The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-05-19
WESTERLY, R. l., THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1853

81 must run over my reckoning before
I turn in. Mr., Faulkner, just hand me
that chart if you please"
AS Wallack spoke, he reached over
into his berth and took out his pistols
which he proceeded carefully to load,
taking care the while that his back was
turned towards the companion way
Faulkner followed his example, and erc
long the candles were extinguished, and
the two men retired, but not to sleep.
Faulkner" whispered the captain
we are in a snug fix, for have reason
to fear that there is mutiny on board
Gwyn and Russell have both been poi.
soned.r
$50 I believe" returned Faulkner in
the same low tone, and if | am not
mistaken, there'll be poison in our coffee
cups tomorrow morning"
Ha !! have you seen anything" :"
eyes. | saw Roland give the cook
a small paper tonight, aud they held
quite an animated conversation about it
| knew from their manner that there
was mischief in their minds"
" Then in Gods name, what will we
do :" uttered the captain. "Their plan
must be all formed, and suppose they
have made arrangements for the disposal
of those in the forecastle who do not
join them. Would to Heaven l knew
how many of them there are"
I" You have a passage between the
decks to the forecastle bulkheads," sug-
gested Faulkner.
eyes"
" Perhaps you might gain some in-
formation by listening"
I" No. If Roland leads the plot
and | know he does-he would not dare
to carry on his conversation there, for
they would hear him"
"Hark !" whispered Faulkner, as a
suppressed voice at the wheel met his
ear
He bent his head out from the bunk
and caught the following words, which
he knew to be from he lips of Roland
"They're both asleep by this time,
Hal. You look out for the deck a min
ute, while | see the boys in tue forecas-
tle."
"He is going to the forecastle," "whis-
pered Faulkner. "Now is your time
TO follow him -
"No-you had better go, Faulkner,
for it may be that some one will come
down to see me, and in that case our
will be discovered. There
is mutiny and no mistake You know
where the passage runs between the
boxes. Slip out from your berth and
20 over where the supercargo used to
bunk, and move that panel; it moves
easier than mine does"
Faulkner lost no time in obeying the
captains directions. There were two
secret communications to the hold of
the ship, through the cabin bulkhead,
and through one of these the second
mate soon took his way. Nearly q half
hour elapsed ere he returned, and dur
ing that time the captains mind was
tortured by various fearful emotions.
until the death of Russell, he had not
entertained suspicion of direct mutiny,
and his former fears with regard to Ro-
land had nearly been quieted, but now
the suspicion had been sudden, and it
was strong, even to the very certainty.
A thousand little incidents came back
10 his mind, which singly bad appeared !
Is nothing, but which now helped to
solve the mystery Of Gwyn's death
Wallack had medical knowledge enough |
70 know that the supercargo had been
iilled by white arsenic, and he now
knew that his first mate came to his end |
he same way, though the dose of the
after must have been much smaller
han that which sent poor Russell to his
intimely end, and its symptoms had not
been so palpable.
While the captain lay thus racking his
brain Faulkner returned from his es-
coinage, and as he crept stealthily past
he foot Of bis bunk, Walker fancisd he
,ould hear his heart beat in bis bosom.
" What news ?" asked toe captain,
l-cFt fearing 10 pu. IRE Tuest;o, Y