THE STORY-TELLER.

MUTINY ABOARD. They were an ugly-looking mob, some •with blue shirts, some with red, many with neither, but nearly all brandishing large open knives." With frightful oaths and threats, they demanded that the keys of the ‘' lazaretto,” in which .the spirits are kept, should be given up to them. This, of course, was refused, and they were ordered to leave the saloon. At this they yelled and shouted defiantly, still de manding the cask of rum. I attempted to speak to them, but my voice was immediately drowned in a torrent of im precation. In the adjoining state-room of the captain’s, a revolver was lying on a table. I stepped quietly back, and returned with it under my uniform coat. The captain then, by my advice, ordered the boat swain to pipe to’supper. This command was received by all with derisive laughter and yells of defiance. The time for action had come, so, putting the captain a little aside, I stepped forward, at the same time taking care to let the revolver be seen. The sight of the deadly weapon produced an almost instantaneous silence amongst the cowardly mob. Then, speaking slowly and firmly, I said, “Boatswain, you have been ordered by your captain to pipe to slipper : do so.” He answered, with a string of oaths, that he would not, and concluded by telling me to mind iny own business. Taking no notice of his braggadocio, I again spoke to him, in a tone that implied that I should be as good as my word. . ‘‘Boatswain,” I said, “I have given you an order ; if you fail any longer to obey it, I will put it out of your power to obey or to disobey another order in this world ; for/as sure you stand there, I will send one of these balls through your head. Now, then, what do you say to it?”

With those words I slowly cocked the revolver, and took a deliberate aim at his head.

At the first sound of that disagreeable click of the pistol-lock he cried out, “For goodness’ sake, don’t fire, sir, I’ll do it adding, in a low growl to the others, “It don’t matter, chaps, I know you won’t go none the more for’t.”

The boatswain’s shrill whistle then rang out sharply and clearly through the saloon, but no one heeded it, except to greet it with yells and roars of derisive laughter. As soon as I could make myself heard above the tumult, I said sternly and reso lutely— “ Men, you have disobeyed your cap tain, but you shall do as I tell you. (Here there wei’e shouts of, “ Who are you ? Go back and bully your own men,” and the like.) “ Now, I order you all to clear out of this cabin.” Here again I was inter rupted by cries of, “ Won’t,” and much stronger expressions to the same effect. “Very good,” I continued; “you won’t. Well, then, I’ll give you three minutes to alter your minds ; at the end of that time I’ll blow out the brains of the nearest man, and then the next, and so on.”

At this there was a great buzz and talking amongst the men, yet they showed no signs of moving, but watched me stand ing with the pistol in one hand and my watch in the other.

“One minute has gone ; you have only two minutes left, and you will have but one more warning.” This I said keeping my eyes on the dial of the watch. The crowd received this with a sulky groan, but yet they seemed as if they would stand, to their ground. It was strange to see these wild, almost frantic men cowed into a state of dogged silence by one determined man with a pistol. ‘ ‘ Two minutes have gone ; I warn you no more. The instant this hand passes the third minute I fire, and the nearest man will be my mark.” For a few moments more they stood grumbling and growling ; but on hearing the click of the cocking of the pistol they began'to waver. Then, comparing the distances of the former men from me, and fixing my eyes steadfastly on one burly fellow, I said in a.low tone, as if speaking to myself, yet loudly enough to be heard by all, “ I think he’s the nearest, yes, yes, by some inches.” At this he cowered down, and began to draw back to give one of his comrades the preference. He, in his turn, gave way to one an other, and so on, until it was evi dent that no one was desirous of being the foremost, and so they moved off sulkily out of the cabin. They seemed sadly apprehensive that the last minute would be shorter than either of the two preceding ones, and it was really ludicrous to see how the last half-dozen men tumbled over one another in their hot haste to get out of the saloon.

“Alone again with me, captain,” he exclaimed, seizing me warmly by both hands. “Thanks, my dear friend —a thousand thanks. But what an awful risk you have run. Did you know that there was not a single chamber loaded in that revolver, nor a single cap on ?” “ My dear sir,” I replied, “ I knew that perfectly well, but the men didn’t and I trusted rightly that they would not find it but.” Having somewhat imprudently replaced the pistol in the captain’s cabin, we went on deck to calm our minds with some good cigars.

