Year: 1869

ed over TO tn6 SCorn BOAT and tnen
she came and stood by the pinnacle
again.


Look out, or you'll jibe the boom,'
uttered the passenger.


Carter started and found that the
mainsail was shivering. He gave the
helm a couple of spokes apart, and
then cast his eyes again upon the wo-
man, whose features were lighted by
the binnacle lamp.


'Thank'e ma'am, said Dan. 'Ha,
hold on-why bless my soul, there's
a big spider right on your hair. No
not there. Here-I'll-ughr


This last ejaculation Dan made as
ne seemed to pull something from the
woman's hair, which he threw upon
the deck with the 'ughr above men
toned.


Shortly after, the passenger went
below, and ere long Tucker came on
deck.


Commodore, said Carter, with a
remarkable degree of earnestness in
his manner, lis the oman turned in ?


Il rather think So said Tucker,
looking at the compass. Look out,
look out, Carterl Why, man alive,
you're two points to the southeast of
your course


BLOW me, so | am, said the man,
bringing the helm hard aport. But
say, didn'tyou notice anything pecu-
liar about the old 'oman?'


why, Dan, you seem greatly inter
ested about her,


so | am, Commodore, an so | am
about the coffin. Wouldn't it be well
for you and | to overhaul it?'


Pshaw! you are as scared as a
child in a graveyard


No, not bit; just bark a Bit
That oman amt no oman.


The Commodore pronounced the
name of his Satanic Majesty in the
most emphatic manner.


It's the truth CommOdore-I can
swear to it. purtended there was
spider on her hair, and | rubbed my
hand agin her face. By Sam Hyde, if
it vast as rough and bearded as an
holystone. You see, she told me how
I'd let the boom jibe if l didn't look
out. | knOwe'd there wasn't no oman
then, and so | tried her. Call some
body at the wheel, and let's 90 and
look at the coffin.


The Commodore was wonder struck
by what he had heard, but, with that
calm presence of mind that made him
what he was, he set cody to thinking
In a few minutes he called one of the
men aft TO relieve Carter, and then he
went to look after his passenger
The latter had turned in and seemed
to be sleeping, Tucker returned and
took Carter one side.


NO noise now, Carter; follow me
as though nothing had happened


'Sartin.'


The two approached the main hatch
and stopped to raise it, when Dams
hand touched a small ball that SEEM
ed to have been pinned up under the
after break of the hatch.


Its ball of twine, said he.


Don't touch it, but run and get a
lantern, replied Tucker.


Garter Sprang to obey, and when
he returned a number Of the men had
gathered about the spot. The hatch
was raised, and the Commodore care
fully picked up the ball of twine, and
found that it was made fast to some
thing below. He descended to the
hold, and there he found that the
twine ran in beneath the lid of the cof-
fin, He had no doubt in his mind
now, that there was mischief boxed
up below, and he sent Carter for some.
thing that might answer for a screw
driver. The man soon returned with
stout knife, and the Commodore set
to work. He worked very carefully
however, at the same time keeping a
sharp watch for the string.


At length the screws were out, and
the lid very carefully lifted from its
place.


Great God in Heaven ! burst from
the lips of the Commodore.


BY Sam Hyder dropped like &
thunder clap from the tongue of young
Dan.


God bless you, Dan 7 said the com
mander.


Il knowed it ! uttered Dan.


The two men stood for a moment
and gazed into the coffin. There wa
no dead man there, but in place there
of, there was material for the deatl
of score. The coffin was filled will
gunpowder and pitchwood Upon ;
light frame work in the center wer,
arranged four pistols, all cooked, anC
the string entering the coffin from
without, communicated with the trig
ger of each.


The first movement of the com
mander was to call for water, ant
when it was brought he dashed thre,
or four buckets full into the inferna
contrivance, and then he breathe'
more freely.


NO, no. he muttered, as he leape'
from tbs hold, No, no-my mend
nothing rashly. Let me 60 into th
cabin first. You may follow me-
Commodore Tucker strobe into th
cabin, walked up to the bunk wher
) his passenger lay, and grasping hol
of the female dress, he dragged it
wearer out upon the floor. Their
was a sharp resistance, and the pass
enger drew pistol, but it was quick
ly pushed away-the gown was tori
, off, and a man came forth with th
, remnants of calico and linen.
/ The fellow was assured that hi
/ whole plot had been discovered, an
at length he owned that it had bee
his plan to turn out in the course Of