The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-10-30
THE RUNAWAY SHIP.

UullU IOT Tue lutlia tIaOS, auus "Aea 'HN
exception of one voyage to Smyrna, she
had stuck to the purpose for which she
was put together. On the present occa-
sion l was bound for India, and my car
90 was made up of curious variety. L
had for passengers, a man whose head
was nearly white, and his form bent with
years, and his three sons, the youngest
of whom was about 35 years, and the
eldest not far from so years. Then there
were several women and one-half dozen
children.
We had doubled the southern capes OF
Africa and were just poking our nose
into the Indian ocean, when clrcum-
stance happened which was destined to
try our nerves somewhat. One afternoon
one of the men in the foretop reported
sail very near ahead, in the line of our
course.
"Some homeward bound 1ndiaman,
probably" remarked Mr.. Lee, my mate.
nodded assent, and then went to 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 letter bag neatly
sewed up and directed.
The wind was now a little south OF
east, SO that we stood upon our course
northeast with freedom, and the coming
ship was heading very nearly upon us,
though as we came nearer she kept lit
tie further to the westward.
SIS it an English ship9" asked my
white haired old passenger.
'I think it is" was my reply; and
just as L spoke my mate came down
from the foretop where he had been
with his glass. / noticed that his face
looked troubled, and also that he kept
back some remark which he was on the
point of dropping, at the same time re-
garding the old passenger with look
that seemed to indicate that he was in
the way. / took the hint and went for
ward. Mr.. Beckett, the mate in question
followed me. At the gangway 1 stopped.
"What is it ?' I asked.
"Why sir, that ship is the old Dorset. i"
said he.
1.-The Dorsetl" Ireplied. "Imposs-
ible."
"But I am sure" persisted Beckett.
''There's not another ship in England.
with such a figure head. Those two
girls are not to be mistaken.
"But are you sure she has that figure
head 2"
Certainly; You'll be able to see it
from here, in few moments"
But" said l, "the Dorset has not
yet had time to reach Sidney, much less
return as far as this.
''Of course" answered Beckett, with q
keen glance around him, "but don't you
think a ship could run away witho ut do
ing the errand she had in hand p
"Eh2" That's all l uttered at the
moment, for strange thought was be-
ginning to work its way into my mind.
"You remember what sort of a cargo
the Dorset had, don't you2" my mate
remarked.
OF course I remembered, for / met
the captain of the Dorset the day before
she sailed and had quiet dinner with
him at Cowley's. He was an old friend
of mine named Bumstead-Harry Bum
stead-and as good a sailor as ever trod
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
Fort Jackson, as he had part of cargo
for that place, he was TO go there first.
SO [ 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 have the glass )" said I, not
| seeming to notice his question.
He handed me the glass and I stood
upon the horse block and set the focus.
The coming ship was now so near that
the hull was nearly all up, and my first
look was at the fgure-head. There
could be no mistake now. 1 could plain
ly see the two female figures clasping
each other by the hands, and / knew it
to be the adorning figure of the Dorset's
cutwater.
"Mr. Beckett" I said, after 1 had sat-
isfied myself upon that point, "that is
the Dorset and no mistake"
Eyes, but what do you make of it 2"
"What do you make of it 2" l asked
He pondered few moments, and then
said: 81 think the convicts have taken
the ship"
$50 do l, was my reioinder.
AS | thus spoke l walked aft to where
my first mate stood by the wheel, and
drawing him one side, I told him my
fears. He leaned upon the rail and
gazed upon our neighbor, and when he
reached the deck he was of the same
opinion.
1T must be So" he said; "what shall
we do2"
That was the question what shall we
do? The ship had now come to within
half mile, and all doubts respecting
her identity were at an end. now knew
that she was the Dorset, and, of course,
| felt confident that the convicts must by