Year: 1861

- Commodore, Silu carter, with re-
markable degree of earnestness in his
manner, is the oman turned in vet -
II rather think so, said Tucker. looking
at the compass. " Look out, look out.
Carter WHY. man alive, YOU re two
points TO the southward of your course"


BLOW me, so | am !" said the man.
bringing the helm smartly aport :. But
say. Commodore, didn't We notice nothin'
'culiar bout that oman 2


Why, Dar, Won seem to be greatly in
terested about her


80 am, Commodore; and so | am
about that black coffin, too. Wouldn't it
be well for you an to 90 and over aul
it


"Pshawt your re as scared as a child in
a grave yard,


No. not bit of ii. Just bark Il bit.
That oman ain't no oman at all -


The Commodore pronounced the vulgar
name Of His Satanic Majesty in Il most
emphatic manner


Its the Truth, Commodore. can
swear to it pretended there was a spi-
der on her hair, and ] rubbed nv hand
agin' her face. by sam Hyde if it
wasn't as rough an bearded as holy
stone You see, she told me as how Id
let the boom jibc, if | didn't look out
know'd there want no oman there. an
- | tried her. Call somebody to the
Nhe.', al lets 20 an take a look at that
ccf.in.


The Commodore was wonder struck by
what he heard but with the calm pres
ence Of mind which made him what he
was, he sat coolly to thinking. In Il few
minutes he called one of the men aft to
relieve Carter, and then he went down to
the cabin to look after his passenger
I The latter had turned in and seemed to
be snOring Tucker returned again to the
deck and took Carter one side
NO noise, now, Carter, but follow me
as though nothing had happened
'-artin, responded Dan
They approached the main hatch. and
Carter stopped to raise it, when his hand
touched small ball that seemed to have
been pinned under the after break Of the
hatch


Its ball Of twine' said Dan


Don't touch it, but run down and get
a lantern replied Tucker,
Carter sprang to obey, and when he
returned number of men had gathered
about the spot The hatch was raised
and the Commodore carefully picked up
the ball Of twine. and found that it was
+
seconded to the hold, and there he found
trlitt tne twine ran IN beneath the lid OF
the coffin lie had no doubt in his mind
now that mischief WIS boxed up before
him, and he sent Garter for something
that might answer for Il 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 bright look out for
tic string.


At length the screws were all out. and
the Id was carefully lifted from its place


Great God in Heaven" burst from
the lips of the Commodore


by Sam HYDE dropped like a young
thuuder clap from the lips Of Dan.


God bless you. Dam said Tucker.


II know III uttered Dan


The two men stood for a moment gaz-
ing into the coffin There was no dead
man there, but in place thereof was ma
terial for the death Of a score


The coffin was filled with gunpow Ter
and pitchvood Upon Il light frame work
in the centre were arranged four pistols,
all cooked and nrimed, and the string
which entered the coffin from without had
communication with the trigger Of each


The first movement of the Commodore
was to call for water, and when it was
brought he dashed three buckets full into
the informal contrivance, and then he
breathed more freely.


"\o, no, he muttered as he leaped
7 from the hold No. no-mv men, do
no5li2g rashly. Let I: 90 into the cabin
frs lou may follow me.
C1:amodore Tucker sIole into the cab
in, aCl walked up to the bunk where his
passenger lay. and grasping hold of the
female dress he dragged the wcarer out
upon the floor. There was sharp resist
ance, and the passenger drew Il pistol, but
1t was quickly Knocked away-the gown
was torn off and Il man came forth from
the remnants of calico and linen.


The fellow was assured that his whole
plot had been discovered and at length
he owned that it had been his plan to turn
out during the night and get hold Of the
ball of twine, which he had left in a con
yenient place; he then intended to have
gone aft, carefully unwindng the string
as he went along; then to have got into
the boat cut the falls, and rs the boat I'll
into the water he would have pulled
smartlv at the twine


And | think YOU know he continued,
with u wicked look. what would have
followed / shouldn have been noticed
in the fuss / i have got out OF the way
with the boat and YOU d all have been in
the next world in short order. All can
say Is, / am sorry | didn do II


1t was with difficulty that the CommO
dorc prevented his men from killing the
villain on the spot lie proved to be one
Of the enemy 5 officers. and he was to have
a heavy reward If he succeeded in de
stroying the American Commodore with
his ship and crew


The prisoner was carried on deck and
lashed To the main rigging, where he was
told he should remain until the vessel cot
int port.


What a horrid death that villain meant
for Us uttered Carter


Yes he did, said Tucker with shud
der


He belongs to the same gang that has
been robbin and burnin the poor folks
houses on the eastern coast, said one oi
the men


Yes, returned the Commodore with a
nervous twitching of the muscles about
the mouth


i bitter curse from the prisoner here
broke upon the air and with clenched
fist the Commodore went below.


In the morning when Commodore
Tucker same on tapk SarIlin WAS in Sirh-