Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-12-22
CHAPTER NJ.

CHAPTER NJ.
Clarence was right with regard to the
intended movement Of the brig. enc
rounded to, and came up alongside the
schooner, Her men were Mt the guns
with lighted matches, but they did not
fire. As soon rs the graplings could he
made fast, the captain of the brig lenped
upon the schooner's deck. He was
dark, ignorant looking fellow. but pos.
sessing not only great brute strength, but
apparently a good degree Of boldness.
"Who's commander hcrcT" the Next
can asked.
Max looked at Clarence. and Clarence
looked ut Max; but the younger man re.
piled:
"This man, senior, Is captain Of the vcs'
eel, but twas L that ordered the the re-
sistance that has been made"
"Not BY a long shot, ole chap" uttered
Max, who spoke the language well.
"Yc're both In the mess. l own the
craft, and own all the mischief we've
done We; only I must say that Captn
Towards more extended knowledge has
been a most tremendous help to u.s."
"And now wouldn't we be serving you
oil lust right to string sc up In the rig.
ging and sink the old craft with ye still
hanging to herr" uttered the Mexican,
In rather a threatening tone.
"That depends upon whether you care
anything about our cargo or not" coolly
returned Clarence. ~ suppose you'll find
about four thousand dollars worth Of
plumber here; and when we resolved to
defend ourselves, the point In our minds
was this: we'll escape IL we can-and Of
course you wouldn't blame us for that.
for that IL the conceded right OF even IN
enemy; then we thOught-herc, II we
don't escape, our enemies won't COM
plain, for four thousand dollars will 20
further among few captors than among
Q great many"
The Mcxican's face changed It's express
sion wonderfully.
"EhY" he uttered. "What's your car
GOT"
"Some furs-nice ones: some provis
ions--beef, pork, venisOn; and some
money"
"And 70 surrender nOwT'
"Of course" returned Clarence, f0i
Max had nodded to him to speak. I'VE
resisted as long as We could, and when
we found we must be captured, we con
cluded to give up"
"Well," resumed the Mexican, In a re-
ienting tone, "it's lucky for You, perhaps
that we arc none OF us relatives. Those
chat are gone run their own risk, and
they've got 1t. I guess we'll have yOt
carried on board our vessel and put II
irons, and then we'll overhaul your craft
and see what We can find"
In obedience Of an order to this effect
the crew Of the schooner were transfer
red to the brig. and there put In irons
The first impulse OF Clarence, upon reach
ing the briggs deck, was to look abOu
upon the result Of his companions work
At first he could see nothing, but as III
cast his eyes forward, upon the larbOart
aide. he saw the dead men gathered there
or course he could not count them, fO
they were piled one atop OF the other
hut he could see that there We're grea
number of them. At length he had al
opportunity to ask, and he was infOrme,
that thirty-nine men had been killed
and that only one man had been hit VIII
survived It! At first the young captain
could hardly credit it; but then he quick
" remembered how unerrngly the oil
hunters could shoot, and when he cam
to reflect upon the number OF times the
had fired he had no more to wonder at.
The brig had. previous to the chase
fifty-eight men. She had sailed frOI
Vera Cruz with sixty, but two OF theI
had been killed In a private fight got u
for their amusement and exercise. Cor
sequently she had now but nineteen me
left; and under these circumstances the
concluded not to allow over three men
man the prize, for as the schooner woul
sell for something, they wished to saw
her. Three men We're easily found VIII
would take charge of the schooner. an
when they were detailed, 1t left the brig
crew cut down to sixteen men. but the
felt sure that would be enough to carr
the vessel safely into Vera Cruz for the
could have their prisoners securely irol
ed, SO that no trouble need be apprehen'
ed from them.
The sun was down and night almo
shut In, when the last load of stuff wi
brought off from the prize, and then Il
three men were sent on board to tai
charge, with instructions to keep as net
as possible to the brig through the nigh
a light being suspended at the main pea
as a guide.
"Quite price" said the Mexican ca
tain. standing upon the checks on Whit
the boat stood, and holding his lantel
over 80 that he could see the hands al
feet OF his prisoners. "Your beet q
pork comes quite handy"