headsails ready for hosting,
but another matter for Ames and myself
alone to run the heavy canvas of the main
and foresails to their mast heads. l was
fearful that the rafting blocks and rustling
CT the great cloths might herald our stua-
ton, but nothing came of it, and after deal
of hauling we got something ike slack
set to the sails which for months had been
THAR hoarls