(to BE ■CONTINUED.)

The Empress of Russia’s Birth and Early Life.

The name of the Empress of Russia (says a writer in a London paper) has been a good deal in people’s mouths lately. It may therefore interest my readers to read the following account of her birth and character, abridged from ‘‘ Les Mysteres de la Russie,” by M. Frederic Lacroix, published in 1845:— Travelling through Germany with the view to finding a suit able bride, Alexander arrived at the court the Grand Luke of Hcsse-Laimstadt, and was received with great pomp. The Grand Luke, anxious to become the father-in-law of the Czarewitch, presented two of his daughters to the young Prince. The latter, however, was polite, and nothing more. However, among the youn" ladies who composed the court of the Grand Luke, the Czarewich remarked one whose modest appearance and simple attire were in remarkable contrast to the luxury and formality which prevailed around her. Evidently she did not belong to the Grand Lucal family, for at table, at the play, everywhere, in short, she occu pied the second rank, and seemed com

pletely forgotten, not to say treated with contempt. This mystery provoked the curiosity and interest of Alexander, who ended by falling as desperately in love with the girl as his cold nature would allow. He made inquiries, and ascer tained that her history was rather a sin gular one. One of the Grand Duke s chamberlains allowed himself to become enamored of the Grand Duchess and there was reason to suspect that his love was returned. One day the Grand Duchess was confined of a daughter. The Grand Duke displayed great chagrin. at the event. The child, whose undesired ap pearance caused so much grief and scan dal, was brought up at the Grand Ducal Palace ; but, deprived of the care of her mother, who died while her daughter was still an infant, the poor little thing, though not formally disavowed, was made every day to expiate her mother’s fault by humiliations of every sort. _ From this un happy lot she was delivered by her marriage with the Czarewitch, and it is she who is now the Empress of Russia.

THE ASHBURTON HERALD

j Tuesday, April 6, iSSo.



Edmiston, G-undry & Co TURNIP SEEDS. SALE by the undersigned— Green Top Yellow Aberdeen Purple ~ ~ Devonshire Grey Stone Mammoth Purple Top . White Stone Stubble Grass and Clover Seeds. White Clover Red ~ Timothy Alsike Lucerne Gorse Italian Rye Cocksfoot Perennial Trefoil &C. , (Cc. j ii/6. Building Material. 100,000 FEET OF ASSORTED TIMBER White & Black Pine Black Birch T. and G. Flooring Y.D.L. T. and G. Lining Totara Kauri, &c., &c. COALS AND FIREWOOD IN ANY QUANTITY. EDMISTON, GUNDRY, & CO., East Street.



Agents for the SOUTH BRITISH FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY. Capital £1,000,000. Risks taken on all kinds of Property, Growing Crops, Grain in Stack, Thresh ing Machines. EDMISTON, GUNDRY, & CO., East Street. Farms for sale in blocks of 50 to 100 acres. Price from £2 15s. per acre. EDMISTON, GUNDRY, & CO., 106 c East Street. Business Notices. M. NEALAS, BOOT AND SHOEMAKER, I s AND IMPORTER, CLEARING OUT the whole of Present Stock at REDUCED PRICES, his next to Taylor’s Bakery, where he has opened with a Large Stock of Boots of every description. Note the address — M . NEALAS, EAST STREET, ASHBURTON. 2t9C NEWS AND MAGAZINE AGENCY. STATIONERY AND FANCY GOODS DEPOT. RE-OPENING. HM. JONES begs to inform his , customers and the public generally that he has re-opened part of the premises lately occupied by A. Weston and K. Sando and Co. for the sale of Newspapers, Magazinse, Stationery, Fancy goods, Toys, &c, English and Colonial papers. Periodicals, &c., by each mail. Licensed to sell Stamps. Lowest prices—Terms cash. Agent for “ Ashburton Guardian,” “ Ashburton Herald,’, “Ashburton Mail,” “Lyttelton Times,” “Canterbury Times,” Daily “Press,” “Weekly Press,” “Otago Witness,” “Australasian,” “Town and County Journal.” Subscribers to “ Canterbury Times” and “ Weekly Press” can obtain their copies at the above Establishment. *l2lc



