The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-01-23

| TWO huge alDatrOSScS wheeled ABOVE MS
head, us if half inclined to pounce upon
him.
We had on board sail-maker,
named Baldwin, who had belonged to
the navy, and as soon as his eyes fell
upon the stranger he pronounced the
name of ''Mauley!'
The lone vOyaSer was taken on board,
and said that he had been cast away in
brig.
Baldwin smiled, and afterward told
our Second Mate that this man Mauley
was noted beach-comber of Callao,
whom no Captain would ship, and who,
having visited the frigate to which
Baldwin belonged, had been igno-
miniousiy driven on shore, and forbid
den ever again to set foot on board that
vessel.
He has a very bad name," added
the san-.naEor, 81 cnd lie Is suspected of
having murdered the carpenter of our
frigate at Valparaiso"
In fact, the personal appearance of
Mauley was very much against him,
and no one believed that he had been
wrecked. 1t was thought that in put
ting to sea on this slight raft he had
taken that desperate method to get on
board some vessel.
keep an eye on him." said our
Captain to his First Mate.
The Mate did keep an eye on the des-
Olate wretch, and soon detected him in
close and confidential conversation with
johnson, the spruce seaman whom we
had shipped just before leaving port.
1t was the Mates watch, while john
son belonged to the watch of the Sec
ond Mate, yet johnson had come on
deck for the special purpose of speak
ing to Mauley.
| Two men stood forward of the wind
lass, under the shadow of the foremost,
apart from the rest of the watch, and
conversed together in low tone. The
Mate got as near to them as he could
without being observed, but he caught
only the words:
Remember, this must be dead Sc
cret between you and me-"
1t was but year before that the
terrible mutiny on board the ship Globe
had taken place, and when the Mate
heard the words which l have quoted
he passed softly down into the cabin,
and finding the Captain awake told him
what he had overheard.
"That man Johnson! Are you not
mistaken" demanded the Captain.
"Why, johnson seems quite a gentle
man. Must have been somebody else."
eyes, SIR" replied the Mate; but
what secret should anybody have with
that Mauley, which all the crew keeps
clear of in broad daylight? Whisper
ing with him in the dark-that's the
pint, sir. Baldwin swears that the
feller's a murderer, sir"
"rll have no plotting and whisper
ing in the dark on board my shipr'
cried the Captain, suddenly and unac-
countably breaking forth into tower
ing passion. "Now l recollect that
this johnson has once or twice shown
robellious temper when Mr.. Pease
has ordered him to scrape topmasts or
slush them down, or tar rigging; but
thought it was only because he'd never
been used to such dirty work.
elf we don't look out he'll be en-
gagged in dirtier work than slushing
topmasts or tarring down rigging"
said the Mate.
"Cutting our threats, eh?''
"It's unaccountable, sir, this plot
ting and having secrets with that Maui
ley; it's SO much like the way that
Smith says the mutiny begun aboard
the Globe.''
"That's true,' answered the Cap
tain" I've great mind to put them
Mebby we'd better wait little and
see," returned the Mate, land I'll keep
sharp lookout on both on EN-"
The Captain was silent, but he shook
his head threateningly, and the Mate
went on deck to stand out the remain
der of his watch.
Before morning there was "gale of
wind" Sail was shortened, and we
lay to under close-reefed main-topsail
and storm-staysail. But, in spite of
wind or weather, the First Mate was
observed all day running bullets in the
cooks caboose, greatly to the surprise
of the crew, some of whom asked:
"Have there been any pirates heard
of on this coast?''
In the meantime there was some
thing about this johnson, especially
his voice, which reminded me of some
body had seen before. noticed that
the Captain looked sharply at him, and
observed all his movements attentively,
as If he, also, had some recollection of
him. knew nothing of his conversa-
ton with Mauley, and the Mates sur
misses. All those matters were related
to me afterward, in house "where a
tin pc: stands for an hour-glass and
rum runs for sand"
Up to this time Johnson's ignorance
of seamanship had been regarded with
much leniency, and the Mates had
taken some pains to instruct him; but
after his consultation with Mauley, I'M
der cover of the darkness, a suspicion
was harbored by the Captain and Mate
that his awkwardness in handling
marline-spike and rolling a topgallant-
sail was assumed, and that he pretend
ed to be a green hand only to divert at
tentiOn from his schemes.
Accordingly, when johnson made a
mistake, or bungled in the performance
of any duty, the officers or the Captain
reprimanded him sharply. He showed
surprise at this change in their deport-
ment toward him, and at length he
manifested feelings of resentment.
81 do the best can, and l am only
AA>''S3 ny Pssesss,S AOAAOs onAu III,
Il expect no pay"
"Do you answer back, you rascal?"
cried the Captain, who had overheard
the words of johnson, which were adj
dressed to the Mate. sMr. Russell,
can't you preserve better order among
your men?''
81 am no rascal" said johnson,
throwing down the piece of rope which
he had been trying to splice, and con-
fronting the Captain.
Several of the crew-Mauley among
them-were standing near johnson at
that moment, and all but Mauley tu1n-
ed pale. Tho latter looked steadfastly
at the Captain.
"You, too, l suppose" said the Cap
tain, between his teeth, and with
countenance turning pale and red by
turns.
Maulev fell back. but Johnson smiled