The weekly Butte record., 1863-11-14

Madagascar, Wales had command Of
the watch. Captain Stark came up
from his cabin, and having stood by the
wheel few minutes, he turned towards
his mate.
"Seems to me you've made poor logs
this last three hours" be said, with an
oath which We have no desire to tran
scribe.
''The barque has made as good head
way as usual" returned Wales, in tones
made tremulous by the emotions that
moved him.
"You lie" rejoined Stark, with ano-
ther oath.
eff you were a gentleman, sir, l
would take some notice of your insults !:
but l will not stoop to wrangle with a
brute"
Mr.. Wales spoke in hushed tone,
and his face was ashy pale. He was a
slim, delicate man, or, at least, he look
ed so when compared with the giant
captain; but his soul was strong now
and he looked the brute in the face.
Never before had we seen the captain
look so perfectly savage as he did then.
The blood even left his face, phenom-
enon which no circumstances had ever
produced before in our sight. He gaz-
ed for full minute on the mate, and
then turned and went down to his cab
in. After he had gone, Mr.. Wales
stood with his arms folded across his
breast and his eyes bent upon the deck.
What do you think he means to
do?" whispered Asa Rodgers, the sec
ond mate.
"He means to kill me,' returned
Wales, calmly. " He may do what he
pleases, but | will stand his insults no
longer"
"And by the heavens above me, the
crew will stand by you-every man of
them, uttered Rodgers. If he dares
lay hand on you, we will fasten him."
The mate grasped Rodgers hand, as
he looked around upon TIE crew who had
all moved on to the quarter deck, and
we could See that he looked grateful.
At this moment captain Stark re-
turned, and bore in his hands a pair of
heavy, polished, silver mounted pistols.
Here, take it," he said The blood
had returned to his face, and his nerves
were steady.
Instinctively Mr.. Wales took the
pistol, and as he did so, the captain
took third one from his pocket.
"This," he said, raising the silver
mounted pistol, is for you. And this"
he added, holding up the other and
cooking it, is for the first man who
dares to interfere. Now 90 forward,
Mr.. Wales-clear to the cathead, sir
and | will give the word when to fire.
Either you or must die. No man
shall call me brute in the presence of
my crew, and live. Go, sir, you have
an equal chance with me.''
Mr.. Wales shuddcrcd, when he saw
the demon eyes of Buffe Starke fixed
upon him. He had wife and children
in New York, and l knew that he now
thought of them. He was no hand at
using pistol, while he knew that Stark
was ''dead shot,
We all knew that there was murder
in the captains soul. He was deter
mined to kill the mate, but he feared
to lay himself accusable of the crime Of
premeditated murder in the presence of
the whole crew. In case the fearful
duel took place, We knew that Wales
was dead man.
:" Come, sir, are you going, or are
you too much of coward" cried Stark.
Z" must leave message for my wife
and children first" said Wales.
"Then hurry about it." said the
captain with look of fendish exulta-
ton.
Wales had just turned towards Rod
gers, but before he could speak, one of
the men who stood in the larboard gang
way, reported that a-sail had just hove
in sight around the cape. She was a
brigantine, and not more than five miles
distant. CAPTAIN Stark hurried to the