Year: 1879

lessneSs, when the peculiar nature of his
proceedings rivited my attention. He
looked around on all sides, as if afraid to
attract attention.


Then. suddenly. as if assured the
coast was clear, he made rapidly toward
the empty water eask, on which he was
accustomed to manufacture his model of
the ''Jauet's Pride" Once more glancing
cautiously about him, he then applied his
hands to the top of the cask, and with a
rapid movement, Lifted half OF the top
bodily off.


Ny astonishment and excitement were
intense. Another hasty glance around,
and he plunged his hand down into the
cask, then quickly withdrew it, holding
in his grasp small bag, which he rapid
ly concealed in his breast of his coat.


Again he took hasty survey, and was
about making another dive into this
strange receptacle for hidden goods. when
he suddenly withdrew, having. with
astonishing rapidity, replaced the lid of
the cask. In another moment the cause
OF his alarm was made apparent, as a
couple OF sailors passed him on their
way to relieve the man at the wheel.


When all was again quiet for an in
slant he seemed determined to at once
return to the cask, and no doubt with
drew something more that the Interrupt
ton had prevented him withdrawing in
the first instance. But suddenly chang
ing his mind, be went down the stairs
that led from the deck to the saloon and
sleeping cabins.


Scarcely had he disappeared, when
another figure, stealthily crossing the
deck, met my anxious observation. 1t
was the boatswain.


| saw him glance towards the stairs
down which Mr.. Reginald Moore had
taken his departure. He then made di-
rect for the water cask. II was now ob
vious to me that the old boatswain had
been watching the pleasant passenger


just as he reached the water cask, a
heavy green sea struck the sea to wind
ward, necessitating the boatswain to hold
Oh by the ropes so as to keep his footing
and precisely at the same moment Regi-
maid Moore appeared at the top of the
cabin stairs. [ shall never forget the
scene.


The instant the ship had steadied her.
self. the boatswain commenced his ex,
animation of the water cask. For mo.
ment only Moore stood looking at him
with as evil all expression on his face as
[ ever behold.


With one bound, he was upon the boat
swain, before he could turn to protect
himself. L waited no longer but flung
open the door OF my cabin in an instant,
and in another / was to the rescue, and
in few moments We had our pleasant
passenger in irons.


So, you see, lie was the thief after all,
hiding his knavery under the pleasantest
exterior / ever knew a man to possess.
The manner IN which he had manufac-
tured the top of the water cask was the
most finished and ingenious piece Of
carpentry | have ever beheld.


In the interior of the side of the cask
he had driven se7eral nails, about two
feet from the top. on which he had sus-
pended, in wash-weather bags, the jewel
ry he had stolen.


You may easily imagine the surprise
evinced by our passengers on discovering
that the thief was the man for whom
each and every one OF them entertained
such regard and even affection


At the expiration of three days from
the date of the pleasant passengers de
lection we landed in Melbourne, where
duty compelled me to hand him over to
the police; but rs no one cared to remain
in that town for the purpose of prosecu-
ting him, lie was summarily dealt with.
The presiding magistrate sentenced him
to six years Imprisonment