Year: 1872

couldn't crawl silently down into the
hold, and listen to the talk of the in-
teriopers. The boy said he would try.
OF course this was the best thing, and
| entered into the arrangement.
IL was almost dark when we had
done talking, and pretty soon after
ward lack Smith was sent down under
the hatch after a swab. The boy crcpt
down with him. Jack came back, and
the boy remained.


At midnight Jack went down into
the hold again, and with considerable
bluster pretended To hunt up some
serving stuff When he came back
Frank came with him. He had gained
"A safe place very near 10 the interlop-
ers, and had overheard their convcrsa-
tien--had overheard enough. He told
To me the chief items of their confab.
from which not only knew that the
four escaped convicts were in the hold
of my brig. but that they were despcr-
ate and determined; and one Of the
themes Of their discussion had been
whether they should allow the brig to
make her run 10 the Cuban port, and
there trust TO escape ; or whether they
should take forcible possession. and
make run 10 suit themselves.-Frank
was sure they were strongly inclined
10 this latter plan.


1t was time now 10 act, and before
the ott-w,tch had tarned in called nv
men at. There were seven of Us all
told. Six Of US were men. and one
was boy. had bat one mate, and
my cook was a stout mulatto, who, in
view of extra pay, took his turn on
watch at night. told the men what
We had discovered and then | asked
them TO hold on while Crockett and
talked the matter over. But our cook
did not choose 10 hold on He had
on us


NAV say here that Pete Holt, the
cook, had been born slave. His
father hal been his owner, and had al
SO been spOrtlng-man in New Or
leans, and one OF the best chcss-plavers
living. Pete hal inherited his fathers
love Of chess, and was \ champion at
the game. And he hal inherited other
qualities, too.


Look here = cried the COOK, stepping
forward and laying his hand upon nv
arm :, we've gotem as easy as grease,
If we're only careful. There's wind
enough to shake things considerable If
we'll stick the briggs nose into it. Make
a big fuss-let things fy-stick her
head into the sea-snd then sing out.
breakers i" The rats'll be- sure 10 leave
their hole, and we can take EN- As they
come


No general conld have planned hct-
ter. The thought might have suggested
itself 10 me. but | am not sure. How.
ever. we not only agreed that Pctes
plan was the best we could possibly
find, but We resolved 10 put it into
immediate execution.


As | have before stated, the wind
had set around 10 northeast. and was
nov, at midnight, blowing a rusher.
l couldn't call it a gale, exactly; nor
would | set it down as stiff breeze,
in my log | called it a close-reef
spdrt, with promise of storm Our
first care was 10 gather arms and NUM-
ton. We had pistols, which We slowed
carefully away, 10 be used in case OF
need; but We did not depend upon
them. Our chief arms were short.
heavy wooden clubs, and our munitions
were ropes and seizing stuff We had
our places arranged as we would take
them at the hatch. and then we com
menced operations in earnest.


First We brought the brig up TO the
wind {; aud as there was heavy sea on,
she pitched beautifully, the more
especially as Jack Smith, who had the
helm, ever and anon drove her nose
under water. Next we let her off a
little SO as to be sure and hold her
safely, and then let the fore-stay sail
sheer fiy. You who have seen such q
thing, in gale, can imagine what
swapping, and banging, and crashing
there was as the sheet and its heavy
blocks went sweeping TO and fro over
the deck-load Of lumber. Then We
hurried about the deck, with heavy
tread, while l through my trumpet,
thundered out orders and imprecations,
as though the brig had missed her
stays on lee shore.


At length Frank Willis took the
wheel, and Tom Crockett, who had the
most terrific voice of any of US, went
forward. The rest Of US gathered near
to the main hatch, with clubs and ropes
in hand. Our deck-load Of lumber had
been SO arranged that passage had
been left between the hatch and the
mainmast; and as We had taken the
precaution to stuff pile of boxes into
the larbosrd passage, the men from the
hold must come out into the starboard
gangwsy if they came at all, and not
more than one could come at time.
Pretty soon Crockett's voice broke out,
in Mortified how'll


Breakers = Breakers = Breakers
aheadv


Then gave the order, in furious
YELL


To the davits! Down with the boat !
Save yourselves, my men!


The brig pitched and plunged, and
As we had secured the stsysail sheet,
Frank, at the helm, was able TO drive
her nose under At will, and thus wash
the deck fore and AFT. Presently,
above the upper din, heard the
scrambling Of men below, and in mo-
ment more a tall, dark form came up
from the hold, and hurried out into the
gangwsy. We couldn't afford to run
any risks for humanity's sake. We
knew the villains we're desperate, and
that if they conquered, our tate was
sealed.


So the coming man emerged into the
gangway only to receive q blow upon
the head which felled him to the deck /;
and while Pete took him in hand to
hind him EnOch perlov knockad down