The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-11

THE RUNAWAY SHIP.

into the hands of her owners. She was
built for the India trade, and with the
exception of one voyage to Smyrna, she
had stuck to the purpose for which she
was put together. On the present oc-
casion | was bound for India, and my
cargo was made up of curious variety.
/ had for passengers an old gentleman,
whose head was white and his form bent
with years, add his three sons, the young
est of whom was about thirty-five and
the eldest not far from fifty years. Then
there were several women, and some half
dozen children.
We had doubled the southern capes of
Africa, and were Just poking our nose
into the Indian Ocean, when crcum-
stance happened which was destined to
try our nerves somewhat. One afternoon
one of the men in the foretop reported a
sail very near ahead, in the line of our
course.
Some homeward-bound Indiaman,
probably remarked Mr.. Lee, my mate.
nodded ascent, and then went into
the cabin and told my passengers that if
they had any letters to send home they
had better have them ready, for perhaps
we were about to meet ship bound for
old England. They went to work upon
my suggestion at once and in the course
of half an hour we had a letter-bag neat
v sewed up and directed.
The wind was now little south of
east, so that we stood upon our course
northeast with freedom, and the coming
ship was heading very nearly upon us,
thoughssa AS we came nearer she kept away
little farther to the westward.
rs it an English ship?' asked my
white-haired old passenger.
4 think it is was my reply; and just
as | spoke, my mate came down from the
foretop, where he had been with the glass.
I noticed his face looked troubled, and
also that he kept back some remark
which he was on the point of dropping,
at.the same time regarding the old pas
senger with look that seemed to indicate
that he was in the way. / took the hint,
and carelessly walked forward. Mr..
Beckett, the mate in question, followed
me. At the gangway stopped.
what is itT asked.
why, sir that ship is the old Dorset
said he.
The Dorset? l replied. 'impossibler
'But Pm sure persisted Beckett
There's not another ship in England
with such igure-head. Those two girls
are not to be mistaken
But are you sure she has that figure
head9'
Certainly. You'll be able to see it from
here in few moments.
But, said I, the Dorset has not yet
had time to reach Sidney, let alone get
ting back as far as this
OF course answered Beckett, with a
keen glance about him, but don't you
think a ship could run away without do
ing the errand she had in hand%
'Eh? That.is all uttered at the mo-
ment, for 4 strange thought was begin
ming to work its way to my mind.
You remember what sort of cargo
the Dorset had don't your my mate re-
marked.
OF Course | remembered, for met
the captain of the Dorset the day before
she sailed, and had a quiet dinner with
him at Cowley's. He was an old friend
of mine, and named Bumstead, Harry
Bumstead, and as good a sailor as ever
trod a deck at sea. Now the facts, as
they came crowding rather unpleasantly
upon my mind, We're these: The Dorset
sailed Just two weeks before I did, and
took out twenty-three convicts who had
been sentenced to transportation,
These, of course, he was to drop
at Sidney, or Port Jack son
and as he had part of cargo for that
place, he was to 90 there first. So l knew
the Dorset had no business to be running,
away from the Indian ocean now.
what do you think about it% asked
Beckett who had been watching me.
Let me take the glass, said |, without
seeming to notice this question.
Hehanded me the glass, and l at once
leaped upon the horseback, and set the
focus. The coming ship was now SO near
that the hull was nearly all up, and my
first look was upon the fgure-head. There
could be no mistake now. | could dis
tinctly see the two female forms clasping
each other by the hands, knew to be the
adorning figure Of the Dorset's cut
water.
'Mr Beckett I said, after had salts
fed myself upon this point, that is the
Dorset, and no mistake
yes, but what do you make of itp
'What do you make of it?' l asked
He pondered few moments, and then
said 4 think the conyicts have taken
the ship
so do I, was the rejoinder.
As thus spoke I walked aft to where
my first mate stood by the wheel, and
drawing him one side, told him my
fears. He leaped upon the rail and
gazed upon our neighbor, and when he
reached the deck again he was of my
opinion.
1T must be SO, he said. What shall
we doT
That was the question. What shall
we do? The ship had now come, to with
in half mile, and all doubts respecting
her identity were at and end. / now
knew that she was the Dorset, and, of
course, felt confident that the convicts
ln.n he co,,na ,,oaapu oo;pad nna