It was late at night when the Montezuma arrived at New Orleans. The
steamer quietly took her berth at the levee, so that few of the
passengers took any notice of their arrival, and contentedly turned
over in their berths to wait the advent of the coming day.
Hatchie, who occupied a room near the boiler deck, had been awakened by
the confusion of making fast the steamer. His watchful vigil over the
safety of his mistress did not permit him to slumber while the
possibility of danger existed. He had, therefore, risen; but scarcely
had he completed his dress, when the door of his room was suddenly
opened, and himself violently seized by two stout men. The attack had
been so sudden, and the movements of the assailants so well directed,
that resistance was hopeless. Before he fully realized the presence of
his foes, his hands were pinioned behind him. In this condition, without
knowing why or by whom he was assailed, he was hurried away to the
calaboose.
At an early hour in the morning carriages and drays began to assemble on
the levee, and all the noise and bustle of landing passengers, baggage
and freight, commenced.
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