Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-05-08

Martins big fist smote him heavily in
the face, and the blow was followed
by the crash Of Elisha's Delaying pin
on his head. The captain fell and for
awhile lay quiet. There were four big,
strong men over the rail now and 9TH
ers coming. Opposing them were sec
ond mate, an engineer. fireman, coal
passer, watchman, steward and cook
easy victims to these big limbed fisher
men. The rest Of the crew were on
duty below decks or at the steering
winch. 1t was short, sharp battle.
A few pistol shots exploded, but no
one was hurt, and the firearms were
captured and their owners well ham,
mered with Delaying pins; then, bind
ing all victims as they overcame them,
the whole party raided the steering
winch and engine room, and the piracy
was complete.
Amos, the eX-engineer, announced to
the captives that, with all due respect
for the law, national and international.
they would take that distressed steam
boat into New York and deliver her to
the authorities. with claim for sal
wage.
When the infuriated English captain,
now recovered. had exhausted his stock
of adjectives and epithets he informed
them that there was neither food nor
coal for the run to New York, to which
Elisha replied that. If so, the foolish
and destructive waste would be prop
erly entered in the logbook and might
form the basis Of charge Of barratry
by the underwriters if it turned out
that any underwriters had taken risk
on a craft with such an "all fired luna
tic" for a skipper as this.
The men then towed the schooner
alongside and moored her They tran
shipped their clothing and what was
left of the provisions. They also took
the logbook and charts, compass. emp
ty outer chronometer case, which Eli
sha handled tenderly and off1ciously by
its strap in full view Of the captives;
windlass brakes, tool chest, deck tools.
axes, handspikes, beavers. boathooks,
Delaying pins and everything in the
shape of weapon or missile by which
disgruntled Englishmen could do harm
to the schooner or their rescuers.
Then they passed the rescued ones
down to the schooner, and Martin told
them where they would find the iron
kettle for boiling Goldfish.
You cannot take an Englishman's
ship from under him. homeward bound
and close to port, and drag him to sea
again on a diet of salt Goldfish without
impinging on his sanity. When day
broke the fishermen looked and saw
the hawsers slipping over the schoon-
ers rail and afterward fountain Of
dsh arising from her matches to follow
the hawsers overheard.
whats de game, wunner?" asked
Martin. "Tryin' to starve deyselves"
Dunno" answered Elisha, with Sc
r1ous expression. They're not dom 1t
for nothin'. They're wavin' their hats
at US. Somethin' on their minds"
Wen jes' let 'em wave. Wen 60
long bout our business"
So they went at eight knots an hour.
for, try as they might, Amos could get
no more out Of the engine. She's
devil to chew up coal,' he explained.
I'VE may have to burn the boat yet"
Hope not" said Elisha. Tween
you an me, Amos, this Is desperate
bluff we're maxim, an If we 60 to de-
stroyin' property we may get no credit
for savin' 1t. We'd have no chance In
the English courts at all, but it's likely
an American judge 'ud recognize our
original position-our bargain to steer
her In"
TOO bad bout that tarred cable OF
ours, rejoined Amos. Three days good
fuel in that, calculate"
"Well, it's gone with the Goldfish, and
the fact is properly entered In the log