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

THE COOKS STRATACEM.
We had been bafaed by calms and
slight varying breezes nearly all the
nostications of change, and finally, as
the sun went down the breeze sprang
up, and the good ship Nautilus went
plunging through the waves and send
ing the spray over the foreyard as ii de-
termined to make up for lost time and
to reach the rock of Gibraltar within
the space usually allotted for an Allan
tic trip.
Cheerfully and merrily the hardy oc-
cupants of the forecastle opened their
bottle of Santa Cruz and drank to
sweethearts and wives on that memora-
ble Saturday night.
Yet it would be untrue to say that all
appeared equally hilarious on that occa-
sion. On the contrary, it was subject
of general remark that big Pitcher"-
who was generally the most uproarious
man on board-and two Il his particu-
lar friends, drank their "toV in silence,
and while listening attentiVely to the
| remarks of their shipmates, We're very
uncommunicative themselves.
We were still more surprised when
these three men refused a second glass,
and soon after went on deck, leaving
the rest OF us to finish the bottle.
'Wnen Pitcher refuses rum he must
be near DEATHS door," said one of the
| tars: but at that moment, the man at
the nelm having been relieved, came
down the ladder.
On being questioned, the newcomer
stated that Pitcher was in close CONVEX
sation with the cook, an eccentric
colored man, whose galley was on the
larboard side Of the forecastle deck.
big Pitcher is very thick with that
niger about these times" observed
little sailor called "Welsn Bill"
"rhe old doctor isn't a bad fellow"
said another, "and though his hide is
| black, he's got as white soul as you
have. Pitcher and he have been long
acquainted; they are old shipmates, and
| if Lnere was any meanness in him, Pm
sure tnat Pitcher wouldn't stand it,"
| 40, smut up! This is Saturday night"
cried young seaman. PPM for a taste
OF the free larder. slice of salt pork
on cake of hardtack goes well with Il
sup OF grog." ..
| This speech was received with general
applause, aud, as L WAS the youngest
and smallest hand on board, it was pro-
posed that l should crawl through be-
tween decks and attack the pork barrel
| in the steerage.
| ACCOlulHSlyS bbllppeu Ou al my
| clothing, except shirt and trowsers, and.
was soon lost in the darkness, fighting
my way among bales, casks and boxes,
and narrowly escaped being wedged in
| the interstices when l sometimes slipped
| from bale or the biige of cask.
| Added to this, new danger suggest
| ed itself as l approached the steerage.
| 1t was we'll known to the crew that sew
eral casks OF specie were slowed in the
run, and should L be heard aud detected
| by the captain or officers it would be
! hard TO make them believe that my am
| bition aimed at no higher prize than
chunk of fat pork.
In the midst Of these cogitations l
was startled at perceiving that the
measured tread OF the mate overhead
was exchanged for a violent shuffl ing Of
feet, as OF men engaged in hard Struggle,
aud then came The shrill cry of "Mur-
der!'
Piercing screams followed in quick
succession, and during the slight pauses
in these yells of agony were heard the
laundering oaths OF Big Pitcher and the
more snrill shouts OF the black cook.
And soon the scene was SHIFTED to the
| forecastle; the mutineers were murde!-
ing the crew tnat there might be no wit
nesses left Of their bloody deeds.
l
continued several minutes, during
which congratulated myself at being
| out of reach OF the muruerers, and at
least in a place OF temporary safety.
| But when all became quiet, and |
could not doubt that Big Pitcher and
his three companions had got possession
of the ship, lelt a mortal dread that a
search Tor me would be immediately com.
menced.
L remained perfectly quiet long time,
and as heard nothing DuJ an occasional
murmuring of voices on deck, and occa-
sionaily creaklng Of the yards, as il
the pirates were changing the c0utse OF
the vessel, | began to entertain little
hope that my Lille would be spared, espe.
cially as Big Pitcher might Ieel the need
OF my services i'll trimming the sails.
Four men were scarcely sufficient to
work the ship.
Few persons who have not actually
been placed in peril Of their lives can
appreciate my teeings while thus bal.
ancing the probabilities OF Lille or death
Every moment that l spent in what ]
now regarded as place Of security
seemed precious as the ruby in an i'm.
perIal crown, and lie grew more val
liable with tue near prospect of parting
with it.
DuI u lew uouFS pdSSeu IN nv close
and uncomfortable quarters, aud a burn.
ing thirst, which l found no means oI
quenchIng, convinced me that [ could
not long endure this kind of imprison.
meut.
l crawled back till 1 had obtained O
position near enough to the torecastle to
hear any conversation that might be
passing there.
] learned only, rom what l heard
that it was nea ly midnight, and thai
"Welsh BllP' was at the helm. | haC
always regarded the latter as fellow
of little energy, and one who could be
easily influenced. 1t was probable that
his lie mad been spared on the ground
that he was too imbecile to do any mis-
chief. From this premise l reasoned
that mignt be spared too, as l was
only boy of eighteen years, and the
mutineers ought not to be afraid that
would attempt to retake the ship. Il
/. is very easy to find an Argument tc
prove what we wish to be true. 1t will
shortly be seen that l had reckoneG
without my host.
After long hesitation, resolved to re
veal myself TO Welsh Bill. There was
no time to lose, as his trick at the helm
| would soon be un | crawlad hack ts