The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-11

examination. he rose up, muttering through
his shut teeth
.Just "a / e pee ted, Smith, - said he. turn
| Ing sharply upon the carpenter, and fixing hi
keen eyes on the mans face. 'Do you know
where those pistols and cutlasses are r.
| The man stsmTnered out O denial, and wa
| evidently confused, at the same lime edgins
| his way toward the door of the cabin. Gap
| tain Russell sprang Tor ward and colIared him
at the same time holding pistol within tw'
inches of his eyes, and saying to me, in firm
| collected tone:
BE so kind as TO lock that door Now
smith," bringing the pistol so near the Eel
| lows face as almost TO touch 1t, ''teli me al
| about this matter, or your life is not WORTH
| an old cud. Where has Rob slowed thoss
| weapons :"
| "In the foreeastle. "
| GLOW many are with him -
| "EIeven-all but the mates and Murphy
and Dawson
when do they mean to take the ship 20
"To.dav; when Rob gives the word"
whats the signal ?"
| The man hesitaied,
.'Speak: said the Captain, under his brea III
| and knitting his bushv brows till they almost
| met. "Speak-gou kR03c aae. What's the
| signal -
.'When he shoots you through the head
osborne, hand me pair of cuffs out of
| that chest, If you please" / complied
| "Nov, jast fester this fellow. hand and foot -
| did this likewise. Now. Smith, I'm gong
| to gag you, and put Won in a berth: if you lie
| still and make no effort to escape, I'll forgive
you All this, because you've peaehed. But if
| You make me any trouble, I'll blow your
brains out before you can wink
The operation OF gagging was speedily per
| formed, and the carpen ter laid in one of the
| berths. Captain Russell then opened pri-
vate chest, aad took cut several pairs OF re-
volyers, Two of which he handed 10 me, say
ing:
Are you q good shot?'
eyes" answered, simply.
"iCOd Iou'il have some work then We
must warn Andrews and Richards, the mates
aud the two other fellows Smith mentioned.
as soon as possible, without exciting theee
Tascals suspicious. Let me see" he said
musing few moments, chow To do it, that's
the question-ha L have it,
He motoned me- TO follow him, and went
on deck, turning the key of the cabin door
without being observed. He whispered q few
words 10 me hurriedly, and then shouted to
Rob, who vas Delaying rope on the other
side OF The sdlp:
Call all hands to grog E:chborn and send
me the mates
The man shot slide glance at the CAPTAIN:
but, seeing no sign OF suspicion in his i'm per-
tGrbable features, he obeyed, and in few
moments the whole crew were ASSEM- HID
ON deck to receive the coveted ration of
grog. at once stole toward the forecAstle,
entered it and hastily ransackiug it, discover
ing the pistols and cuLlasses hidden under
some discarded sail cloth iii Il corner, [
plunged the ps tolls in 4 bucket of water
wiped them dry outside and replaced them
then, gathering the CutiaSsas in my arms
, Lol tctl 10 ming them over Inc SnID'S side.
but, as L reached the door, l was Suddenly
confronted by one OF the mutineers who in
sttntiy OWNED my object aud struck at me
with marine spike. With one OF the cut
laSses, however, dealt him 4 blow over The
head which laid him PROSTATE; and with n
quick spring l leaped from the foIecastle and
casting the weapons overheard retaining only
the one had gust used The splash attracted
the attention OF the others, who We're C!Tip king
their grog the whole thing had been done in
couple OF minutes, and before the mutineers
had guessed the truth, l had regained the
Captain 5 side.
lie looked at me inquiringly. I nodded -
AT glance l perceived he had contrived 20
warn the mates, aud Murphy and Dawson
tor they all stood near him. / knew the two
former always went armed, but the two lat
Ter, feared, were unprepared for the strug-
gle. But the sharp eyes Of Rel Rob had
noticed the Geographic communication be-
tween the Captain and myself coupling the
splash i'll the water with my appearance near
the iorecastle, he undoubtedly coniec tured
my errand in the quarters appropriated TO
sailors before the mast. He saw his own di.
