The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-08-04 00:00:00

CHAPTER VII

REVERSING.
"Tun, women," exclaimed Deborah, as soon as
the black had gone forward, "do you see? Here
are two men and a black monkey on board, and we
—we women—are to be their hewers of wood and
drawers of water; their slaves, to be ordered about
to nurse, to out wood, to boil water. In an hour
they will set us to mend the boat, and row them
ashore. I tell you that it has lasted too long, and
that now is the time to show your spirit, and teach
them their place. They dare not retaliate—we are
too many. Let them take our places. Let this
jackanapes doctor be taught his, and that black beast
of burden do our work for us, if this is to be our
home. It is some uninhabited island, for certain;
and here we shall have to stay till help comes. Let
118 strike, then, and—"
" Shame ! " exclaimed a clear, thrilling voice.
The crowd of women started.

"Who said ? " cried Deborah, fiercely.
"I did," said Grace Monroe, coming forward to
confront her. "I say it is a shame for you to
preach such unwholesome doctrines of insubordina-
tion at a time when we have hardly escaped from
an awful deatb, and every hand should be raised
to help in a sisterly way.'
Here there was a murmur of applause.
Hark at her !" exclaimed Deborah, whose eyes
flashed with anger. "Silence, you silly chit!"
"I will not be silent," said Grace, firmly; "and
you who hear us, I appeal to and ask you to set aside
these foolish notions, and let zs help one another."
There was another murmur here, and it was
vi-
dent that the words of Grace Monroe were of more
effect than those of Deborah.
" Silence ! " she cried, angrily. "Wait till you
are asked to speak. She is the doctor's pet, girls—
his favourite—and—"

"How dare you—you insolent woman ! " ex-
claimed Grace, springing forward.
The Luswer was a heavy blow across her face.
As the blow fell, though, the striker was swung
round, sent staggering back, and would have fallen,
but for one of the women who caught her, while
Charles Helston stepped women,
and would have
taken Grace Monroe's hands, but she shrank away.
"You see—you see ! " shrieked Deborah. "What
do you think of it? You saw that coward strike
me—a woman. Are we to suffer it! "

"If I had been quick enough," cried Mary Dance,
"I'd have boxed your ears till you were dizzy—you
bad, evil, cruel woman. Mr. Holston only swung
you away—you malicious wretch ! "
"Let there be no more of this," said the young
doctor, speaking excitedly. "My good girls, this
is no time for petty quarrelling. Let Deborah
Barrows enjoy her own opinions; we have to think
of getting ashore, and keeping ourselves alive. I
must ask you, then, to obey me, in place of your
late matron."

"You hear?" cried Deborah, tauntingly.
"Miss Burrows, will you be silent ? ' exclaimed
Helston, angrily.
"No, young man," exclaimed that lady, "I shall
not. Your reign is over, and it is your turn to obey.
Women—you who have any Self respect—come to
my side, and let us show these lords of creation that
in time of emergency we can think and act for our-
selves."

She drew aside, and about three parts of the
women grouped about her • While the remainder,
amongst whom were Grace Monroe and Mary Dance,
stood firm.

(To be continued.)