Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-04-01


termlned man with revolver.
1.-Two minutes have gone; [ warn you
no more. The instant this hand passes
the third minute fire, and the nearest
man will be my mark"
For few moments more they stood
grumbling and growing but on hearing
the click of the cooking of the revolver
they began to waver. Then comparing
the respective distances of the foremost
men from me, and fixing my eyes stead
lastly on one burly fellow, [ said in a low
tone, as if speaking to myself yet loudly
enough to be heard by all, '' think he is
the nearest. yes, yes, by some inches" AT
this he covered down and began to draw
back to give one of his comrads the pref
erence. He in his turn gave way to an
other, and so on until it was evident that
no one was desrous of being the foremost,
and so they moved off sulkily out of the
cabin. They seemed sadly apprehensive
that the last minute would be shorter than
either of the two proceeding ones, and it
was really ludicrous to see how the last halt
dozen men tumbled over one another in
their hot haste to get out of the saloon.
Alone again with me captain" he ex-
claimed, seizing me warmly by both the
hands. Thanks, my dear friend-a
! tbouso-l onanko. Dut what ,m FIJI rick
you have run. Did you know there was
not chamber loaded in that revolver, nor
single cap on?"
My dear sir" | replied, g | knew that
perfectly well, but the men didn't, and |
trusted rightly that they would not find 1t
out"
Having somewhat imprudently replaced
the pistol in the captains cabin, we went
on deck to calm our minds with some good
cigars.
The captain going below shortly after
wards, came quickly on deck again, and
with CONSERVATION plainly visible in every
feature, whispered to me
The revolver is gone-they have stolen
it. We shall have more trouble tonight
What are we to do now?"
You are right" [ replied, we have
not done with these rascals yet; and il
seems that they have the power in their
own hands now, but that mustn't be. Quick
get me pen, ink and paper
These were soon brought, and | wrote
the following letter:
Ship, off the Sow and Pigs Reef.
Send the pinnance Immediately, with a
dozen marines with their arms and ball
cartridge Let the boats crew have their
side arms, revolvers and ammunition. Send
mine as well. There is mutiny aboard
expect an outbreak every moment. We
must take them by surprise, therefore see
the oars well mutfied. The boat is to ap-
proach the ships stern, keeping her three
masts in one, so as to be as much out OF
sight as possible The officer of the boat
/ is to enforce strict silence on nearing the
vessel Lose no time in carrying out these
instructions.
Having signed this, and addressed it tC
" the commanding officer, II. VI. 5. Her
aid. the next consideration was as TO the
means of sending it; there was the diff
Guilty.
Our only chance was a passing boat
We watched anxiously for some time, anC
at length we heard very merry pleasure
parry singing os they pulled back after ;
\ days sea hshing.
To my shout of = Boat ahoy," nothin:
but the echoing rocks and hills answered
just as we were losing hope, and the boa
was passing away, gave a louder hail, anC
| knew that was heard, for they stoppe,
singing, and the monotonous splash of thei
oars ceased. Then there came a laz7
" Hul-lo-ah f" across the water.
"Giye me passage on shore, san.
out at the top of my voice.
They seemed for some time to dehat
whether they should or not but present.,
a hail of - All right was returned, an,
they pulled in the direction OF the ship.
As they came alongside [ stepped owe
the gangway into the boat, and was gla
to find that the boatman was we'll know
to me as man whom | could trust
slipped the letter into his hands, and tolC
him in Il whisper to make haste as ther,
was u mutiny on board, and that that wa
all | wanted.
BY this time the crew was leaning owe
the bulwarks watching us, as well as the
could, in the uncertain starlight.
The old boatman saw at once the posi-
ton of affairs, and with consummate ad
dress said, in Il bullying tone,-
e Oh, its you, is it? [ knows you,
don't have no navy gentlemen in my boat
though; so guess you can 80 back aboard
lust so quick as We like. won't give e
a passage ashore, so tells zee Mr.. Quar-
terdeck Jack :"
This was received by the men with roar
of laughter, and | pretended to remor
strate with the clever old salt, who onl
continued, There, don't | tell zee Its II
use arguing, for [ wont take zee ashore
Mutiny aboard, says you? Why 20
men-o-war folks call everything mutin,
YOU does; and if there is mutiny aboart
why you'd better stop and see 1t on
Come now. just get out o my boat, Tor
won't take zee ashore-my colonial oath
won't Z"
: Again the crew and the merchantmC
shouted with delight, and greeted me wat
derisive laughter, as with great apparcl
r reluctance, [ returned, to all appearance,
baffled. Thinking that those laugh best wi
laugh the longest, L reloined my friend {
. the poop
The ruse had succeeded admirably
none of the men for a moment OWNED II
; real object in calling the boat alongsiC
nor suspected that | had so well achieve
, my purpose.
SO far the best had been done, but no a
= sistance could reach us under two hours
the least. 1t was an anxious time. III
l, men were gathered together about Il
e forecastle talking with savage earnes
o ness they showed no disposition to tu
e in peacefully, but on the other hand SCENE
'f to be only consulting as to their ne
= course of action. Thus long tedio
r hour passed away.
To keep them quiet for another no
t. the captain, by my advice, threw them
o sop in the shape of some bottles of rul
e which they received with ironical cheer