Year: 1875

In 1928, 1 was second mate of the brig
Isabel. We had been freighting for six
or eight months among the West India
islands, and picked up good deal of
money. At last the hot weather came
on, freights grew dull, and we made
ready to sail for home. In the mean
time, there came on board four Span
iards, who wished to engage q passage
to the North, and being able to accomo-
date just that number, we accepted
them. They were all sinister looking
fellows, and one in particular was so
much so, that wondered why Captain
Hillman entertained SO little distrust of
him.


Neither myself nor the chief mate
liked the arrangement; for in those days
every sailor had the dread of pirates
pretty deeply impressed upon his mind.
And, indeed, we had only q few months
previous been chased by the murderous
scoundrels off the Isle of Pines.


We set sail, and must confess that I
passed the first night in some uneasi-
ness. The passengers spoke but little
English, and their conversation was,
therefore, mostly between themselves.
During such colloquies, it seemed to
me that / could detect in them the man
ner of guilty men-a constant look of
distrust and watchfulness; but as the
second day wore on, and L became &C
customed to the appearance of their well
dressed figures at my side, my anxiety
abated.


Toward the evening of this day, how
ever, my attention was drawn to slight
alteration between the cook and the
Spaniard, Bacalardo, the man whom
had remarked as the most villainous.
looking of the four. Drawing near
them, I asked what had happened.


"Why, sir, )" replied the cook, "while
I was out of the galley, this Spanish
gentleman sprinkled something on the
meat. scraped it off the best way
coulu don want any interference IL
the affairs of my galley"


The faithful old cook looked angry
nor was this all-his glance and tone tolt
me that grim and dreadful suspicion
had entered his mind. The Spaniard
however, remarked that he had merel,
intended to season the meat with kline

of pepper highly esteemed in Cuba
but, upon my expressing curiosity t,
see it, he regretted that he had none re
naming. 1 was about to order the cool
not to produce the meat at supper, whel
the captain, approaching us, made ligh
of the affair, laughing at the old cook
jealousy of encroachment upon his pc
culiar province aud as the mysteriou
substance seemed to nave been who'll
removed by the cooks knife, I hope
that no harm might result.


The captain ate freely of the meat
the mate was evidently affected at whi
had transpired, yet his appetite pr
vailed. I avoided it entirely and as
the Spaniarls, the circumstance of the
leaving it untasted seemed not remarl
able, as we had learned on the day pr
vious that they were not in the habit
eating animal food at supper.


Shortly afterwards the captain, mat
and three of the crew became dreadful
sick. 1 felt a terrible presentiment
the worst, yet what was to do III
captain was helpless in his berth !; Il
mate lay in agony upon the transon
the only foremost hand able to come


deck was at the wheel the cook W
paralyzed with fear and my ideas
what could or ought to be done, we
confused by the suddenness and appa
ing difficulty of my position.


Should arm and attack the villain


Whom should / arm, and how Co


mence2 Were the helmsman to s
from his station, knife would be at


heart and were the cook to leave
unHn