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

ing cargo, and taking in her homewar
freight.
As | expected, the greater number of tn
crew deserted in Sydney, and he had t.
make up the complement from the loafer
and villainous riff-raff that abound in a col
onial seaport The day before he was t.
sail for England he expressed to me hi
distrust of his new crew; they were Ger
tainly as rascally looking set of rufians a,
one would be likely to meet with.
Having had considerable experience O.
the merchant service, lknew tolerably vel
what these fellows were when once out OF
the high seas, they would be all right but
whilst at anchor anywhere inside they be-
come nearly unmarageable
l therefore volunteered to see my friend
out of his difficulties, by accompanying hin
to the harbor, a distance of about six miles
and ther returning with the pilot. My Of
fer was gladly accepted.
On the following day | went on board
just as the half drunken crew, with much
shouting and singing were weighing the
anchor The fussy little tug boat, lashed
alongside, was kissing and steaming, and
powerful engines begun to move ,he two
vessels slowly out tron the quay into the
stream Then aIlfancs dropped their work,
and swarming up th.rigging, greeted the
bystanders and the slipping with drunken
cheers. And so they continued to work
spasmodically, and repeatedly leaving of
to cheer, feebly anddiscordantly, anything
that was passing. 1t was only too evident
that there would be trouble with them yet,
if there should not be wind enough outside
the Heads to enable the ship to get
clear away to sea that evening. The cap
tain was already as nervous as he could be,
and so | said nothing of my fears. twas
with much concern for him that | noticed
the veering flaws of wind growing every
moment fainter and fainter.
As we slowly wound in and out amongst
the lovely bays of this superb harbor, at
every turn apparently land-locked in diff
ferent lake, each of beauty surprising
the last, the wind gradually died away
The golden rays of the setting sun stepped
one shore in a glorious food of warm light,
whilst the high cliffs and richly wooded
slopes Of the other were in dark sombre
shade. BY degrees tie lengthening shad-
ows, extending far out into the blue waters,
stretched over TO the opposite shore, and
enveloped Il in cold grey twilight.
BY this time the noisy rattling old tug
had taken tie vessel within sight Of the
heads; and / being now a dead calm, she
was brought o an an.hor near a reef called
the Sow and Pigs, il such a position that
-+t = rc-
breeze. This done, the tug-boat was cast
off and permitted u return to Sydney.
As soon as the cable was secured, the
mate reported that the crew demanded grog
The mate being already in half intoxica-
ted state, their request, which was really q
demand, was not complied with. This was
the beginning of troubles.
There Immediately followed much muir
murine and many growls of dissatisfaction
gradually getting louder and more vehe
ment. Presently angry voices were heard
in fierce alteration with the mates at the
very doors OF the cabin, and then abou
thi.ty q tL ----t nf the crow ~',-L-2 vlo
lently into the saloon, at the further end o
which the captain and | were sitting.
They wele an ugly looking mob, some
with blue shirts. some with red, many with
neither. but nearly all brandishing large
open knives With frighttul oaths anC
threats, they demanded that the keys o
the :. lazerete" in which the spirits arr
kept, should b. given to them. This, o
course. was reh-ed and they were ordered
to leave the saloon, At this they yellet
and shouted detantly, still demanding th'
cask of rum. attempted to speak to them
but my voice was Immediately drowned in
torrent Of imppcations.
In the adjoining state room Of the Cap
tain'S, a revolver was lying on the Ia bic
| stepped quiely back, and returned with
it concealed under my uniform coat The
Captain then, by my advice, ordered the
boatswain TO ppe to supper. This com
mand was received by all with derisivC
laughter. and rells of defiance. The time
for action had come, so putting the Captain
little aside, ! stepped forward, al the
same time taking care to let the revolver
be seen The sight of the deadly weapon
produced almost instantaneous silence
among the covardly crew.
Then speaking slowly and firmly, | said
- Boatswain you have been ordered b,
your Captain to-pipe to supper; do So"
He answered, with an oath, that he woul'
not, and concluded by telling me to min
my own business Taking no notice of hi
braggadocio, | again spoke to him in ton
that implied that | should be as good a
my word.
:. Boatswain," | said, g have given yo
an order; if you fail any longer to obey il
| will put it out of your power to obey o
disobcy another order in this world for a
sure as you stand there, [ will send one Q
these balls through your head. Now the
what do you say to It.
With these words | slowly cooked III
revolver. and took deliberate aim at h
head
At the first sound Of that disagreeabl
click of the pistol iocN he cried out, 8 Fc
goodness sake, don't fire, Sir, III do II
adding in a low growl to the Others, 9
don't matter, chaps, | know you won't {
none the more fort,
The boatswain's shrill whistle then raj
sharply and clearly through the saloon
but no one needed 1t except to greet 1t VII
wells and roars of derisive laughter.
As soon as [ could make myself heal
above the tumult, said sternly and res
lutely-
"Men, you have disobeyed your captai
but you shall do as 1 tell you" (He
there were shouts of ' who are you? I
back and bully your own men," and tt
like.) Now order you to clear out
this cabin" Here again | was interru
ton bv cries Of q won't and much strong
expressions of the same effect.
, " Very good" | continued "you won
Well, then I'll give you three minutes
alter Your minds at the end OF that tlI