Page:Devonshire Characters and Strange Events.djvu/200

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148
DEVONSHIRE CHARACTERS

said: Le Monte Cuttelia et ally abau. They unlid the Scuttle, and put off their Hats and step't down.

"Then I call'd down to them and asked them if they saw any Men betwixt Decks as they went down, and they answered No. Then I call'd forward the Boy and gave him the Blunderbuss and bid him present it down the Forecastle, and if he saw any Men take hold of me, or if I call'd on him for help, then he should be sure to discharge the Blunderbuss at us, and kill us all together, if he could not shoot them without me.

"Then I took the Boy's Bolt and put my head down the Scuttle, and seeing no Man there I leap't down in the Forecastle and laid the Scuttle and nail'd it fast, and thought myself fast, seeing two killed and two secured.

"Then I went upon Deck, and took the Blunderbuss from the Boy and gave him the Bolt, and went aft, and ordered the Boy as before to stand by the Steeridg Door, and give me an account if he saw any Man come towards him with a Handspike; and then I went aft into the Cabbin, and cut two Candles in four pieces and lighted them, one I left burning upon the Table, the other three I carried in my left Hand, and the Blunderbuss in my right Hand; and I put my Head down the Gun-room Scuttle and look't around, and seeing no Man there, I leap't down and went to the Man that lay all the time asleep in a Cabbin betwixt Decks, and took him by the Shoulder with my left Hand, and wakened him, and presented the Blunderbuss at him with my right Hand, and commanded him out of his Cabbin, and made him stand still, till I got up into the Steeridg. Then I call'd the Man, and he standing on the Scuttle and seeing the Man that had his Throat cut almost buried in his Blood, he wrung his Hands, crying out, O Jesu Maria! I told him I