Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-06-02

importance that when he did talk he geuer-
ally grumbled, which did not add to the
cheerfulness Of so small party. His only
solace was in making pen aud ink sketches,
at which he was very clever; landscapes,
with chiaroscuro effects, involving an i'm
mense amount of time and labor, being his
principal forte. Both he and MacNab were
disappointed men; but the Scotchman was
the better philosopher OF the two.
We four supped together, and in due
time went to my berth and found out how
to get into it. felt like toy put away on
a shelf in a cupboard, for it was my first
experience of ship accommodation. When
you have learned to lie on your back and
not want to move all night, to take enough
oxygen into the lungs while on deck to last
for the time you are below, and to be indif-
ferent to cockroaches running over you,
you get on great deal better.
On reaching the deck next morning l
found that we were under sail and drop
ping down the river which had grown very
wide.
1t was not long before we were fairly in
the channel, and the pilot got into his boat
and leit us.
There was nice breeze, but the sea was
| perfectly smooth, and the ship glided
through tho water with delightful glibness
so that felt that ought to be doing some-
thing toward learning my duties while I
was able, and confided TO McNab that l
should like TO hold an inspection OF the con-
victs, who were all gathered on the main
deck in charge of the wardens and the ina
rlnes, who mounted sentry over them with
loaded muskets and fixed bayonets.
found that had made an official appli-
cation in the right quarter by accident, for
McNab Immediately said:
"At what time! at once?'
And when 1 replied in the Affirmative,
gave certain sharp, short orders, the result
of which was that in less than ten minutes
a warden came up 10 me, touched his cap
and reported:
"All ready, sir"
And following him l found tho convlcts
drawn up in lines, bare footed. My inspec-
ton of them was a mere form, for Of course,
they were sent on board sound and clean,
but made certain suggestions with regard
to the sanitary arrangements between
decks, where their hammocks were slung,
and these were promptly attended to where
practicable. When 1 had done McNab
challenged me 10 game Of chess, ard fort
unately we proved very evenly matched.
lie was quite right in relying SO much up
on it as a resource; how we should have
got through the weeks without it cannot
Imagine we played at least six hours dali
ly out OF the twenty -four"
When we got into the broad swell of the
Atlantic had a week 5 seasickness, during
which McNab had the best OF me at chess,
and after 1 Yas we'll l began TO have some
trouble with the conyicts. What schemers
they werel Their one great object was TO
get glass OF grog or wine, which could
only be done by my order, and They regu-
larly studied the complaints for which I
presc ribed such medical comforts, and ell
then simulated or managed to produce
them artificlally. Greenhorn az l was,
they imposed upon me readily at first, and
just as l was getting up 10 their dodges we
pa ssed the equator, and there was a good
deal OF real sickness, which gave item the
advantage again. AS time went on l be-
came familiarized with the rogues, aud
learned to look on them as fellow-men who
had gone wrong, rather than as wild beasts.
l talked TO them freely, learned many of
their histories-at least their own versions
OF them-and took consid erable interest in
sone of the narrators. Most of them were
ignorant, debased CT eatures, either born and
bred TO prey on their fellow creatures, or
recruited from the most neglected ranks OF
society but there were one or two excep-
tions-notably, Il man who passed under
the name of Williams, who was gifled with
rare abilities, and had the manners and ad-
dress of u gentleman. His face would have
afforded an interesting study to a physiog
nomist, the upper part being highly intel
lecutal, the lower part betokening un-
bounded sensuality. His crime was forgery
OF bank notes. This man never conde-
scended 10 try and trick Inc, as the others
did neither did he sulk like some of the
better class convicts, nor protest his inno-
cence, which was the almost universal Gus
tom. lie was civil, somewhat subdued in
manner, and glad OF my conversation. lie
had yielded TO the temptation of trying to
make his fortune in too great hurry, had
failed, and was content TO pay the penalty,
lie said. Though "lifer" he by no means
despaired of his future. He was informed
that with good conduct he would soon be
free man within the limits of the colony,
| and had perfect confidence in his ability 10
earn a comfortable livelihood, if he had that
chance. And what did the country
matterf Life could he made as enjoyable
In plaaa 10 NOT
back TO England, to be cut by all his rela-
! lions and former friends, if he could.
Plausibly as Williams always talked,
mstrusted him. / noticed that he had es-
tablished considerable influence over the
other convicts, and constantly surprised
HIM speaking earnestly in cornersto groups
of five or or six of them. On my appear
ance these conferences broke up, and in
spite of all affectatisn of indifference, was
certain on more than one occasion that anx-
iety was felt lest should have caught some
word in passing. And l knew, without
being able TO prove 1t, that secret signs
were exchanged between Williams and at
least score, whom l could have pointed
out, habituAlly.
Another convict who evidently had some
power with his fellows, was Lloyd, Welsh
sailor, who had stabbed another in a quar-
rel and narrowly escaped the gallows.
But II was natural enough that an expe-
rienced sailor should obtain the hearing OF
landsmen during a voyage of such length,
and never suspected him of trying to in
fiuence the others with any sinister designs,
as certainly did Williams.
But soon had no time for idle specula-