lemma; his plot was known before he was
ready to carry ii into eXecU ton but with the
bold desperation of the practised ruiiian he
resolved To strike the first blow himself
Drawing his own pistol, therefore, he aimed
II at the Captains head with fiandish ex-
preston on his features, and pulled the triy-
ger, shouting at the same time:
NoW's your time, boys. Down with 'ena 80
IL an instant the deck was in an uproar-
tStiI4F VI lie IiNeFIS HHu, their ring
leader, taken the precaution TO carry their
arms with them, and our little group, there
fore, was in danger of being oyerborDe and
annihila ted by numbers. Rob's shot had an
missed of its desired effect for the
Captain was in the thickest of the FRAY and
brought down three of the rebels himself
But had little time to make observations
Tor couple OF fellows attacked me- and inst
as had struck one down with NV cutiass
(Which l had concealed under nv coat until
the conflict began) the other snapped his pis-
to' close to my ear l. was half stunned by |
the report, but IN aim had miScarried, and the |
ball only grazed the back of my head rally
ing almost simultaneously, l returned the |
com pliment by sending ball from my own |!
revolver through his body. Being for a mo- /
ment freed, therefore, from Immediate attack !
cast my gtInce toward the Captain and saw |
MS face IiNid and discolored with blood. With |
4 cooked pistol in one hand, and supporting !
himself against the mast with the other he |
waited the attack Of the eXulting Rob who |
was approaching him with Il long knife, with |
which he had Just stabbed Murphy to the !
heart; When the bloody villain was within
. yard, he raised his arm has lily and fired at |
The same time losing his hold of the mast and
Iaihng upon the deck. The other combatan
stood still and ceased fighting to watch the
result; Rob staggered back but quietly re-
covering himself, sprang toward the PROSTATE
captain, when dashed upon him and grap-
pied him In my arms. A desperate struggle
oioWeo we fell heavily, uppermost, with
II lew feet OF the Captain. Instead how
'Ver, OF striving to stab me witlshis dirk he !
oiiei over with mighty effort and struck at |
he Captain by his side the long blade was
!riven a full inch and half into the blanks of
he deck, and, just missing the Captain's
,ody, stuck quIyerlng beside il. Maddened
Beyond control by such Internal rancor The
nate Andrews leyeiied his pistol at the ruff
ian 5 head, and the sharp report was followed
y quick. conyuisive culver of his whole
body then he lay stone dead.
Inc rest OF the mutineerS, nany of whom
iad tried 10 use the dampeIed pistols and
iad been overcome, laid do wn their arms ana
alter losing SIX of their number
titled and wounded Murphy was the only
me OF our side who had been killed, but the
captain lay unable to rise, with a mingled
tream Of blood and froth slowly oozing from
'is mouth. kneIt down and asked il he was
auch hurt.
Enough TO settle my hash, m afraid
Fas his answer, as he gasped for brea tn -
stop THIS wound in my side, or | shall bleed | |
} death. - /
We tore off his shirt and staunched a pistoi
round IN his left side; but hen we tried TO !
III hiln ana carry him into the cabin gush
blood burst from his mouth and we laid :
i'm down again. ;
- NO use, said he, family. " I'm done for
DOR iittie Nelly, she'll break her hesrt! God ,
less neT i was not good enough for her
Ut she'll cry all the same. Get me some
fater, somebody, will your That rascal wa. :
10 true shot--God forgive US all she'll :
ant 10 know all about it; and you'll tell her
thought of her last OF all, Osborne? There :
thank you-poor Nelly And with these
ords the brave fellow gasped once more, ,
ressed my hand and died. :
The survivors on both sides were heartily
ck OF mutual murder; and moreover there =
ere Rafdly hands enough to manage the !
up, so that none could be spared TO be in a