H. Matson & Co. l iM TATTERSALL’S. THURSDAY NEXT, APRIL 8. LARGE AND IMPORTANT SALE OF COUNTRY HORSES. Account G. H. Moore, Esq. A draft of A A Mixed Horses, from the Glen mark Station. Account D. H. Potts, Esq. 3-year old Unbroken Colts and Eillies, by the celebrated horse Dick. They are well grown, and calculated for hack or carriage purposes. Account W. G. Hall, Esq. Heavy 3-year-old Draught Colts and Fillies, by . Campsie, Baronet, and Wellington, areally first-class lot. Account Mr. John O’Neil. r£) Mostly Unbroken, 2 and 3-year /V old Colts and Fillies, by Mar mion, Blueboy, Barbarian, and Young Peer. Also a few first class Draught Colts. 12 Account Mr. James Fisher. 3,4, 5, and 6-year-old Draught, Cab, and Spring-Cart Horses, all quiet and good workers. Account Mr. R. Dawber. Broken and Unbroken Draught and Light Harness Horses, all young and sound. Account Mr. John Kerr, Tarndale. heavy 2-year-old draught Colts and Fillies by the imported horse Glancer Pair of unbroken Carriage Horses, and two of the best Cross-country Horses in New Zealand. Account Messrs. Morton and Lupton. rA well-grown Mixed Horses, just OU landed from Wanganui. This lot has been carefully bred and selected by Mr. Martin for the Canterbury markets, and include about an equal num ber of broken and unbroken-horses. They comprise heavy, medium, and light draught, carriage, hack, and buggy horses, weight-carrying cobs, ponies, &c.; mostly 3 years, and all sound.



Account other owners, head of Mixed Horses. The above sale presents an exceptional opportunity to buyers of securing really first-class stock. Fully two-thirds of the entry are young, sound, heavy horses, sent to hand direct by the breeders, and are for absolute sale. - Terms Liberal. Luncheon provided. Sale at 11 a.m. THURSDAY NEXT, APRIL 8. No Reserve. H. MATSON & CO. 6950 Auctioneers. Business Notices. SATURDAY, MARCH 13.” OPENING NEW STORE, East Street, Near Bullock, & Co’s. JAMES CLARK Begs to inform the Public of Ashbur ton and Surrounding Districts that he is commencing business as GENERAL STOREKEEPER, FRUIT ERER, BAKER, &c., And trusts by supplying good quality articles at moderate prices, to share public support. Note the Address— JAMES CLARK, PROSPECT BUILDINGS, East Street, Near Bullock & Co’s., Ashburton. 163 c LABOR MARKET. iEMSTRY OFFICE FOR MASTERS AND SERVANTS, AT THE ‘ EVENING HERALD ” OFFICE. Farmers requiring hands can engage men through the “ Evening Herald ” Registry for 1/- each, prepaid. LABORERS REQUIRING SITUA TIONS can engage through the “ Herald ” Registry Office by paying 1/-. SERVANTS REQUIRING SITUA TIONS can get them by applying at the “ Herald ” Registry Office, and paying 1/-. ENGAGEMENTS will be POSTED UP every day at 12 noon and 4 p. m., by numbers given to the applicants, who will learn the address on enquiring. SPECIALfor URGENT WANTS will be inserted in the “ Evening Herald ” in the registry column on payment of Six pence additional in advance, for each issue. Further Particulars on application at the “EVENING HERALD” REGISTRY OFFICE. SAUNDERS’ BUILDINGS, EAST ST., ASHBURTON. J^'OTICE —The “ Ashburton Herald’, is a Gazette for all notices under the Debtors and Creditors Acte



