The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-12-03
THE MUTINEERS.

THE MUTINEERS.
"Man the mast-heads there ~ was
the order from the mate of the States
man, on bright, clear morning in the
tropical latitutes of the Pacific.
The order was obeyed by those whose
turn it was to take Che first look-outs
of the morning. But the youngster
whose station was in the fore to'gallant
cross trees paused in the foretop, and
threw q rapid glance round the horizon.
"Sail on the weather bow % he re-
ported. GA boat with sail set. coming
right at us.
The announcement caused a stir at
once on deck, and brought not only the
captain, but all the watch below up.
The all-important morning duty of
washing of decks was suspended for
the timo being, to gaze upon the un-
wonted spectacle of a whale-boat alone
upon the ocean, coming to board us
in the morning, like the veritable
barber-Neptune, of equatorial noto-
riety.
The boat was not more than couple
of miles from us when first discovered,
approaching swiftly under the combined
power of sail and oars. The captain 3
telescope was brought to bear, and it
was soon ascertained that she had at
least full crew. We backed the main
topsail, and hove to, waiting impa-
tiently to know more, and making vari-
ous shrewd guesses and speculations as
to her history and character.
"They've lowered for whales and
got lost from their ship" suggested
one.
"Likely enough" returned an
other.
"The captain makes out eight men
in her," said coxswain, coming from
aft.
Here was new phase of the matter,
and our theory was blown to the four
winds. Nobody would lower in pur-
suit of whales with any more than six
in boat.
Castaways, OF course" was now the
unanimous opinion. "Ship foundered
or burnt at sea and some of her boats
lost with her."
But we were not kept long in sus-
pense, fot the strangers brought their
frail craft alongside as rapidly as oars
and canvas could do it and leaped on
possession of the whole story-a. parody
on the old one of Bligh and Fletcher
Christian.
The boat contained Captain Watson,
his mate and six others, from the
bark Newcastle, of Sydney, who had
been set adrift the day before by mu-
tinee1s. The second mate, named Nc
Gregor, was at the head of the con-
spiracy, which had been most artfully
planned and carried into execution,
while he had charge of the deck.
1t was supposed that McGregor, the
new commander, intended to carry the
bark down among the Marshall
Islands and there destroy her, taking
up his residence among the savages.
There were still twenty men on board /;
but how many of them were actively
engaged in the plot, or how many
were merely cowed into submission to
the new authority, was more than the
captain could tell.
"And how far do you suppose your
ship to be from us now?' asked Captain
Bent.
81 have steered west.northwest, by
compass, as near as could" said Cap.
tain Watson "and have run, l should
Judge, about eighty miles. The New
castle, when lost sight of her, was by
the wind on the northwest tack, under
easy sail. She ought to bear nearly
due east from us.
"Come below, ana let's lay off your
course on the chart. l don't know as ]
can do anything foryou, even if I should
fall in with your ship, but it might be
some satisfaction TO see her."
The two captains went into the cabin,
and soon the order was passed along to
make all sail on wind. Nothing was
seen during tho day, and at night We
tackled back again. And the first gray
light of morning showed up the bark
recognized at once by Captain Wat
son and his mate as their own vessel
running down across our course.
"Of course he won't pass near us il
he can help it."
"No, suppose he will avoid us; but
l am going to signalize, at any rate.
Haul the mainsail up" said Captain
Bent, to the officer of the deck, and
set the ensign at the gaff."
The orders were obeyed ; and much
to our surprise, the mutineers altered
their course a little, with the evident
intent of speaking to us.
"What can it mean, that he is So
ready to speak to stranger ?" was the
question that passed from one t.
another of the group.
Snow 1 think of it, said the matt
of the Newcastle, 81 think know hi
object. If he really means to wind VI
his cruise at one of the Marshal
Islands, he will want to make a trad
for tobacco and firearms"
"You've hit it," returned the cap
tain. "That must be McGregor's OBJ
ject. There's isn't much tobacco OF
board and but little powder. He want
to buy more. Captain Bent, let's yol
and 1 have another talk by ourselves,
he added, seeming to have conceived
some new idea.
Their conference was short; but
Judging from the expression on thei
faces, when they came on deck ant
took the mates into their conference
it seemed to have been productive o
something of importance. The bark
boat, in which the wanderers had bee
picked up, was placed overhead Oh tn
skids, as if she had been one OF ou