The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-11-09


meath the lower lid, as though that eye
wished to look calm, but could not. 1
candidly believe that no man can have a
plan for crime formed in his mind, and,
when my suspicious are once aroused hide
1t from me in his eye.
1t was no uncommon thing for me to
stroll about the steerage when I was
smoking, albeit smoking was generally
confined to the upper deck AS I remark
ed before, 1 looked every man in the eye,
and yet did it in such manner that no
suspicious could have been excited Be-
fore left that deck felt confident that I
had counted over forty men that were la
boring under the weight of meditated
crime. 1 knew that if mutlny was inten-
ded, they were engaged IN 1t.
When I returned to the deck walked
aft to where the captain stood.
Beautiful morning, isn't it?' said l,
loud enough to be heard by some of the
Cape Town passengers who had come up
on the quarter deck
Very" returned Souther as innocently
as could be desired
"Send MiIlman down." I whispered as
I passed on toward the cabin.
Mr. Millman was the lieutenant, and he
had been on deck since four o'clock in the
morning. Shortly after entered the cab
in he followed me, and with wandering
expression on his countenance he asked me
what was wanted
"Mr. Millman," asked, "did you notice
any one approach the long boat while
Captain Souther was down here short
time siLce?"
There were several of the passengers
loafing about there" he answered.
"But did you see any one get up so as
to reach into the boat ?'
"Yes," said Millman, after a moments
thought, II think the man they call Bre-
ton did"
you are snre of it, are you 2''
"Yes-now come to think of it, am.
He reached in and got out small bag OF
clothes"
"a bag of clothes7"
Eyes, for he opened it and took out a
frock. and then put 1t back"
"Was he not some time IN replacing
Eyes, he seemed to take some pains to
stow 1t away carefully"
Where are your pistols, Mr.. MilllnanP'
an my berth"
Lets look"
Why somebody must have taken
them, uttered the lieutenant, gazing first
at me, and then at the place where he had
kept his weapons. What does all this
msan, Mr. Lam worth ?''
explained to him all that was suspec-
ted, and though he was much startled at
first, yet persuaded him to be quiet,
making him understand that the least
sign on his part might prove fatal to us.
He understood me, and when he left the
cabin he was as calm as could be. L en-
Joined it upon him that he should pass no
sign or look of sntelhgence with the cap
tam, and that he should not overlook IN
the least the movements OF the Cape
Towners.
After ne had gone sat down to think.
It was hard case, to say the least. There
were fifty-six of the passengers, and be-
lieved that all of them were IN the plot.
We could only muster forty-two to Op-
pose them, for of course we would not
dare to trust the six convicts; and then,
perhaps, these fellows might mean to set
the convicts at liberty and enlist them IN
the mutiny. Difficulty arose on every
hand. In the first place l knew not how
the villains meant to move, nor when; in
the next place they had all the arms, and
we had none; and next, we could not
alarm the crew without arousing the enc:
my for 1 knew full well that the moment
the sailors found out the mischief, that
moment they would betray themselves
They were too impulsive to be trusted
with such secret at present Of course
the villains would be regularly organized,
with plan of operations all concocted.
Presently Captain Souther came down.
Captain" said I, what on earth in
duced you to take such villainous look
ing set of fellows on board r.
al could not help Il" replied he. They
purchased their passage In lump, Of the
compaRy's sub-agent at Liverpool. But
then, they didn't all look ike villains"
perhaps not" 1 rejoined. The truth
was, even 1 had but just detected them as
villains. l spoke at first dhder the infu-
ence of annoyance.
informed Souther that I believed the
whole gang of the Capemen were IN the
bloody plot, and also that l apprehended
that their plans were all laid. He was
very nervous and very anxious, and told
me that he must depend upon me entirely.
l saw that he placed great confidence IN
my ability to circumvent the villains, and
promised him that / would do all
could to hslp him; and in return made
him pledge himself that he would remain
perfectly passive, seeming to take no no.
tice of the suspected men.
Ny first object was to find out, if possi-
ble, when the mutiny was to be openly
made, so that might know what time
could devote to observation. To this
knowledge I was helped by very slight
accident. When l was again on deck
found that nearly all of the Cape Town
passengers were up. My frat surveillance
was upon Breton. He was q dark-featur-
ed slim-built man, with face almost
bloo3less, showing heartless. cold-blood-
ed fellow. His eyes were sharp and quick
and he looked exceedingly intelligent. He
was lust the man to lay a deep, deadly
scheme. l was soon satisfied, from the
movements that l saw, that he was the
leader, and also that he had no mistrust
that his plans were suspected.
After taking such general observation
as deemed sufficient, l lounged carelessly
forward. Breton was just abreast the
foremast, and was at work with a needle
and thread upon his pea-jacket. As
passed slowly by the place where he sat,
saw that he was sewing a leather straI
upon the inside of his thick Jacket I
was narrow strap, somestwelve or four
| teen inches in length, and he was fasten
/ ing it so that 1t formed loops ike beck
cts. My step may have been quicker as
| passed on, for l had reached an importan
point-I was confident of it. Breton wa
sewing that strap upon the left hand, in
ner side of the breast, and it was surely
for the purpose of holding q cutlass an(
pistols In the course of my walk abou
the deck found six other men engaged il
the same occupation
"Now," thought I, "their plan is t,
take place to night" These fellows oftel
remained on deck during the evening, an
as the nights were damp and cool, the,
made practice of throwing on their pea
Jackets after nightfall. This conclusion
was easily arrived at for those thick jack
cts were certainly being prepared to hol
offensive weapons, and they would no
surely be worn till after dark. Now l fel
much easier.
O,how easily could read the misehiefl
the countenance of those men, now that
was upon the scent. Every look-ever
motion was caught by me and turn
ed to account saw how curious the
nodded to the leader, and Isaw how eager
ly they ever and anon looked towards th