Auctioneers. MR. JOHN LLOYD CRAWLEY. Auctioneer, Stock, Land, and Commission Agent. Farms, Town arid Suburban Sections, for Sale and to Let. J. LLOYD CRAWLEY, AUCTIONEER, Offices, Saunders Buildings, Ashburton. 737 a Business Notices. BREAD!BREAD! Co-operative Bread and Biscuit Factory. Triangle, Wakanui Road, Ashburton. A. THIELE, ¥T>EGS to inform the public that he is •“-* now in a position to SUPPLY BEST BREAD, Gd. per 41b. loaf, unsur passed. Delivered daily to all parts of the Borough, also, Confectionery, &c. Mixed Biscuits reduced from Is. to Bd. per lb. Wedding Cakes made to Order. 986a-5700 TO FARMERS, LIYERY STABLE KEEPERS, SPORTING MEN, AND OTHERS OWNING HORSES. GEORGE KIDD, Moore Street, BEGS to announce the fact that the PRICE for SHOEING hacks and light draught HORSES is now REDUCED to 7s. per set, and that all horses of this description will be specially attended to by himself. Horses liable to cut are shod on a prin ciple of George Kidd’s own invention, which has proved an effectual cure for brushing. All kinds of blacksmith’s work, and repairs to agricultural machinery of any description done on the shortest notice. GEORGE KIDD, 75c-526a Moore street, Ashburton.



PUBLIC NOTICE. BOOTS! BOOTS! T. CHAMBERS WHILE. THANKING the public of Ashburton and surrour ding dis tricts for past favors, begs to inf< rn them that he has received, and to arrive ; at his place of business, East-street, a WELL-ASSORTED STOCK OF LADIES’, GENTLEMEN’S, AND CHIL DREN’S BOOTS AND SHOES Of all descriptions. T. C. also calls special attentii i to the Measure Department, and incites the gentlemen of Ashburton to inspect the superior class of Sewn Boots and Shoes he is now making. Riding Boots, Shooting Boots, Walking Boots and Shoes, Cricketing Boots and Shoes, and Running Shoes. WORKMANSHIP UNSURPASSED. A PERFECT FIT GUARANTEED T. CHAMBERS, PROSPECT BUILDINGS, Next to Montgomery’s, East-street. MEDICINE. QAMBRIDGE’S ASTRINGENT, a certain cure for Diarrhoea in Children or Adults, Is. Gd. and 2s. Gd a Bottle. CAMBRIDGE’S BLACK CUR RANT COUGH ELIXIR, Is. Gd. and 2s Gd. a Bottle. CAMBRIDGE’S ORANGE QUIN INE TONIC WINE, 2s. Gd. and 4s. Gd. a Bottle. CAMBRIDGE’S EXTRACT OF BARK, CURES SORE, TENDER, and CRACKED NIPPLES. CAMBRIDGE’S ESSENCE of RENNET, 3 Drops will turn a pint of milk into delicious sweet curds, Is. and 2s. Gd. a Bottle. J. M. CAMBRIDGE, Chemist, MEDICAL HALL. N.B.—Teeth carefully Extracted. 2s. Gd. REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF BREAD. EDWARD TAYLOR has reduced the Price of his best Bread to sd. Cash at shop, and if delivered by cart, s|d. EDWARD TAYLOR, Saunders’ Buildings, 119 c ASHBURTON. Ball programme cards in very neat styles, with Pencils and Ribbons, printed at the Herald Office, East street, near Railway Station. LABOURERS requiring work can secure first opening by applying early at Herald Registry Office, on pay ment of Is. WANTED KNOWN—That Visiting Cards, plain or mourning, can he obtained printed in various styles, at the “Herald” and “Guardian” offices, near the Rai w ay Station CHINIQUY’S LECTURES. —Just Ar rived, New Edition H. M. Jones, aring Square,



Business Notices. Guns! Guns! Guns! POWDER. SHOT. CAPS.



ORR AND CO JJ-AVE now on hand a very fine assortment of BREECHLOADING DOUBLE AND SINGLE-BARREL GUNS, And as these have been imported direct from the manufacturers, we are prepared to Sell at the most Reasonable Prices — From £2 10s, to £25. ORR AND CO



Commercial Printers. JUST ARRIVED— SECOND SHIPMENT OF jgTATIONERY, STATIONERY, DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTORY. Now Opening Up. A CHOICE ASSORTMENT OF Commercial AND Household STATIONERY.



THE Largest and Finest Lot ever opened up in Ashburton, AND Equal to any exhibited in th® Colony. WEEKS & DIXON, Printers, Publishers, AND COMMERCIAL, LAW, AND General Stationers, Guardian Office, EAST STREET ASHBURTON.



