The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-06
THE MUTINY.
A 1rAr FRoM A sAILoR's Loo.

up voyage, after sandal wood, shells, hnd
other things. We ran down to the Mar
shall Islands. among the Ralick Chain,
and anchored in the coral lagoon at Ebon.
1t is commonly known rs Covelps Island.
The natives came out to us with lots OF
English sovereigns, which they were ready
to barter for bits OF tobacco In answer 10
questions as 10 where they got the gold,
we could extort nothing but evasive grunts
from them. but, of course we bought all
we could get.
suppose that the captain must have had
in hand more than three thousand pounds
in gold when they stopped bringing it off
to u.s. There couldn't have been more
than four hundred among all the rest OF
us. l had about forty myself, and the
captain gave me ten more indeed, he gave
the same sum to every man. Fifty pounds
was large sum for a foremost man to
have all at one time
But we had some hard cases among our
crew-some who would stab man for a
single sovereign, or throw him overheard
for his tobacco or clothes. didn't feel
safe minute among these fellows so
tied up my fifty sovereigns in bag, and
took them aft and asked the captain to
keep them for me. He readily agreed to
do so, and gave me receipt.
But this act Of mine was seen by Bill
Boltwood, the master spirit of these fell
lows-Dark Bill, as he delighted to be
called-and he was down on me from that
hour. This Bill had been convict in the
colony, and had served out his time.
don't know what his crime was, but he
was capable of anything. can't think of
any villany that would be too bad for him
to turn his hand to, and he took as much
delight in the sight of blood as a tiger is
said to- I've seen him and an Irishman
who was called Ugly Barney, go into the
back yard of a public in Sydney, and
batter each others faces all to pieces for a
pot of beer. They seem to do it in sheer
enjoyment of the thing itself.
Well Dark Bill says to me, with
look that was meant to bully me. so
you thought you couldn't trust your ship
mates, ell, Shorty? Or did you think
you'd curry favor with the Captain by
trusting him with your gold ?"
" It's trne," said l, looking him square
in the eye; there's some of my shipmates
that don't like to trust"
Do you mean that for me {" said he,
clustering.
Never mind. l didn't mention any
names; but, if the jacket fits, you can put
it on
I'D smash your head for five bob I"
said he, clustering again.
." l don't think you would. if you dared,
answered him. very coolly, for didn't
fear him single-handei. u don't doubt
you'd do ,oorsc by me for fifty sovereigns !;
and don't want to throw temptation in
your way"
lie glared at me, and ground his teeth
but he didn't offer to smash my head"
Perhaps twas because nobody offered him
five bob to do it but 'twould have been
a dear job TO him az twice the money
really believe they meant to rise upon
us that same night, and take the brig
there in the lagoon only they didn't see
their opportunity clear The next morn
ing we 90. under way FROM b.bon, and
started on cruise among the other islands
Of the chain We didn't find any gold at
any other place and the trade IN Shells
was not alarming. Z heard the Captain
say he should shove her of soon, and run
down among the Caroline Islands, thence
to China.
Dark Bill overheard him too; and that
night there were more secret confabs and
councils than ever among his gang. But
this all seemed to blow over, and the duty
went on quietly for two or three days.
We were drawing near to Stronr's
Island, and expected to make the land next
morning. The captain had worked UP his
reckoning and given the course for the
night while Dark Bill was at the wheel in
the first part of the watch Soon after he
was relieved and came forward, saw him
at the lee rail by the lore swifter. watch.
ing the mate, who was walking the quar-.
ter-deck. Selling the moment when the
mates back was turned towards him, he
dGrted into the lee e-rigging l stood
staring open mouthed at him, and wonder
ing what he was after As the main and
middle staysails were both set, he was
hidden from the mate while going aloft,
and reached the foretop without being
seen, except by me, and those who were
with him in the plot.
AS soon as perceived that he stopped
in the foretop, it occurred TO me that the
arm.chests had been left there. There
were two of them, one in each top, which
had been placed there while we lay
at Ebon; and as we expected TO go from
there in few days to some other savage
Island, they had not been sent down They
contained both fire arms and cutlasses.
Pretty soon saw something swing out
by the foremost which CLEANED in the
moonlight and saw that Bill was low
ering the cutlasses down by piece of
spunyarn, to his mate, Barney, who stood
carelessly leaning against the foot of the
mast l no longer hesitated to make known
my suspicious to the captain and officers.
started aft, but had not made two
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