The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-08
leck to calm our minds with some good ci-


done with these rascals yet and it seems that
they have the power in their own hands now,
but that mustn't be. Quick! get me pens, ink,
and raper.''
These were soon brought, and wrote the
following letter.
Ship -, off the Sow and Pigs Reef.
Send the Pinnace Immediately, with dozen
marines, with their arms and ball cartridge.
Let the boats raw have their side-arms, re-
yolyers and ammunition; send mine as well.
There is mutiny on board expect an outbreak
every moment. We must take them by sur
prise, therefore see the oars well mufied. The
boat is to approach 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 in
structions.
Having signed this. and addressed it TO
The Commanding Officer Ii. NJ. s. Harald,' y
the next consideration was as to the means
of sending it; there was the difficulty.
Our only chance was passing boat, We
watched anXiously for some time and at
length we heard very merry pleasure party,
singing as they pulled back after days sea-
fishing.
10 my shout of "Boat, ahoyw nothing bnt
the echeing rocks and hills answered. Just
as we were losing hope, and the boat was pass
ing away, gave louder hail, and | knew
that was heard, for they stopped singing
AMI the monotonous splash of their oars ceas-
ed. Then there came lazy "Hul-lo all 7!
across the water.
Give me passage on Shore" sung out
at the top OF my voice.
They seemed for some time 20 debate
whether they should or not, but presently a
hail OF "All right" was returned, and they
pulled in the direction of the ship.
As they came alongside stepped over the
gangway into the boat, and was glad to find
that the boatman was well known to me as a
man whom could trust. slIpred The letter
into his hands, and told him In whisper TO
take iG with all haste, as there was a mutiny
on board, and that was all wanted.
~ 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 position
OF affairs, and with consummate address said
IN bullying tone, 'Oh, it's you, is it? l
knows you! don't have no navy gentlemen
in my boat, though; SO / guess you can go
back aboard, lust so quick as ye like! won't
SlVeee a passage ashore, so l tell'ee, Mr..
Quarterback Jackp'
This was received by the men with roars Of
lsushter, and | pretended to demonstrate
with the clever old salt, who only continued
There, don't tell'ee it's no use a.argyfying,
for won't take'ee ashore. Mutiny aboard,
says you? why you men o'-war folks calls ey-
erything mutiny, you does; and if there is
mutiny aboard, why you'd better stop and see
it out. Come now, just git out O. my boat,
for won't take zee ashoIe-my colonial oath
/ won't"
Again the crew of the merchantmen shout
ed with delight, and greeted me with derisive
laughter as, with apparent reluctance, l re-
turned, to all appearances baflled. Thinking
that those laugh best who laugh the longest,
reloined my friend on the poop.
The ruse had succeeded admirably; none of
the men for moment OWNED my real object
in calling the boat alongside nor suspected
that | had SO well achieved my purpose.
So far the best had been done, but no as
sistance could reach US under two hours
at the least. 1t was an anxious time.
The men were gathered together abont the
forecastle talking with savage earnestness:
they showed no disposition to turn in peace
fully, but ON the other hand seemed TO be
only consulting as to their next course of ac-
ton. Thus long tedious hour passed away.
To keep them quiet tor 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 a
uSoPOlatS SApSulcnt, loT although IL mad the
effect of making them for the time more con-
tented, there was no doubt but that in the end
the spirit would only make them more potval-
iant aud mutinous. However, we trusted
that before then the Pinnace would have
come to our assistance.
Anxiously we sat at the stern port, intently
listening Tor the sound of the muffled oars
1t was quite dark, nothing could be seen nor
heard but the drunken brawling OF the crew
on deck. BY degrees they became noisier.
their conversation principally turning on that
IN ernai naval lieutenant, as they were pleas
cd TO designate me, and what they intended
10 10 with him. Some suggested "keelbaul-
ing" him; others, dose of his favorite cat-o o.
nine tails; whilst many advised making a tar
get OF him for little practice with that reyol-
YER which had previously so cowed them all.
Again, many thought that he would look well
dancing on nothing whilst hanging from the
is to say, ii one could
judge from the roars of laughter that his sue-
gestion provoked. All this was not palticu-
larry pleasant for the individual in question.
SO that we were not sorry when we heard the
welcome plash-piash, plash-plash of the Pin
nace's oars. few minutes suficed for her
to pull silently up under the stern, a few
more saw the men safely ensconsed in the af.
ter cabins, to which they obtained access bv
means OF ropes lowered out OF the stern pots.
And they arrived none too soon, tor the
captain and had hardly seated ourselves at
our old places in the saloon, when the same
unr ly mob burst in as before.
In answer to the captain, they said they in
tended him no harm, and all they wanted
was that man-o'-war officer, and without him
they would not leave the saloon.
10 this the captain replied with unwonted
frmness-
This gentleman is guest of mine, and I
must first know what you want with him."
The boatswain then, as spokesman Tor the
rest, said, Wal, we don't 'zactly know vet
what we do want with him, but you can take
your jolly good oath, that we'll make it pretty
liyely ior him when we do get hold OF him."
Here there were shouts of AVE. that we
will !" "Hang the begsar; "Stick him nm and
shoot him;' Feed the sharks with him.
and numerous other playful suggestions OF a
like nature.
: In that case" said the captain, "not a
nam of you shall lay a finger on him, SO
you'd better clear out of this at once"
"AVast there Bit" replied the boatswain,
: not SO fast my hero, not so fast. That man
taught me lesson just now, and I'll just
larn it to you now"
AT these words ne produced the very same
revolver, and, with malicious grin, he took
a democratic aim at the captains head, at the
same time saying, Now my fine teller, if you
don't change your mind in three minutes I'll
blow your brains out first, and hisn after
wards. Them's the right words, aren't thew
mates? thought I'd I1rned the lesson pref
ty wen. l amt got watch, know, but
can guess three minutes near enough. But
III tell We what have got, and that is pis-
tol as Is loaded this time, there's no gam
mon about H."
This speech Of the boatswain's was evil
IDENTITY considered extremely facetious. for
the men roared again and again with drunk
en- laughter, and they chuckIed with fiend-
Ism gee over the game that they thought
they now had in their own hands
80, then, you rascals won't leave the sa-
loon when your captain orders you to. see
that +! shall again have to make you," said
|. This produced cries of "You make u.s."
and howls of derision. "Stop moment,nI
continued; "you want me, do you? Well,
then, here l am, and as much more OF the
same sort.as you like"
AT these words | opened the doors of the
state cabins, and giving the orders, "ready,
present" dozen rifles were levelled at the
head OF the braggart boatswain. With
cry of baffled rage and amazement, he drop
ped the pistol from his grasp and begged Tor
mercy. The rest ran like flock of fright
ened sheep.
The ringleader and those who had been
ne most troublesome were soon secured and
placed in irons. The next dav saw Them
safely lodged in Sidney Jail, where they re-
NAMED for periods OF from two to ten wears.
The captain of the merchantmen was
more fortunate with his mex; crew, and made
good run TO En9lan 1.-Casselrs Magazine.
u. G @. y. BARBOUR,