Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-22
heu pulled back after days sea fish.


TO nv shout Of BOAT, ahoy," moth.
ing but the echoing rocks and hills an
swered. just as We. were losing hope
aud the boat was passing away, gave a
louder hail, and knew that | was heard.
for they stopped singing. and the monot-
onous splash of their oars ceased. Then
there came lazy Hul.lo ahT across
the water.
"Give me passage on Shore" sung
! ont at the Top of my voice.
- They seemed for some time -todebate
whether they should or not, but present.
| Ii a hail of "Alf right was returned,
and they pulled inlhe direction of the
ship.
As they came alongside I stepped
over The gangway into the boat, and was
clad TO find that the boatman was well
: known to me ms man whom could
trust. / slipped the letter into his hands,
and told him IN whisper to take it with
all haste as there was mutiny on board,
and that was all wanted.
By this time the crew were leaning
over the bulwarks watching us, as well
as they could in the uncertain starlight.
The old boatman saw at once the pc.
sition Of affairs, and with consummate
address said, in a bullying tone
'Oh, its You, is t? know you! ]
don't have ne navy gentlemen in my
boat. though; so | guess you can go
back aboard, just so quick as you like!
/ I xunnff oI,,an 0cInrn~ On
tell'ee, Mr.. Quarterback Jack"
This was received by the men with
roars of laughter, aud | pretended to re-
monstrate with the clever old salt, who
only continued:
There, don't tell'ee its no use argy-
flying, for won't take'ee ashore. Mutt
ny aboard, says you? Why you men
o'-war folks call everything mutiny. you
does, and If there is mutiDy aboard, why
you'd better stop and see it out. Come
now. just get out of my boat, for won't
take'ee ashoro-by my colonial oath, /
won't"
Again the crew of the merchantmen
shouted with delight, and greeted me
with derisive laughter as, with great ap-
parent reluctance, l returned, to all ap-
pearance bafled. Thinking that those
laugh best who laugh the longest, re-
joined my friend on the poop.
The ruse had succeeded admirably /;
none of the men for moment OWNED
my real object in calling the boat along
side, nor suspected that l had so well
achieved my Durnose
So far tie best had been done, but no
assistance could reach US under two
hours at least. 1t was an anxious time 4.
The men were gathered together about
the forecastle talking with a savage ear
nestness; they showed no disposition to
turn in peacefully, but on the other hand
seemed to be consulting as to their next
course of action. Thus a long tedious
hour passed away.
To keep them quite for another hour
the captain, by my advice, threw them a
sop in the shape of some bottles Of rum,
which they received with ironical cheers.
This was desperate expedient, for al
though /. had the effect of making them
for the time more conterted, there was
no doubt but that in the end the spirits
would only make moro porvaliant and
mutinous. However, we trusted that
before then the pinnaucs would have
come to our aid.
Anxiously we sat at the stern port, in
tently listening for the sound of the muf
fed oars. Ii Was quite dark; nothing
could he seen ner heard but the drunken
brawling of the crew on deck. By de.
grecs they became noisier and noisicr,
their conversation principally turning on
that Internal lieutenant, rs they were
pleased to designate me, and what they
intended to do with him. Some sugges
ted "keel-hauling" him; others dose of
his favorite cat o nine tails; whilst many
advised making target of him for lit
tie practice with that revolver which had
previously so cowed them all. Again,
many thought lie would look well dan
cling on nothing, whilst hanging from
the foreyard arm-that is to say, il one
could Judge from the roars of laughter
that this suggestion provoked. All this
was not particularly pleasant for the indi-
! yiidual IN question, so that we were not
! sorry when we heard the welcome plash,
pIash, pIash Of the pinnace's oars. A few
minutes sufficed for her to pull silently
up under the stearn, few moro saw the
men safely ensconced in the after state
cabins, TO which they obtained access by
means of ropes lowered out Of the stern
ports.
And they arrived none to soon, for the
captain and hardly seated ourselves at
our oil places in the saloon, when the
same unruly mob burst in as before.
In answer to the captain, they said they
meant to do him no harm, and all they
wanted was that man-of war, officer, and
without him they would not leave the sa'
/ loon.
To this the captain replied with un-
wonted firmness- s9
This gentleman is guest of niue
and | must first know what you want
with him."
The boatswain then as spokesman fol
the rest, said: "Waal, we don't 'zactly
know what we do want with him, but
! you can take your jolly good oath that
we'll make it pretty lively for him when
we do get hold of him."
Here there were shouts Of "Aye. that