Year: 1871




wait"


AS the officer began his arrest, the captain
turned pale as sheet, and then as dark as
a thunder cloud but as he finished, treating
the affair so lightly, the captains brow
cleared and he said frankly, "I am sorry
L have broken, unintentionally of course,
any law, and it would inconvenience me
greatly to leave my friends before dinner
if you and your friend"-" Mr.. Brevet, my
assistant" interposed the polite sheriff
"would be pleased to dine with us; we
should be pleased to have glass of wine
together over my mistake" and SO saying,
he preceded us to the cabin, where Hays,
who appeared to be well known to all
assembled there, was greeted with surprise.
After explanations were made by the
captain, we sat down to as fine dinner as
ever saw, and must say no one enjoyed
it better than the captain did, on whom the
cares of this world seemed to hang lightly
enough.


After our champagne was over, we all
took the ships boat, and being landed,
made our way to the Judges private Office.
We found him deeply interested in book,
and Seymour half asleep in chair in a
corner


"Well, Judge, what is all this arrest
about?" said the captain, with some bluster.


"Not much" was the answer; "here is
a certain William Seymour, who charges
you with selling him into captivity at the
Fejee Islands, and stealing the vessel and
cargo of which you were master, and he
was supercargo, and owner"


AS the judge said this, Seymour raised
himself from his seat and coming forward
confronted his runaway captain, who turned
so white, I really thought he would
swoon ; but with mighty effort he recovered
himself, and said with curse, 81 hoped
you would have made meal long ago. and
thought you had been eaten by cannibals,
as you hadn't crossed my wake since"


In his excitement he spoke too much
and now cut himself short when it was too
late, and sardonic grin from the sheriff at
his committing himself so easily had
brought him suddenly to his senses.


"Then there is something in all this"
said the judge. 81 must commit you
without ball. as Mr.. Seymour wants me to
wait for him to produce his evidence. But
for your unlucky admission and appearance
fear when you were confronted by youg
accuser, l should have accepted small surety
for your appearance; but now l shall
accept nothing"


AS the judge said this, l had no idea
that he was doing it as a trap to commit
the accused into confession, and produce
a settlement; but SO it was, and the
villanous captain fell into it.


"Is there no way this can be arranged ?"
he pitifully said.


p" You confess il is so, as have sworn ?"
demanded Seymour sternly.


81 didn't mean to leave you at the
islands, but was forced to by the crew."
was the whining answer.


think you will return every penny of
it," Seymour gravely said. Then calling
me to one side and conversing for few
moments with me, agreeing entirely with
all he said, he turned again to the miserable
wretch before us and said, If you make
me legal transfer of the ship Belle Blonde
with all her appurtenances as she now lies
and a clear bill of sale of her cargo, would
agree never to prosecute you, and | will
give you ten minutes to decide in and if
you refuse l shall leave you with the
officer; for / found you with nothing,
consequently every cent you have is made
from what you stole from me, and I am
going to have it for indemnity"


For seven or eight minutes the villain
twisted and turned but as his time expired,
the sheriff produced pair of handouts,
and ostentatiously began to unlock them.
You ought to have seen what an assistance
to his mind the bracelets were, for he mood
lily said, "Take the property; suppose
you would get it in the long run, and
might as well be free as behind CRATES"


No sooner had he uttered this, than the
judge, producing the vessels case of pa
pers which it appeared he had obtained
from the custom house during our absence,
began to fill a blank bill of sale of tho YES
sci, and having done So proceeded with a
bill of sale of the cargo, according to the
entry that had been made.


In twenty minutes from the time the ac-
ceptance was made, the transfer was effect
ed, and the custom house deputy collector,
who had been induced to remain long after
business hours, had taken the documents
! IN hto ofi oa for ,ooo,J Will I, -