The weekly Butte record., 1863-11-14

drunk, but Yet he was almost always
under the influence Of liquor. Heprov-
ed himself to be a good seaman and a
fair navigator, though We we're not very
long in discovering that Mt. Wales was
far his superior in the latter respect.
One dark night during the mid-watch,
the captain came on deck and went to
the wheel. The barque was then close
hauled on the larboard tack, though she
then had freedom enough to carry a
slack bow-line. The first mate had the
deck.
"Mr. Wales," said the captain, ''call
all hands to tack ship"
"Why, sir" returned the mate,
much surprised at the order, "she lays
her course now, and has point to
spare"
"Call all hands, say" exclaimed
Stark, in savage tone.
"But, sir" urged Wales, " there's
no need"
"Silence, sir. Clap a stopper on
that jaw of yours, or I'll level you.
Call all hands, and bout ship. Let
the lazy whelps have something to do"
The mate stood where the light of
the binnacle shone on his face, and |
could see that he was very pale, and
that his lips trembled. Yet he moved
not to obey the orders he had received.
"You won't, eh 2" hissed Stark, in
terpreting the mates silence to suit
himself. Take that, then. I'll see
who commands here
As he spoke, he sprang upon the
mate, and with one blow from his mas
sive fist, he knocked him down. His
next movement was towards the fore
castle companion-way, where he sang
out for all hands to come on deck, and
as soon as they were up, he returned to
the wheel; and having ordered his men
to their station for tacking ship, he
went down to his cabin. When he re-
turned, he had evidently drark again,
and he bore in his hands a pair of heavy
pistols.
:" Now, men," he shouted, in tones
that plainly showed that his tongue was
thick from the effects of alcohol, II
want to see how you can handle ship
in the dark. The first man that DISC
beys, dies on the spot. Mark that -
Ready about!'
The men knew with whom they had
to deal, and they dare not disobey.
They saw the demon captain standing
in the light of the binnacle lamp, and
they felt sure he would shoot any one
who dared show signs of insubordina-
ton. The mate still lay on the deck
insensiblc, but no one of US dared 90 to
his assistance.
The barque was put about, and then
put back again upon the larboard tack.
By this time Mr. Wales had recovered,
and got upon his feet. Again the cap
tain ordered the men to tack the ship,
and once more she was put back to her
original course.
There" growled Stark, with
scowl of satisfaction, {" that is to pay
You for grumbling yesterday" And
then without speaking to his mate, he
turned and went below.
Cautiously the men gathered around
Mr.. Wales, but he was too much agita-
ted to pass any opinion upon what had
occurred. There was large dark spot
just below his right temple, where the
iron fist had struck him, but he told the
men he was not hurt, and having told
the off watch they might 90 below, he
went to the hencoop and sat down.
This affair produced deep sensation
upon the crew, and more than one man
whispered the thought Of giving Stark
a hoist over the side, but had this been
generally agreed to it would have been
a hard plan to carry out, for the brutal
captains always went armed and had
his eyes open to danger. He knew the
feelings of the crew entertained towards
him, and this seemed to make him ex-
ult the more in his cruelty. In short
he was one of those men very seldom
met with. who seem to take delight in