Litchfield enquirer., 1871-07-27

not have lifted a finger to save him: but I knew how mad and hopeless any attempt at mutiny must necessarily be. isaT t The next day, soon after one o'clock, when all hands were on deck-for on the Golden Arrow, whether the weather was far or foul, all hands were kept at work in the afternoon-I was aloft reeving new leech-line to the mizzen -topail. was not looking for any demonstration on the part of the mutineers until nightfall, and therefore, though I saw Bill and the rest of the crew gathered together on the fore castle, I did not suspect that any outbreak was at hand. Presently, however, the group separated, and five men. Bill leading them, came aft together, the others remain ing on the forecastle. The five approached the quarter-deck, where s.Bloody Dick" was pacing up and down, and the mate was leaning over the rail speaking to the second mate, who was in the mizzen chains examining defective 'dead-eye. Sudden ly Bill threw himself. knife in hand, on the captain, while two of his companions at tackled the mate, and the other two, armed with iron belaying pins, stood at the com panionway ready to strike down the third and fourth officers, should the noise bring them up from their dinner below. ceas ed working, and watched the scene. The mate made stout defense. though taken completely by surprise; but he was soon overpowered and beaten down. The sec ond mate, however, sprang over the bull warks, and unarmed rushed gallantly to his rescue. Meanwhile, Bill had planted a severe stab in the captains left shoulder. Bloody Dick bully though he was, did not know the meaning of fear. He sprang backward from the sailors first attack, and striking him terrific blow under the chin he sent him heavily to the deck. Drawing revolver, he instantly fired at him, and then turning to the aid of the second mate shot both his assailants. The two men at the companionway, seeing the fate of their comrades, turned to fly just as the two officers from below rushed on deck. The captains unerring pistol struck one of the fugitives down dead, and the other, seeing that the game was hopeless, hurled his be- laying-pin at the nearest of his pursuers, and leaping overheard sank instantly out of sight. The mutiny had lasted hardly five minutes and not one of the mutineers remained unhurt. It was plain that at the last moment Bill had been deserted by all except his five desperate comrades. was not surprised at this. We were slaves, and slaves are usually towards. Moreover, tbe man who engages in mutiny knows thai even if he succeeds he puts rope about his neck. Few think it worth while to en- gage in desperate battle in order to ex' change the certainty of being beaten at ses for the probability of being hung ashore As soon as the fight was over all hands were called aft, myself included, and eS uSsI~ T.: in his hand, demanded to know who wer' concerned in the conspiracy2 So grea was the terror which this man exercised that the men stood silent and irresolute lacking even the spirit to deny their crime Bill, however, who was lying on the decl with ball through hisspine, answered fo them. ''They were all in it except him, he said, pointing to me; ''but the d-( towards went back on me when there was fight on hand. He (still meaning myself is the only man who didn't know what VI meant to do, and that I'll swear to-
 Bloody Dick" looked at us for fev moments with smile of the bitterest con tempt, and then ordered us forward
 'Heave those carcasses overheard" h, continued, turning to the mates-'''th' whole of them. mind, whether they'y, croaked or not. Overboard with them. ; Spurning one of the bodies with his foot he " went below. .....
 But as the barbarous order was abou to be executed, the stewardess rushed wild ly on deck and threw herself on Bills dying form, crying and weeping in passionate grief. ....
 Bills arm stole slowly and weakly abou her neck. "Don't take on so, darling, he said. 'I did it for your sake. Don' mind me-" H
 "Oh, Bill. dear Bill. " she sobbed, II hay. killed you. I have killed youl You can forgive me now" t..........'
 ''I do forgive you free and earnest" he answered. ''You was only child anyhow, and perhaps didn't treat you kind enough. Tell me you love nae now, and I die all right" e'.tr ..... ..
 'I do love you, " she cried, "my dear old Bill. They shan't take you from me. Il you die, I'll die too"
 A sweet smile passed over Bills face and his hand played with her disorderet hair. "Let me see Jim," he said faintly without, however. taking his arm from tho woman's neck.
 bent down to him in spite of the pres ence of the officers. and he whispered ''We've stove in the water tanks, ant you'll have to put into port for water. Gel Nell out of this if you can."
 The mates roughly. dragged the shriek ing woman away, and one of them carried her into the cabin. I reluctantly obeyed the order to go forward, and from the forecastle saw the living and the dead cast overheard. Thus ended the mutiny oi the Golden Arrow. e
 As Bill had said, the fresh water tanks had been tempered with, and five days af. terward we put into Valparaiso for a new supply. Here I with most of the crew de. serted the ship at once, and Bloody Dick did not care to pursue us. Of the woman I never heard again. She did not show herself after the mutiny. Poor Bill! ] never think of him without wondering why it is that the gentlest and kindest souls are the very ones whom vain and silly women deceive and ruin.
 A Norwich authority tells pathetic lit- tie story abont a pigeon which became fastened by long string hanging from it's 1- A. A II H m al lL--