The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

He straddled into the broad platform
| of the chains. and thence vaulted lightly
over the bulwark. ! followed him, with
Tomlinson and the other boarders at my
heels Several men. clad in the pic
turesque garb one would expect to find
aboard Spanish SLAYER hung about
upon the forecastle. but the two i have
described were the only occupants of the
afterpart.
Are you the master of this schooner.
sir?" demanded Lieut. Murray. address,
ing the middle-aged person with reddish
whiskers. We had been prepared to find
them Spaniards: 1t was therefore
slight surprise to be answered in a
strong Yankee accent.
II am. sir. and that's fact And
may / ask why you should fire at my
vessel and board me IN this fashion?
You must he aware that you are taking
very serious responsibility upon your
self"
That may or may not be-" answered
Murray. Meantime. sir. yod will oblise
me by producing your papers and getting
your main hatch lifted"
Il protest that. even though you are
a British naval officer. you have no
earthly right to hinder peaccable trader
upon her voyage in this way.
Lieut.. Murray retorted: My orders
are to look into your hold. and to see
your papers. Do you refuse to show
them to me-
Il do"
The lieutenant gave some instructions,
and forthwith half n dozen blue jackets
made for the main hatch. the rest falling
into line and standing to their arms
Murray drew near the hatch. and l fol-
the battens which enclosed the aperture.
and threw the interior open to our view
rush of hot air belched forth. followed
by a chorus of gutteral cries and groans
The vessel was full of slaves.
We'll. | guess We are caught this. time,
anyhow" drawled the American. Bluff s
a good game. but it don't always pay"
The lieutenant gazed from him to me
with a somewhat puzzled expression COM
ing into his face. One would have ex-
pected the man to show more concern
at his situation. whereas his demeanor
was one Of absolute sang froid.
Il shall remain here" said Lieut.. MUIR
ray to me- "and keep possession Of the
better return to the Lapwing in the
cutter, and report to the commander that
this craft is the SLAYER he took her
to be; that her hold at this moment il
full Of blacks; and that she is our lawful
prize"
In few minutes more 1 was on my
way back again to our schooner. Lieut.
Broadbent stood in the gangway. await
ing me. I speedily made my report to
him. and a smile Of satisfaction wrinkled
up his bronzed countenance whilst he
listened.
After hearing my story through Broad
bent said that he would go on board the
Moro himself, and arrange with Lieut.
Murray to carry the SLAYER to Kingston.
Jamaica. A fresh cutters crew was
told OF, and did not go in the boat upon
this return journey.
1t was dusk when the cutter came
bsck. The big boat looked to me very
crowded and deep in the water as she
approached. and before she got alongside
made out that the whole of our men
were IN her.
The story. as 1 gathered it from those
whom 1 had left behind when I came
away in the cutter. was as follows: 1t
seems that Lieut.. Murray stood con-
versing with the two men. whom he took
to be the skipper and mate of the Morro.
and he of the reddish whIsKer. asked
number Of questions an to what would
be done with the vessel now; what
would be their probable fate;. would they