Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-10-20

- Aere he is, Dy several OF the striped
jacket gentry. CHOW. Steeraway. we
want you to mind and do just as we tell
yor-or whatJoe Gosshawk, the captain.
tells you-and you won't be hurt; but if
you don't, why overheard you go. We
know you can navigate: now which is it.
sharks dinner, or obey orders o.
Of course [ didn't want to ease the
appetite of the jet-fnned wolves that
were swimming around the ship. SO L
told them [ would do all they wished:
but [ wanted to know what had become
of the captain and crew. su#
"You'd better swim after 'em and ask
'em what's done with 'em; all but that
crlssed tirst-mate, Bolter, and we can't
get no track of him, blast him. said
Gosshawk, the recognized leader. ,..
I uttered silent prayer that Bolter
might be safe, slowed away somewhere
out of their clutches.
We'll, Steeraway," says Gosshawk,
"where are we?" ...t
"About eighty miles from Van Die
mans Land"
"Now, then" said he, you just fix
this ship SO that she will not be more
nor that in twelve hours from now.
Make her run north until I ask you
again where we are. And mind you
don't play any points or you will find
the bottom of Davy Jones pretty
quick. ..t
I asked him then who would work the
vessel.
why, you just give the orders and
these men will work her, and mind you
give them right
Then brace around the yards" said
/, :" SO [ can get her on the other tack. )"
Cali right, said Gosshawk, "tell us
the ropes"
I explained to them and pointed out
the braces.
In ten minutes we were around and
sailing almost due north
When day broke my heart almost sank
within me- The deck presented sick
ening sight. Pools of clothed blood here
and there, torn clothing, the remnants
of some desperate struggle, and the
striped convict Jackets and the red coats
of the English soldiers, were scattered
over the deck.
[ requested that the decks be cleared
up and washed down. so that no vestige
might greet my eyes of the terrible en-
counter that had taken place the night
before. At noon Gosshawk asked me
where we were. [ had just taken the
sun, and found we were in 81 deg. south
latitude, and 173 deg. longitude east,
all of which l correctly informed the
convict skipper.
"Ain't the Fiiis about here some
where p he asked.
eyes, they are i'll 20 deg latitude and
40 deg. longitude
"Well, take lis there, Steeraway, and
you are free to go in the long''boat Just as
soon as We strike land. I'll take care of
the Marathon myself then"
AS we still had about 100 miles to the
nor'ard to make, and about 400 miles of
longitude, L computed the sailing dis
lance, and found there were about /, 14O
miles to cover, which, deducting the diff
ference from our actual course, would
leave about $50 miles before we raised
the Fills. [ reported the same to Goss-
hawk. who grunted anything but salts
faction. ''No nearer than that 3? Well,
keep for the Fiiis, anyhow
SO kept her for the Fiiis and on the
fourth day F." Land, hop' WAS shouted by
one of the convicts who was stationed
aloft. Go sshawk's eyes frightened up,
and he turned tome, saying, ''Well done,
Steeraway."
If | had only had my own way, would
have put them on a coral reef, but life is
precious, you know, even TO a sailor. AS
the Marathon neared the land, which
proved to be one of the group to the
south ard, Gosshawk gave some orders IN
low tone to several of the men. [ knew
what they were Immediately, for the con-
yicts began to cast off the lashings from
the long boat. $50 Gosshawk intends
to keep his promise, thought to my
self, and ] was to be cast adrift in the
longboat.
When within fifteen liles of land the
breeze died away and the old Marathon
and stamped the deck, but to no pur-
pose. Kind Providence paid no atten-
ton to, him. About dusk the wind made
it's appearance, and got ready to stand
in. "Steeraway,'' said Gosshawk. CT
guess yora will have to make voyage in
the dark; but it CAN'T be helped.
The boat was lowered; two kegs of
water, beg of hard tack, and three or.
four junks of salt horse were tossed in
and / was told follow suit. AS / was
cast adrift, she villains shouted after me-:
Goodbye Steeraway, you have done
Ills good turn, and we won't forget it!
I made no reply, but sat in the stern
of the boat gazing after the receding YES
sci. After looking at her for few min
utes I was overcome. and bowed my
head in my hands and wept Just then
splash in the water nee the boat
aroused me- GA. shaGkl' thought I.
Again heard it, and then low voice as
if from the deep: "Steeraway -
Isprung from my thwart as if struck
by galvanic shock. + strained my eyes
and peered into the darkness. Present.
ly / saw dayk form swimming toward
the boat. Again the voice came over
the water: 'tSteeraway Ben here
knows I am not superstitious, but con-
fess did feel d little awe-stricken. Be-
fore I had time to collect my scattered
thoughts, hand was laid ON the gun
vale, and the form of man arose FROM