Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-03-15


jects ;but on finding that l was firm he ac-
cepted my decision with tolcrably good
grace. and it was net until the morning
that we quilted the broader channel and
ran into the straits
How beautiful. How lovely, What
sweet islands" exclaimed the ladies who
stood on the steamers poop, admirin@ the
effect Of the rosy morning light us it play
ed upon the waving groves and dense veg
citation of the many islands of all sizes and
shapes. between which and the coast we
were now threading our way; and the chill
dren clappcd their hands with delight as
the red tlamingoes and silver plumaGcd
ducks rose from the swamps on Changing
wing. But the sight l most desired to be-
hold was the open sea beyond. if. rs was
likely, we should be allowed to reach it in
safety.
"Captain, said the thr, mate Hardy,
u brave and good lad, as he came hurrying
towards me, = there's Il net-so the look
outs declare-right ahead of s,"blochin inc
the channel"
| sprang INTO The shrouds, glass in hand
and one glance su1iced to confirm the
youngsters words. Across the practicable
scaway, from shoal to sloal stretched q
huge net, supported here and there by Il
line OF stakes. marked by Il streak OF foam
inG water. We were indeed in the tolls
for | had heard often of this f,voritc de-
vice of the pirates. My best course was
clearly. to keep on
Run, Louis, TO Mr.. Bradshaw, the en~i-
ncer, said to a smart boy, the stewards
ad, land desire him to put the full head
OF steam on and keep the Ca>sandra at her
lull speed. On with You and come back
to report
Inc boy went, but did not return. The
engines worked but slachly, and soon L
hoarse, confused noise arose from below.
" Somhthing wrong in the engine
room. SAID | wondcringlv. Mr.. Hardy,
90 below and inquire what is ami>s''
But the mate had haldly begun to de-
sccnd the ladder before he called out:
" Mutiny. sir, below. Some of these
Chinese Williams haye-'
Then he was dragged down by unseen
hands and left the sentence unfinished,
while almost Instantly the screw ceased
to rcvolve, and the steam came rushing
up the wastc-pipe. Us the Cassandra tloatcu
idly down the current. \ cry of surprise
was uttered by the passengers, and WAS
answered by another cry the fierce. cx-
uItlng veil OF barbarians assured of an ca
Sy victory, as forth from the mangroye
iringcd waters of a neighboring creek
there emerged three lorci;,S, their straw
sails spread TO catch the breeze. aud their
long sweeps laShing the water into froth
as the frantic rowcr~ turgcd at them.
while outstripplng these came on a score
of boats, sampan> and canoes. full of Wild
and scantily clothed figures, who came on
aS fast rs paddle and pole could urge their
light shitl', tlouri>hing their weapons with
every possible gesture of brutal menace.
| looked around for Bates. He was, rs
| expected among the Chinese on the fore
deck. some of whom had ovcrpowed the
engineer and tircmcn ana stopped the en-
-ineS, while the others We're obviously pre-
pairing for 4 rush aft. Then threw q
Glance 1T the approaching pirates. If
Hamilton is unable To keep his promise,
heaven help US" said with 4 -roan, rs
my eye ranged over land and water, with
out seeing aught but what WAS hostile
8" They shall not anyhow. say that fail
cd to 60 my best. Cast loose that gun,
| ordered pointing to a brass carronadr;
" train it forward. when give the word,
fire
The pick of my English crew obcyed,
aS sailors DO obey when they respect their
officer and the advance lg Chinamcn. in
whose hands now CLEANED knives and
swords. drew back as they were confront
ed by the muzzlc of the cannon.
Chicken hearts Numbered Bates who
WAS really A bold villain, and he added
some words in Chinese which revived
their courage.
"Youd best give UP. captain. lt> no
use. spiked cvcrv Gun Of the lot with
my own hands"
:" know You did. vow traitor, shouted
Duckett, the second mate. suddenly
emerging armed to the teeth. from the
cabin hatch, d" but Capt. Hepburn and |
We're clever enough to set all right with
ont yoCr being the wiser. All. You thought
me >tnpciicd. did You, with the dru"rcd
liquor? You're mistaken. my hearty. for
pitched the brandy and opium overheard
together. and
Before the second mate could complete his
speech Bates had drawn his revolver and
fired three shots. the first of which grazcd
Duckett'> left temple, while the third
wounded me Slightly in the shoulder
Bang, in answer, went the brass gun, and
the grapc>hot swept the foredcchS rs
with the scvthc of death. moving down
the mutineer> like grass. But already the
canoes and sanpans were grapplin= with
the w1r-crieS of the pirrte>, rs wild forms
came clamberinr over the CaS>andra :
| bulwarhS. and the Chinese crew. cowcd
| for II moment, pluckcd up spirit enough TO
| renew the attach.
What WAS that? Surely. could not be
mistaken. II must be, 1t wa> :; ringing
| British cheer that reached me, in the
midst of all that iicndi>h di>cord. and
promised hope. \ boat, yes, and anoth-
cr. came toward us us fast the gallant
rowcrs could urge them with their tough
ashen oars The boats Of ii. NJ. :. Wasp.
no doubt for here. from behind the friend
" shelter of Il manrrove-tuftcd creek
emergcs the Tunboat herself. sending
shot and shell with unerring aim into the
cncmV'S midst: so that before five minutes
were spent one of the lorchaS had sunk and
another was on fire; while the sava.c> in
the canoes were only too thankful to beat
a retreat as rapidly rs possible shorcwards.
As soor rs the @un-bOat was seen. and the
Wasps blue jackets came scrambling up
the side the rascally native confeleratcs
Of the pirates flung down their arms, and
with abicct entrcatics for mercy, fell upon
their knees and were put in irons to await
their trials ut Shanghai.
Bates, the chief culprit, lay dead upon
the Geek. riddlcd with grapc->hot. from
that very gun which he had confidently
believed himself to haye rendered harm
less but we had to deplore the loss Of poor
Hardy and of the head engineer, both OF
whom had been cruelty put to death by
the Chinese mutinccr>, on whom had de-
volved the task of stopping the engines as
the steamer drew near to the net to inter
cept her passage. The pirates on that
day received Il severe lesson, for the Wasl
kept up her fire until the third lorcha alse
was destroyed, and the flames We're risin-
from the hutS of a village whittier our foe.
had fled.
Eve kept my word, Frank, as yor
see" said Hamilton. as we shook hand:
on the gun-boat's quarterback, after the
straits had been swept clear of the pig
tail enemy; ''but though by means o
native spies and Il bright lookout. | man