Business Notices. TINWALD BOOT AND SHOE SHOR BOOTS! BOOTS ! ! THE Undersigned begs to draw the at tention of the public to his well as sorted stock of Ladies’, Gents’, and Chil dren’s Boots, which he has just received, and will dispose of CHEAP. "Motto — “Small profits and quick returns.” All kinds of Boots made and repaired on the the shortest possible notice. 3S2c. C. HAWKINS, Bootmaker. M. McCALLUM, AND JEWELLER Every description of Jewellery made to order and repaired. Electro-plating and Gilding. Hair plaits and Devices done. Watches and Clocks accurately Repaired. Diamonds and every description of Stones substantially Set. Clocks from 7s. 6d. each. Do., with alarm, 15s. CASHEL STREET, Next Bank op Australasia, Christ church. 221 c ANSTEE’S DINING ROOMS, TANCRED STREET, ASHBURTON. THE Proprietor begs to inform visitors to Ashburton, and the travelling public generally, that the best accommo dation for Boarders in Ashburton is to ba had at the above establishment. A LIBERAL TABLE & MODERATE CHARGES. MEALS AT ALL HOURS ... Is. BEDS ... Is. BOARD & LODGING ... 18s. & 20s. PRIVATE REFRESHMENT ROOMS FOR LADIES. PROPRIETOR, J. G. ANSTEE. 985 a PAPERHANGING WAREHOUSE, TANCRED STREET, Ashburton.



J. R. CHAPMAN PAINTER, PAPERHANGE.F SIGN-WRITER, Etc., Has much pleasure in stating that, owing to the large increase of Business, he is now Importing from the Manufacturers— PAPERHANGINGS, WHITE LEAD LINSEED OIL, WINDOW glass; BRUSH WARE, And all the necessaries of the Trade, and is therefore in a position to compete with any house in Canterbury for price and quality. Every description of workin the trade executed under personal superin tendence. Competent workmen sent to all parts of the country. ESTIMATES GIVEN. 251 c



T. Bullock. fTIHE undersigned has the following PROPERTIES to LET with a pur chasing clause, or FOR SALE on liberal terms of payment — 1 £TA ACRES good WHEAT LAND, JLeJI/ all ploughed and ready for cross ploughing for wheat ; situated about three miles from the township. f*r7 ACRES, near the above ; also good ® WHEAT LAND, ploughed once and ready for cross-ploughing. A ACRES, partly improved, near Wiris low. This will be sold very cheap, and on very liberal terms. TOWN PROPERTIES. VALUABLE BUSINESS SITE in Bur nett Street, being T. S. 177, next the “ Mail” office. PART of T.S. 139, Peter Street. This will be sold cheap, and on liberal terms. rilO Railway Employes, Mechanics, and Others.—FOß SALE, cheap, Lot 78, situated on East Town Belt. Terms, £5 cash ; balance by monthly or quarterly payments. T. BULLOCK. FOR SALE, Cheap, Dwelling-house of 7 rooms, situated on the East Belt, near the Parsonage—For particulars apply to T. Bullock. 206 c ASHBURTON COPPER, ZINC, IRON, & TIN PLATE MANUFACTORY. JOSEPH HYDE (Late Foreman at the Malvern Works England, and the Canterbury Works, Christchurch, New Zealand) BEGS to thank his friends of Ashbur ton and surrounding districts for the liberal support accorded him during the past two years, and to intimate that he has opened NEW BUSINESS PRE MISES in Moore street (next Mr. Neate’s chemist shop) where he is prepared to execute every description of Plain and Japanned Tinware, Lamps, Gas Reflec tors, Chimney Tops, Portable Washing Boilers, Baths, Cheese Yats, etc. LOCKSMITH, BELLHANGER, GAS FH TER. Artesian Wells, Beer Engines, Pumps, Ac. Steam Kettles, Hot Closets, made on the premises. Estimates given for Spouting. All work done under J. H.’s personal Superintendence, and guaranteed. J. HYDE, Moore Street Ashburton. Drawing paper, ail sizes, just opened at WEEKS AND DIXON, East street*