The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-01-25
From Harpers Bazar.
When the Ship Comes Home.
BY WALTER BEsANT AND JAMES
RICE.
AUTHORS or READY Monty MoKrIsoY," THE
GOLDEN BrrrERfLY," Krc., KTc.
CHA PTER III.
ICONTINUED.

CONTINTED.
There was nothing unusual in my
appearance on deck at night. TIL.
air was hot and oppressive below
on deck it was cool. I had often
stretched myself on such nights on
the tarpaulins, and slept as soundly
upon them as i'm my own cabin; no
one among the conspirators would
think it strange to find me thus
Presently pulled myself together 3
bit, and made up my mind, things
being as they Were, to go straight to
the officer of the watch. He was
walking up and down, a boatswains s
whistle hanging round his neck
When he saw me he held ii in readi.
ness.
murder on hoard, Sir" I reported
as calmly as could.
"Ay, ay," he replied, VERY like;
go aft and see the bo's'n."
1t was a strange reply, but under.
stood, later on, that it had been nj.
ready resolved to accept my services,
and to trust me with firearms. Sc
when l went aft, the boatswain pull
| ed out a revolver, knife and some
ammunition, which he had ready fol
me-
"There," he said "do your duty by
the ship, young fellow; we shall want
you tomorrow night, belize, or may
be sooner. But go below and turn
in"
This | would not do. / waited fol
the officer, and begged him to listen
to me again while / told him my
story.
II take it, Sir" said the boatswain,
"that they may try it on tonight. 1t
isn't bad dodge, you see, to get the
day altered bit i'm case of treachery;
and if you'll allow me, Sir, I'll tell off
the passenger for the young lady"
''Six pistols against twenty-five
men," said the officer. II think we
can fight it out without waking the
young lady,
But the boatswain urged that he
had got everything ready for her;
that she would be frightened down
below, and might come up on deck in
the thick of the fight and get harmed;
SO that it was finally resolved to
awaken her and bring her up OH deck.
Now, mister" said the boatswain
to me, "you look like man who's
got his eyes open and his head set on
right end up; you listen to me. When
the young lady comes on deck, shall
put her in this boat" There was a
gig hanging to the stern davits; these
were turned round in readiness for
the boat to be lowered. "If things go
wrong, as they will sometimes go
wrong in this worlds gear, lower
away he showed me the rope, "and
sling yourself in after her; then if no
one else comes, cut her adrift, because
we shall be dead. When whistle,
or the chief officer whistles, don't
wait, not even for a parting shot, but
lower yourself away with her, and
take your chance"
The prospect of fight steadied my
nerves, aud after careful examina-
tion of the rope, on which all might
depend, and looking to my revolver,
which was fully loaded and capped. l
began to feel excited.
All this took time. The fourth Of
ficer was giving orders to the men on
watch, which prevented them notic-
ing me talk at the wheel; and it struck
six bells, which was three O'Clock in
the morning, when | saw the young
lady, dressed and on the deck.
"What is ?" she asked; tell me
what is wrong, Mr.. Croil."
"Be brave, young lady" he said;
nothing is wrong l hope, but plenty
maybe. Here's the captain"
noticed the captains stern face a.
he came slowly aft, and l thought
that if the attack was made that night
some lives might be sent to a sudden
reckoning. He was as steady as rock.
Miss Elwood," he said, 1--WE expect
a little mutiny, and we are quite ready
for it; but we have asked you on deck
to keep you as safe as possible. They
have got no firearms, but we may have
an ugly tussle. Let me help you into
the boat-so. There are rugs and raps
and you must make Yourself as cozy
as possible. Tomorrow morning, if
We get safely through the night, we
have them in irons; but if they try it
on tonight, we must fight them"
The young lady obeyed with shud-
der, but said no word. Then the cap
tain looked round. The chief officer,
with the third officer, was forward;
with himself was the second mate,
and behind him was the boatswain
steering the ship.
"How's her head, bo's'n?"
"Nor'west by west, Sir"
"And the trade straight as a line;
the ship may navigate herself for halt
an hour. What's that for'ard?" he
asked, pointing.
"Mutineers,' said the boatswain,
quietly.
STEADY, all,' said the captain
"You, Sir''-he turned to me-''re.
member your post
In the dim twilight of the star-lit