The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-02-16

As 1 passed the lookout in the star
board gangway, I asked: Kitheri,
gunnes sahab?a Again, "Ogihl sa-
hab." With rapid steps I reached the
lgallant-forc'stie ladder, and, leaving
my straw slippers behind, ran up it.
Beside the starboard cathead lay
the sleeping lookout No. 3: by the re-
port e8thead crouched the other.
Both asleep? Where is the gunner =?
1 queried to myself? Asleep too, l
suppose.
With quiet steps I stood beside the
recumbent form of the sleeping look
out, and was on the point of saluting
him with my foot, when, to my as
tOnishment, saw the starboard look
out spring to his feet and make dash
for me. There was a bright object in
his hand that glittered in the faint
starlight. MutinOus, Ell 1 exclaimed
and as the Malay leaped towards me
and struck with his whole force,
sprang one side. The impetus of the
blow caused him to stumble over the
other, who, knife in hand, was rising
to his feet. They both fell.
Instinctively sought a weapon.
Before they could recover themselves
I grasped the short, upright iron
brake. Of the force pump, against
which l struck when / avoided the
murderous rascal. Fortunately it was
unkeyed. With fierce energy pull
ed it from its socket, and rained down
blows upon the struggling wretches
with fearful effect.
But dark forms climbing onto the
forecastle, and the deck was suddenly
filed with men. Then it flashed
ed forwards; trapped They have kill
ed poor Bowers, and it was his fall on
deck, the splash of his body on deck,
that woke US in the cabin. My life
depends on getting aft to the arms.
With a wild cry for help, that
reached even the ears of those on
board the Fox" I sprang down
among my would-be-murderers. /
landed fair upon my feet, and struck
right and left with the iron bar. So
unexpected was my onset that sever
al fell under my deadly weapon be-
fore there was any chance to get away
from me. For one instant they fal.
tered and fell back, forming a circle
about me. One instant! it gave me a
chance to catch my breath. They
feared me! sawit - With an exul-
tant shout 1 charged aft through the
hesitating swarm; then, with low,
fierce howls, they closed about me.
fOught-well, as only man fight
ing for his life can fight. Still it was
not that feeling alone that animated
me; was flied with rage at their
mutiny, and actually took a ferOcious
delight in the crushing Of my blows.
with my back to the rail, l
edged step by step aft.
Suddenly there was bright fash
a sharp report. They paused. Turn
ing to look, saw my chance; dashed
out and broke through; quick as
thought I had reached the quarter
deck, and run aft to where my brave
boy, Ah-Mee; stood beside the cabin |
ompanion-passing on by the dead !
body of the sea cunnie whom Ah-Mee |
had just shot. Handing me my re-
volver, he said-in his cool, Chinese |
apathetic way-as he blazed away in !
to the pursuing swarm with the
the steward was hand
ing up to him: '!Me makee lem jow" |
(I'll make them run,)
He was mistaken. All the tiger in |
their natures was reused; it was no |
longer "toot," but the desire to kill, |
that animated them. They were Ma
lays; "a muck" seeking our lives
for our blood.
$50 below! go belowp 1 said to
as / rapidly emptied my |
self cocker. He darted down the lad
der and, as my last charge left its |
chamber, 1 followed.
For a moment there was a hush, 4
broken the next by a confusion of |
sounds, shots, yells, the fall of heavy /
objects, and trampling of many feet /
on the deck above US. Then clear /
hearty Anglo Saxon cheer greeted our
ears; and, as I responded, again |
deck, I heard the CHEEKY /
voice of "Mad Duncan" and saw his
tall form striding towards me: saw
him in mist; things turned gray.
'God bless you, Captain :" tried to
say. My breath failed; the deck reel
ed everything faded away!
"a tight squeeze of it you've had,
my boy p' The words sounded far
away, as opened my eyes in a glare
Of light. recognized Captain Dun
cans voice, and became conscious
that was stretched on a mattress on
the cabin floor. Sharp, stinging pains
crept through my frame, and centred
in my hands, head, one hip and knee.
Around me were grouped our own
officers of the ''FOx." One was spong-
ing my body; Ah-Afee squatting at
my feet, holding a bowl of water, was
silently crying; one was ba1daging
my bleeding hands; another was fan
ming me. Duncan held my head in
his lap, and spoOning brandy into my
mouth. ''Glad to see you come to,
ol6 fellow" he said, looking down
into my face with kind eyes.
"All right?n I asked, "Where's
Bowers ?" for I missed his honest
gray head.
'Lie still % as 1 tried to lift my
head and look about. "All right for
you, old felIow-Bowers ?" He hesita-
led; but seeing the meaning in my
lace, Duncan said sadly: Yes the
poor old man has gone, they've killed
him."
"I thought so the devils ~ Ny head
swan, and 1 tainted again.
I was very i'll on the voyage down
and weak from loss of blood, having
deep knife wounds in one
nip, my left knee and temple, and
both hands. The weather was charm
ing, the sea smooth, and for a wonder,
the wind was fair most Of the trip,
during which Captain Duncan told
me all that I did not know about the
,crimmage. He said: ave were sit
ting on the quarter deck of the Fox
and slipping our grog silent
y, when we heard your cry of Help
some ringing up the river, so clear
and distinct that we even caught your
tone. Every man of US sprung to our
feet. There was no hesitation; all
rushed for the armschest. Every one
knew what your cry meant. The
boats were piped away, and We
swung ourselves over the side, pell-
nell into them. Not a word was ut
tered except by the officer of the deck.
As we cleared the ships side, we saw
the flash and heard the report of All
nee's first shot. Then the men buck
ed to their oars. That shot told US,
IS plainly as words, There's hope YETI
It was all the sound we heard as We
dashed along the river, until the
quick Pop! popn of your revolver
told us you were still alive. You had
hardly fred your last shot when we
got along side. Serambling up the
main-ehains, We took the black devils
all by surprise, drove them forward,
and down the fOre-castle hatch
When they ran, started aft to look
for you. You rather startled me, old
fellow, when you tuLnbled up out Of
the companion. You were stark nak-
ed, and covered head, and body, with
blood, and as reached you, fell faint
ing; 1 was just in time to catch you,
Dr. you would have pitched down
through the skylight. We took you
below, and dressed your wounds first,
then brought you TO. We hunted for
poor Bowers, but he was gone. II 1t
hadn't been for that boy of yours,
you'd have gone up too, Pm
thinking. We battened down the
crew TIL daylight, and then ordered
thann m on deck As thew cau1a nm