Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-09-14

xcow still fast, fancied the establishment
Ct the guard on finding the Phantom had
dwindled to rusty, mud-spattered con-
trivance but peg removed from raft.
AS the schooner gathered force and fled,
now broadside to the ebb, told in whispers
what | had found and what done. l was
we'll aware that not many minutes would
elapse before those below would discover
something out of gear. Between the COW
cred headlights and the fog they could have
no notion that the schooner was free, for the
water was as fiat as ice, there being ne more
apparent motion now than before Unless
we fouled something, they could make no
guess at what had happened, but the door
would bother them, and in all likelihood
they would end in an attempt at breaking
it down.
To balk this led the way aft, bidding
Ames be spokesman if it came to words, and
to act as he saw fit if it came to blows
Placing Mistress Gertrude on the top OF the
house, and so out of harms way, Ames and
bent our ears to the door, though l kept
my eye open for what might at any minute
confront us from out the depths of the fog
We had not long to wait ere hearing from
those within, for soon hand was placed on
the fastening, and the door ratified in the
forcible shaking it received. Its failure to
open was followed by round oath, and
we plainly heard the voice of Scammell sug-
costing that it be broken down. After a
parley betwixt them as to what was the
probable cause of the trouble, another at
tempt was made to force the door by shak-
ing, and then there was worked through the
joint of the companion way the blade of a
sword. This l could not see, but felt the
steel with my hand, and, thinking the stu
alton had better be known at once, l picked
up the musket and with blow of it's stock
broke the protruding weapon close to the
panel.
To the two below this was the first in
timation that aught was going wrong and
their CONSERVATION must have made fine
show. Possibly ten seconds elapsed before
they recovered from their surprise, and
then the voice of Lounsbury demanded:
"Who's on the deck?' but on receiving no
answer, the panels were assaulted with a
force that well-nigh sprung them from their
frames. Now I babe Ames speak, and,
placing his head conveniently near dead
light, he called out:
''Below there, ScammeN and Lounsbury,
you two be prisoners in the name of the
United Colonies, and l demand the surren-
der of your arms! If you force the COM
panon, it will mean death to both; you are
outnumbered."
"Who are you?" came from within, this
time from Scammell.
Call me the ghost of Donald Thorndyke,
if you will, but pass out your arms" At
which l laughed outright, despite the stu
alton.
The laugh must have been heard by them
and my locality fairly well marked, for there
came volley of curses, and then through
the door two pistol shots in quick success
sion.
1t was fortunate that I was well at the
side of the companion, else the assault would
have finished me. 1t showed the temper of
my captives, as well as the necessity for pro-
lection against another similar attack, for
should it come to our getting off and using
the sails the helmsman would be in sore
danger of being shot as he stood at the
wheel. There were no window openings
in the cabin fore or aft, and, save the door,
no possible weakness in the structure; but
this door exactly faced the helm and was in
danger of being forced or so riddled with
bullets that it would become an outlook for
the two royalsts who could thus command
the wheel and ad jacent deck.
1t would have been an easy matter to
shoot either or both of the prisoners and