The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-07-13

no notice. Be on deck at noon, anC
see that you get an observation.
The mate. was very weak, but he
crept out to the second mate to get
his log book; and learned that the
captain~ had kept it since the illness O
the first officer. This was not quite
regular. He went to tho captains
room, but the door was locked anc
the key gone. :.
At noon the sun was perfectly
clear; and the mate, taking his sex
tant, got on&decl1, and posted himself
in the forecastle. Tho captain die
not notice him but took his own ob
servations from the quarterback, and
then, giving the order to strike eight
bells, went below. The mate went
below also; and while he was making
out his reckonings the cook came to
him,
II am glad to sec you n.your legs
again, sir" he said in low tone. 81
don't know where we are going; but
this is ccrtain-we shall soon see
some grizzly bears. And we shall
need them for provisions, for ours are
nearly gone"
What arc the crew saying about
it?" questioned the officer.
"Thcy say must make tight the
old bread casls; they will be wanted
for bluhber, since Captain Powell is
certainly going a whaIng," was the
cooks answer; and he quietly stole
away again. The mate finished his
reckoning, and then consulted his
chart.
A short while, and the captain
was pacing the deck again. The
mate came on. lie looked at the
compass, at the studding-sails, and
then approached the captain, speak
ing in a whisper.
"For heavens sake, Captain Powell,
where are we sailing to ?'' =
"Don't give yourself any trouble" :"
was the cool rep'y; "the bark is in
good hands. We went too far to the
south"
"But to-day at noon we were in
sixty-four degrees north latitude, and
this evening we must pass tho line OF
the North Cape IN Iceland, Where
is it you are going sir?"
"Mr. Mctsam," said the captain
coldly, II have the management Of
this vessel. I beg you will not trou-
bic yourself with things that do not
concern YOU"
"But Captain Powell. I must trou-
bile myself; our supplies arc running
short. Remember, we carry passer-
gers, sir, and must keep our time in
Liverpool" .
"Lct me advise you to 90 back to
your BERTH" was the. command II
take responsibility Of the navigation.
Do'you understand"
"W hat is our longitude,, Capt Pow
ell?"
"Lcaue the reckoning to me, till
you are perfectly well, said Mr.. Met
sam. You arc not yourself YETI.
The mate NOTICED the altered ap-
pearancc Of his superior, aud saw that
be was not himself What to do he
did not know; lie was bitterly per-
picked. Too much prostrated by
sickness TO act energetically-pcr-
haps to think 80, he let's things be,
believing there was no immediate
cause for action. 1t is serious thing
TO interfere with the commander Of
vessel.
The wind went round more to the
south, but the bark held the same
course, now with studding-sails on
both sides. The crew were getting
dissatisfied. They had no objections
to II long voyage; it increased their
pay; bnt they had no desire for q
trip to the Arctic regions without
suitable clothing. or apparatus for Ia
king seals. Once more the mate en-
treated the captain to put the ship
about; but the latter threatened to
order him into irons.
The passengers became seriously
alarmed. A suspicion came upon
them for the first time, that Captain
Powell was insane A dcputaticn
went to the first officer, and delivered
over to him the charge OF tho vcs-
SCI.
Mr.. Metsam went on deck, and as
sured himself that the time for action
had come. lie ordered the crew aft,
and inquired if they were wiling to
obey him
"Sir," said tho carpenter, speaking
for the rest. lit is high time you took
tho command. There are icebcrgs
ahead.".
"Well, then, my men, in with the
studding.sails."
The crew went to work with will;
very rapidly the ship was put about
so that she headed S. S. T.. by east
But the tacliing caused loud stir and
noise, and Captain Powell rushed on
deck.
"Wbo ordered the ship about? he
asked in hoarse voice,
Mr.: Metsam answered at once, in a
calm tone, hoping to soothe him. lie
felt convinced Of his madness.
81 did sir-without troubling you.
There were icehergs ahead and we
have nothing to do in sixty-nine de-
grees north Latitude"
This brought tho climax. "Rebel-
lion!" Kissed tho poor madman and
drawing pistol from his pocket, fred