Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-12


purser by the hand and looked steadily in
his face
Come up with me, purser, on deck" he
said, "and we will settle this matter at
once. Some one has been altering the
vessels course, Il feel sure, since the morn
ing If it is the mate will put him in
irons. If it cost me my right arm, I'll keep
him in irons. Pm fool not to have seen it
all before. | was warned about that man
in Liverpool"
When the captain stood upon the deck,
the chill, white ice-fog was again bearing
down fast on the Shooting Star. 1t was
bearing down with spectral gloom that
was depressing in a sea known to be still
half blocked with ice-packs. A Sabbath
calm reigned over the vessel. The men
were lying down by the trim rope coils,
come reading, some conversing not a
bolt-head or brass but shone as we'll as
anything could shine in that lurid light
The mate and carpenter were sitting near
the wheel, looking at the advancing fog !;
at the entrance to the fo'ksal were some
men stretched out half asleep
The captain said not word but walked
straight up to the man at the wheel, and
looked at the compass.
Why, you're steering SOUTH" he said
quietly, "and | told nOr'-nor'west an hour
ago"
L am steering as the first mate told me-"
said the fellow, sullenly 81 can't steer as
every one wants me. If it was my way,
I'd steer home"
The first mate, rs the man said this,
came up and took the wheel from him in
solently, as if in defiance of the captain.
"Jackson's steering right" he said.
Right you call it," said the captain,
storming. Pm a plain man, and like
plain dealing Mr.. Cardew, Pve had enough
of your lying tricks let go the wheel, sir,
and go to your cabin Consider yourself
under arrest for mutinous conduct Purser,
you are witness take this man down"
Cardew still refused to let 60 the wheel.
With the quickness of thought, the captain
felled him with blow in a moment the
deck seemed alive with shouting and leap
ing men. Five sailors threw themselves
on the captain three on the purser. The
mutiny had had broken out at last. A cruel
yell rang from stem to stern. All who ia
vored the captain were in moment, with
curses and threats, overpowered and bound
to the mast and rigging.
"Now, Captain Ritson," said Cardew, as
he rose with a yellow face, down which
the blood streamed, and advanced to where
the captain stood bound and pale with
rage, ''you see | am stronger than you
thought If choose, | could at once let
you overheard with rope and freeze you
to death | could have you pelted with
bottles, or put an end to in some other
agreeable way but | shall spare yog now,
to pay you out better for that blow and
other indignities. Last night you refused
to join me in my sensible scheme for baffl-
ing the rascals who expose us to danger
and then underpay us. Now | will not ac-
cept your partnership o, you're a rash,
violent man, though you are so pious !;
where's your Providence now? Come, my
boys, leave these fools, and get out the
wine we'll have spree tonight, for to-
morrow we shall be on shore, and perhaps
starting again for England. Come, get
out this mans brandy. Well have a night
of it. It's cold enough for these fellows,
amt it ? But it'll make them warm seeing
us drinking.'
That night as the liquor went round,
and the songs circulated among the mutin-
GERS to the doleful accompaniment of the
monotonous and funeral fog-bell, the cap
tain and seven friends lying bound against
the frozen shrouds, the vapor lifted for
moment eastward and disclosed an aurora
boreais that lit up all the horizon with
ma ajestic fan of crimson and phoSphOrescent
light that darted upward its keen rays, and
throbted and quivered with almost super
natural splendor The electric lustre lit
the pale faces of the captain and his fellow
prisoners.
"Why, here are the merry dancers" said
the first mate, now somewhat excited by
drinking, as he walked up to the captain,
and waved a smoking hot glass of grog be-
fore his face. "Why, I'll be hanged if they
amt the blessed angels dancing for joy be-
cause on and your brother saints will so
soon Join them What do you think of
Providence by this time, Ritson, eh ?"
The mutineers put their glasses together,
and laughed hideousy at this.
"Just as | always did. God watches us
at sea as we'll as by land" was the cap
tain's calm reply. "Pd rather even now
be bound here, than change my conscience
with yours Cardew Pm plain man, and
dying here than at home in feather-bed.
III II lcSS ldlu W pal Will lIlG "Ul III llelc.
40, if you're satisfied, am. Here, glas-
ses round to drink to the Pous Captain.
All his gang are here but that boy, that
little devil Harrison search for him every
where, men he mustn't be left if he is in
the hold, smoke him out with birthstone
never mind if he doesn't come out, he'll
have his cruel if you keep the matches well
down"
Gay, ay, sir" was the reply, with a bru-
tai and disgusting laugh; and away the
men went on their search, eager as boys
for rat-hunt.
An hour after, all but the watch to toll
the fog bell, the mutineers on board the
Shooting Star were sunk into drunken
and wallowing sleep. That night, from
time to time, Captain Ritston kept his mems
hearts up with cheerful words the cold
was hard to bear, but they survived it
When day broke, they all united in prayer
that God would allow them to die soon and
together They had sunk into torpid
semi.Sleep, when the sound ofa gun through
the fog, in the distance, aroused them. At
the same moment, the loud taunting voice
of the mate awoke the bound men to sense
of their misery and despair.
Good morning, Captain Ritson," said