The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-10-23

within me. The deck presented a sick
ening sight. Pools of clotted blood here
and there, torn clothing, the remnants
of some desperate struggle. and the
striped convict jackets aud 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 | correctly informed the
convict skipper
Amt the Fiiis about here some
where ?" he asked.
Yes, they are in 20 deg. latitude and
$50 deg. longitude.
Well, take us there, Steerawav, and
you are free to go in the longboat lust as
soon as we strike land. III take care OF
the Marathon myself then"
AS we still had about 720 miles to the
nor'ard to make, and about 400 miles of
longitude, | computed the sailing dis
lance, and found there were about | 40
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? Wei,
keep for the Fijis, anyhow.
SO | kept her for the F'ijis and on the
fourth day Land, ho!'' was shouted by
ar n r, 4.
aloft. Go sshaWk's eyes frightened Hp,
and he turned to me, saying, well done,
Steeraway."
Ii had only had my own way, would
have put them on coral reef, but life is
precious, You know, even TO 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
vlcts began to cast off the lashings from
the long boat $50 Gosshavk intends
to keep his promise" | thought to my
self, and | was to be cast adrift in the
longbOat.
When within fifteen miles of land the
breeze died away and the old Marathon
lay almost mOtlOnless. Gosshawk swore.
and stamped the deck, but to no pur-
pose. Kind Providence paid no atten-
ton to him. About dusk the wind made
Its appearance, and / got ready to stand
IN. Steeraway," said GOsshawk. 81
guess you will have to make a voyage in
the dark; but it can't be helped.
The boat was low cred; two kegs OF
water, bag of hard tack, and three or
four juuks of salt horse were tossed in,
and | was told follow suit. As | was
cast adrift. the villains shouted after me:
Goodbye, Steeraway, you have done
us good turn, and We won't forget it. >
| made no reply, bat sat IN the stern
OF the boat gazing after the recading YES
sci. After looking ut her for few min
utes / WAS overcome, and bowed my
head ia my hands and wept. Just then
a splash III the water near the boat
aroused me. "a shark! " thought /.
Again l heard it, and then a low voice as
if from the deep: "Steeraway :"
/ sprung from my thwart as if struck
by a golvanic shock. | strained my eyes
and peered into the darkness. Present
~ | saw a dark form swimming toward
the boat. Again the voice came over
the water: "Steeraway - Ben here
knows [ am not superstitious, but [ con
TESS [ did feel a little awe-stricken Be-
fore | had time to collect my scattered
thoughts, a hand was laid on the gun
vale, and the form Of man arose from
the sea.
Its Bolter, Joe; don't be frightened
I'm no ghost -
That short sentence broke the spell
which chung to me.
Oh, Bolter!" cried |, in a transport
of JOY.
For Heavens sake help me in the
boat, Joe! I'm mighty weak. Now,
where's the water? That outside the
boat will do to swim in, but [ can't
drink it. -
Soon l had the water keg to his lips,
and he took a long draught.
There . [ never wanted water so
bad but once before in my life; and this
is what | call hard luck, joe
| agreed with him on that score, and
asked him to tell me how he escaped
from the convicts.
"Why, y0u see, Joe, got an mixing
Of what was coming, but before | could
get out of the cabin the rascals were
down upon rs. SO [ slipped into the
secret locker under the transom, and
they looked into every place but that
Luckily, the locker contained some
canned fruits and meats, 50 there was no
danger OF my starving. | overheard that
fellow : CONVERSATIONAL one they called
GOsshawk-and [ knew, Steeraway, that
Won were safe. / also heard him tell his
cut-throat comrades what he intended
doing with you, when | heard your boat
lowered. | peeped from my hiding
place, and saw that the cabin was clear,
as they were all on deck 10 see you off
As soon as | heard the boat cast adrift |
crawled through the stern window, hung
by the frame a minute or two, then
dropped into the sea, swan after your
boat and here | am. >
Better suddenly started up and cried
out: Look, Joe, if they have not set
the ship on fire.
And so they had Before they landed
they had no doubt left two or three of
their number to lash the wheel and apply
the torch. The flames threw lurld
light over the ocean, and soon the whole
outline in fire Of the doomed Marathon
could be seen. Heayy tongues of flame
ran up the tarred rigging, and rolls Of
fire, like a cloud, would now and then
burst forth as the sails one after another
were consumed. II was q magnificent
sight, but a sorrOwf1ll one for us We
watched her until scarcely a spark could
be seen: when, suddenl ', like flash, the
faint light disappeared, and all that once
remained cf the Marathon went IN the