The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-08-12
RAVENNA, O.. THURSDAY, AUGUST 12 1890

of the matter. The men were in real ear
nest. They were villains desperate and re-
vengeful offscourings of the ocean-but the
man whom they were about to punish was
an abominable tyrant, and do not doubt
that they felt a kind of justification in the
course they were pursuing. Not, however,
that they cared for justice. Their enemy
had tortured them, and he was now in
their power. To minds like theirs, this was
enough.
Near sunset, the captain, who had been
remanded to the cabin, was again brought
above board. His eyes were bandaged, and
a rope which had been rove through a block
| temporarily slung under the mainyard, was
fastened around his neck. All about him
scowled the grim mutineers. A number of
them, armed with whalemen's lances, had
been detailed as guard, the others being
occupied with the preliminaries of the exc
cntion; while the culprit himself, having
exhausted eDtreaty, stood in condition of
piteous stupor awaiting his fate
The bay was sheltered by considerable
promotory, SO that an approaching vessel
could not be seen from our position until
close uponsns. Already half dozen men
had laid hold of the halter, and Myrick was
about to give the order to haul away, when.
with loud exclamations, one or two of the
fellows started i'll surprise and pointed sea-
ward. t,a
Looking, Isaw ships topgallant-masts
over the high land, and they were moving
rapidly toward the harbor entrance.
Sup with him! cried the former third
mate. ''We'll finish him to-day if we die
for it tomorrow
And in another moment, old Chapmansi
was dancing upon air under the yard
Then, taking to the boats, and COMPEL
ing the shipkeeper and myself to accom-
pany them, in order that we might not assist |
the strangling victim, the mutineers pulled |
ashore.
"There, T" said NIyrick, as we landed, 'the |
mate of that Zebra is going aboard the Jas
per to lower the old fellow away! But I |
guess it's too late, anyhow! I ought to
have put a lance through that mate while |
had chance"
SAA., tlA hndy lowered to the Las-
per's deck.
The strange ship came into the harbor,
proving to be whaleman. And now, the
mutineers permitting to take one of the
boats, we pulled off to the Jasper, which
we found already in possession of number
of men, in whom we were astonished to
recognize Captain Gale and his boats
crew, together with our first and second
mates, whom the captain picked up as they
swan, previously to being himself taken
up by ship which soon afterward hove in
sight.
Captain Chapman, after a deal of labor
had been expended upon his portly body,
revived and recovered; but although the
punishment he had received had been ille-
gally administered, nobody doubted that he
deserved it.
The mutineers / never heard of after
ward. Probably they distributed them
'elves among the native inhabitants getting
pack to various whale ships Us opportunity
,tfered.
Taking on board some Lascars to assist
n working the Jasper, we went over to the
sic of France i'll company with the Zebra,
md after making up our full complement of
lands, at Port Louis, proceeded upon an
,ther cruise. #.. - ,
Our fortune was now changed. Standing :
lp by the coast of Ceylon and Hindoostan,
We took twelve hundred barrels in seven
months. still larger quantity was taken !.
S we again headed south along the shores .
# Zanouihar and NJoza,obi,u.. an1 =,
hort, strange as it may seem, finally ar !,
ived home with full ship.
Captain Gale had learned a lesson; and
'aptain Chapman, of the Zebra who
eturned with his ship but third !,
ull, after four years voyage, might have
earned one, also, had not the opaqueness
f his skull forbidden it. I.. =