Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-10-27

Ihefe are some islands near where we
are with the best climate. the fines
fruit, and plenty of food without work
ing tor it. We will make for one O.
. these, land everything out of this
rotten old ship, and scuttle her. Yor
have maze me your captain, and I ap
point Lloyd my chief officer He is {
sailor and knows where these islands
are, and how to reach them, so he vii
sail the ship"
Loud acclamations greeted this ad
dress, and the assembly adjourned tc
the grog tubs.
i I was not long left unmolested; 6
knot Of fellows gathered around me
and discussed what they should do with
me, and one at last suggested that
should be made to swallow the contents
OF my medicine chest, which was forth
with brought up for the purpose an0
some calomel pills were actually forced
into my mouth. How I wished that ]
had been homwopath.
While [ was struggling a man came
up.
''What are you doing with the doc.
tor?" he asked excitedly; "didn't the
captain say he wasn't to be touched
He wants to see you, sir, down in the
cabin" he added civilly. My persecu-
tors skunk off, grumbling, and my deliv-
erer cut my bonds and led me to Will
! Hams, who had been shot in the shoul-
der, aud wanted his wound attended to
[ managed to extract the bullet, and
when he was easier he said:
. am sorry for all these horrors,
I T r l, = L
men / have to deal with, and how slight
my hold is upon them. You have been
kind to many of them, and are useful
besides, so | managed to save your life,
but when [ said word for the others
they would not listen. AS for MacNab,
he fred at me first, or he would never
have fallen by my hand"
6 You are responsible to God and the
law, not to me-" replied.
Ought [ to have refused to tend his
wound? Was it my duty to beard and
unbraid him l do not know; life is
sweet, and I wished and tried to pre-
serve 1t, excusing my pusillanimity at
the time by the thought that my testi-
mony, if / survived, might bring the
whole body of rascals to Justice.
l quite understood the tenure upon
which my life was held, in spite of Will
lams's plausible speeches. There were
many sick and several wounded, both
by the storm and IN the fight when the
vessel was seized, and they needed my
services. When they thought they
could do without nae I should be 81
fenced forever, together with every
other probable witness against them.
Meanwhile the ship was kept on her
course towards the Friendly Islands,
under Lloyds management, and Oh the
third day land was sighted.
That evening a sailor who had joined
the mutineers on compulsion, and had
been hurt, came to me and said:
" beg your pardon, sir, but would
you dress my wound on deck, where
every one can see us? ~
[ saw he had reason, and consented,
"Iye something to say, sir, and
don't want to be seen talking to you in
private way, for fear of making them
suspicious. Bill Hicks was at the mast
head on the lookout last watch, and he
saw something he did not report, and
that's British frigate, round the head
land of that there island. Don't start,
knows it, and we've had a boat ready
to lower for some days. We mean to
lower that quickly at nightfail, and let
it tow behind; and then later such as
can will get into it, cast off, and row
for the frigate. II You like. sir, you
had better lie down in the boat aud be
lowered with it. Say you want quiet
read or sleep or something, if you're
seen. There's risk, of course, but
not big one. Lloyd's half drunk now,
and will be quite SO after bit, and SO
will most of the others, for now they've
got to the islands they think it's all
right. There's only that Williams. p
s. can manage him. said I, and we
parted.
Williams wouad was painful and his
pulse feverish; SO he gladly swallowed
a soporific which would keep him quiet
for many hours.
At the proper time I got into the boat
indicated, the only men who could pos
sible see me being those at the wheel.
who were both old members Of the crew,
and were prepared when they knew that
Lloyd was quite cverpowered by drink,
to alter the course of the ship and steer
for the headland where tne frigate had
been seen. All went easier, even, than
had been anticipated. When I had
been slowed away half an hour the boat
was lowered. and in very little while
three men stole into it, cut the rope by
which we were towing, and when the
ship was t r enough ahead to prevent
the phosphorescense of the oar dips at
tracing attention, began to row in the
direction of the headland.
In two hours time we turned it, and
saw the lights of the frigate, against the
sides OF which in another hour the boat
grated. .e.
Who goes there 2" challenged the
sentry.
Medical officer escaped from con-
vict ship which has mutinied.'
Twill not dwell on the JOY with which
[ stood upon the deck, or on the hearth
ness of my reception when had made
my report.
The frigate weighed and stood out to
cno OF 1,n