The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-12-23

pOdIQ QulIeeF- ue NS1lhcf, noNthSf.
looked threatening. so that sail.was short
ened more than at first seemed necessary,
and then one watch went below again. At
the same time turned to go to my own
cabin, and with that intention, looked
around for the first mate 10 take charge OF
the ship. but to my great establishment
and alarm. he was nowhere to be found.
In moment / called all hands upon deck.
and asked every one what had become OF
their officer. But they all gave the same
answer-not one Of them had seen him.
Lanterns were now got, and every part
Of the ship was searched. but no chief
mate could be found and then, when |
had again questioned the crew, l could
come TO no other conclusion than that the
poor fellow had by some means lost his life
overheard. With this sent the watch be-
low. and stepped into my cabin, stunned
and Supplied by the sudden accident-or
rather. as / could not help believing, by
the foul blow which had brought abou; the
poor mates death.
The second mate, as | have already re-
marked, was a very young man. and not
very experienced in his duties; therefore,
felt doubly the loss Of the first mate. es-
pecially after the critical state Of things
which had occurred among the crew. 1t
is not too much 10 say, in fact, that deep
feeling Of helplesSness and uncertainty
came over ME as thought of this lament
able niShap The first thing which | now
turned my attention TO was TO have all the
firearms that were on board brought into
nv cabin, though. it is true. they were not
many. as they amounted only to few mus
kets and four pairs of pistols. The stew
ard was faithful mulatto, who had stood
by ME in several cases Of necessity. and
therefore felt no doubt in trusting him.
so | told him that on the least sign of any
unusual movement on the part of the crew
be was TO hasten to the cabin and arm him
self. also told him to sleep in cabin
near my own instead of in his accustomed
place. Then, as 10 the second mate, gave
him pair Of pistols when l left him on
deck and strictly ordered him not to go
forward to the forecastle on any account,
but to keep abaft the mainmast, so that in
case Of any emergency he might be able TO
call me without moments delay.
Having taken these precautions | went
to my berth. leaving orders that should
be called at four o'clock. j had scarcely,
however. had my clothes off more than
four or FIVE minutes when heard knock
ing. with the sound Of n mans voice at
that part Of the ships stern which was i'm
mediately underneath my cabin window.
listened. and in few minutes the noise
was repeated. got up. opened the port
hole, and asked what was the matter; when
fancy what my joy was to hear the voice
of the chief mattel / threw MIN line.
and thanks to Heaven. in few minutes
nv brave officer and my true friend was on
board again safe and sound.
His story was soon told When, on
the previous night. he had gone forward to
the foreeastle to call all hands. he was sud-
denly seized by the two foreign sailors and
thrown overheard before he had time either
to resist or CRY out; and in fact, if he had
made ever so much noise he would not
have been heard amidst the rush Of wind
and waves. He was fortunately, however,
strong and splendid swimmer, and as the
rate at which the ship had been going was
checked BY the shortening of sail, he was
able to keep near her until he found the
end of rope hanging overheard astern.
Selling this, be was towed some time in
the wake Of the vessel, and then, when he
had collected his strength. he sprang upon
the rudder chains, and by dint Of great ex-
ertiOI, made good his hold until an oppOr-
tunity came for getting on board without
the knowledge Of the crew. As soon,
then, as night had advanced and the lights
on board were all put out, he made noise
and attracted my attention.
Not a soul in the ship besides myself
knew anything Of his being saved, for the
wind had been blowing hard, and the noise
which the chief mate had made, as well as
the opening of the portfolio, had all been
drowned before anything could be heard of
it on the quarterback. Nobody but our
selves were in the cabin, and the steward
was sound asleep in his berth outside. We
agreed. then. to keep the matter entirely
secret, except as regarded the second mate,
and not to let any one else on board know
that the mates life had been saved. Nor
was there much trouble to do this. for the
steward had but little need to come into
my cabin, and there was an empty cabin
which opened out Of my own, into which
We agreed to put the first mate.
The wisdom of this step was soon prov
ed for while we were a good distance
from the Cape the ill-feeling which the
two foreigners had shown became more
and more manifest, until | feared there
would be some open act of mutiny or in
subordination which might endanger the
safety Of the ship and the lives of all those
VINO were not on the side Of those ill-con-
ditioned villains. Still, great care was
taken on the part of the second mate not
to give any pTovOcation.
One morning. however. soon after day.
light. heard an angry alteration on deck,
and when | stepped out Of my cabin, l
found the Guernsey man demanding. in a
threatening attitude, that he should be
supplied with some spirits, while close at
hand there were several other sailors, in
Guiding the Frenehman, who seemed quite
ready TO take part in the dispute Seeing
what the state Of affairs was, stepped out
on deck with loaded pistol in my hand,
and told the men TO go forward.
NO id nonsense with your pistols
was the reply, ~or we'll soon let you know
that a whole ships crew amt goin' to be
humbugged by two loafers like you"
At this critical moment heard noise
behind me, and in another instant the first
mate stepped out Of the cabin, as it was
agreed he should do in ease of emergency,
and presented himself. well armed. to the
eyes of the astonished men,
The scene which now followed beggsrs
all description. The knife which the
Guernsey man had been carrying fell out