The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-06

Big Pitcher and the cook ran up from
the cabin, while seized the helm, or
the ship would have caught aback and
gone down stern-foremost.
Before the two mutineers were fairly
ON deck, the frightened Welshman-who
thought me veritable ghost-had
gained the forecastle.
eBig Pitcher came aft-evidently the
worse for liquor-and just glancing at
me, thundered out:
"What the h are you yelling abouti
Keep her on her course, or Tll swing you
up to the fore-yard-arm, you Welsh
b-w
Gay, ay, strip responded I.
The black cook started at the sound OF
my voice, and thought myself dis
covered. But he said nothing.
Two men from the forecastle came aft,
however. Welsh Bill had carried them
the news that there was ghost at the
helm, and tney had come to satisfy their
curiosity.
"Ips Sam-ips boy samw cried one of
them, alter peering into my lace.
"How's thisr roared Big Pitcher;
Chow. came you alive after we'd thrown
your Internal carcase overboardW
ltold him my story In few words.
"And so you think you've saved your
bacon:" said Pitcher; 'my good fellow,
il you can think OF prayer that's worth
repeating, you'd better say it; or, If you
can do no better, you may just whistle
psalm-tune, for the sake OF your soul; as
you'll 90 overheard presently with a
couple OF shot lashed to your heels"
"Leai 'em for de present." interposed
the cook, sand see how he can walk on
de water in de morning."
| The cOlored man then aVailing himself
| q tI,n fpnn nH,,,o ,Afn NII Nj 70 ri
| ly coaXed and partly dragged Pitcher
down the cabin stairs, aud then the
two chief mutineers returned to their de-
| bauch.
On the next morning Big Pitcher was
low-spiriIed, heavy-headed, surly, and
scarcely spoke to anybody.
In the afternoon the gigantic assassin
was more lively, ana he recollected that
his crew numbered one too many. was
summoned before him, when he gave me
my choice TO be hanged ut the foreyar l.
arm, to be shot to death, or to be thrown
overheard with iron weights lashed to
my feet.
My choice was quickly made.
''Io be shot, OF course" said l.
| All this time the black cook was eye
ing me in peculiar fashion; and while
one oil the men went below to bring up u
musket powder and bali, he conferred
apart with Pitcher. The latter WAS i'm
patient and irritated, but at length he
came forward and said:
"TOny has persuaded me to let you
| live till there is a necessity for killing
you. When we come in signt OF land, or
If any vessel attempts to speak US, you
will Immediately be thrown overheard.
Till then you may live, provided you
work faithfully and do your duty like a
man."
thanked Big Pitcher heartily for this
reprleYe.
| "Oh, that be d-d!' cried he; "keep
your compliments to yourself. My Lille
is forfeited, anyhow; and what use Will
any good deeds be to me when l leel the
white rope around my neckW
| l Went forward and joined the crew,
| who looked at me askance. and who
seemed disappointed aL not having wit
| messed an execution.
Time wore on, until we approached Il
southern port where we proposed to
cast anchor and get supply of pr0vls-
| IONS. L received more than one reminG-
er from the mutlneers that my time was
short.
l had sometimes inlulged the hope
thar my lie would be spared, but now L
gave way to the deepest dependency,
aud wished that L mad been shot in the
first instance, as then The death struggle
would be a thing of the past.
At length low, blue streak was seen
in the western horizon, and Big Pitcher
announced that it was land. AT tue
same time he told me to prepare to dle
early the next morning.
ln the dusk OF the evening [ sat on the
Windlass lamenting my approaching
tate, wnen the black cook came forward
as il to strike the bell.
"Sam," said he, in a low voice, "uo
you want L should save your life?"
"Certainly, want it; but you know
very well That you have no power TO
do it,"
make your will,' continued he;
"leave your clothes 70 different men OIL
board, but do not will anything to me,
and sign your will Newton Mardon."
The cook gave me some other direc-
tlons, all OF which obeyed to the letter,
though l could not see how they coul0
serve any good purpose.
| On the next morning l heard my name
loudly called.
l went to the waist where prepara.
tions lad already been made tor throw.
ing me into the sea.
Dead men tell no tales" replied Big
Pitcner, when L assured him thai
he would risk nothing by sparing my
life.
1 then pulled out a scrap of paper
containing my Will, ana presenting it to
the gigantic arblter Of my late, begged
That ne would see that my effects ere
divided as therein mentioned.
He nodded silently, and, opening the
paper, he carelessly run his eye over the
lines, till, coming TO the bottom and see.
ing the name, he gave a violent start
and fixing his eyes on me for some mo.
ments, he at length said:
"Where did You come from, who is
your father, and what occupation does
lie lollowr
"Alas!' replied 1, II do not even know
that my father is alive; cried for hours
when he lett my mother and myself,
was then but tive years old. | would
give the world 10 know that my tathel
was still alive"
Then, assuming stern aspect, Pitcher
demanded:
"Why did you not sign this paper with
your real name?'
sit is my real name," said l, fearing
that ne would ask me to repeat it. for j
had already forgotten part OF my as
sumed patronymic.
"Then you shipped by a pursel'E