Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-07-26

would follow detection, and he was
not disposed to trife. Raising the
Mexican, in spite of his kicks and
writings, he coolly pitched him
overheard.
It was quite dark, and as the tide
was ebbing swiftly downward he
passed out of sight instantly, but
for minutes we could hear him
splashing and gurgling in the water
and trying to shout. Then all was
still again. We knew not whether
he had sunk or gained the shore,
nor, to tell the truth, did we care
| much
'fBear a hand, boys!" said the
captain. "Tumble in these pack
ages. Get the rest of the goods into
the boats and let them get ashore.
II that dago has not drunk too
much water, he may give us some
trouble about this matter yet"
In few moments the last pack
age to be struggled was passed into
the boats, the "patron" who had
made the purchase counted out the
pay in doubloons, the canoes pushed
off and soon vanished up the river.
In few moments our matches were
replaced, the deck cleared up as be-
fore and the crew retired to their
berths with orders to be sound
asleep and not to wake up on any
account.
All this was scarcely arranged
when the dash of oars coming hasti-
ly up the river was heard, and in
another moment an armed boat
from the guarda costa was along
side. At the first sound of the ap-
preaching boat Captain Martin had
lain down where he first pretended |
to go to sleep, and he was now snor-
ing louder than ever.
The officer who had been thrown
overheard, still dripping from his
involuntary bath, rushed aft and |
with no gentle means tried to arouse !!
the sleeper. At last he yawned and
scratched his head and coolly asked |
what was the matter and what was
wanted. Then came a scene.
All the Mexicans, cursing and |
swearing and threatening and car
radooing at once, pointed to the
officer who had been taking a mid
night swim all alone to himself,
Who, with a voice louder than all
the rest, swore that he would have
drowned if St. Antonio hadn't made
the sentinel hear his voice aboard
the guarda costa and caused them to
send him boat.
The captain could not be made to
understand what was the matter,
and when he was charged with hav-
ing thrown the revenue officer over
board and with having Struggled
boats alongside he raised his hands
in holy horror toward the stars and
Indignantly replied:
Its all a contrived lie. Why"
said he to the other officers of the
guarda costa, ''that gentleman dined
with me. We drank pretty freely
and then came up from the cabin,
when both of us lay down here to
sleep. | did not wake up until now.
He must have been dreaming and
have fallen overheard in his sleep!
You all saw that | was sound asleep
when you came aboard. How, then,
could | have thrown him overboard? /
The idea is absurd, nonsensical, the
whole story improbable i'm !
possible. See, my matches are all !
patterned down, just as they we're
when you were on board when l ,
came in from sea today. Nothing |
las been moved. Ny crew are all [
asleep. He must have been dream I
ng, and while he dreamed of snug i
ylcrs and the like of such he must |
nave fallen overheard. He knows y
,erv well that he was as drunk as a
ord. =" :;
The story Of the captain was we'll h
and told with better ef- i
ect among all the revenue officers, y
ave the victim himself, who called
lpon every saint in the calendar to T.
ono down and swear that his story =
vas true. But the perfect order and \
uietude of our vessel, the crew all =,
ound asleep, the matches ali bat y
ened down just as they were IN the i
1orning, the honest indignation of II
ur sleepy captain and the acknowl- y
dgment Of the victim that he had W W
cen very drunk compared badly ~
nth his own story, and the yarn of ..
"a plain Martin was believed. The =
oaked official was taken back to his -
wn vessel to be tried and punish r.
d for sleeping on his watch, while -.
mother officer was left in his place ",
0 keep US from smuggling. a,
;e IL