The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1880-03-24

ouVt u1o SaH tsfkh ttVh ny moutus auu SfuN
voice said k@a
Come, steeraway, you are wanted on
deck. Lively, now"
came to the conclusion that 1t was useless
to deliberate, and l obeyed the order at once.
1t was not necessary for me to ask what the
matter was. knew that web enough at
glance.
Baker-@that scoundrel Baker--was an es.
capped convict, and had shipped on board the
Marathon for the purpose of aiding his friends,
and from the appearance of things, he had
succeeded beyond his utmost expectations. -
AS emerged from the cabin, was greeted
with Here he isl by several Of the
striped Jacket gentry. Now, Steeraway,
we want you to mind and do just as we tell
you-or 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 ?n
OF course did not want TO case the appe-
tite of the jet-finned wolves that were SWIM
ming around the ship. So l told would do
all they wished ;but wanted to know what
had become of the captain and crew.
You'd better swim after them and ask
'em all except the first mate, Bolter. and we
can't get no track of him, blast him" said
Gosshawk, the recognized leader.
uttered a silent prayer that Bolter might
be safe, slowed away somewhere out of their
clutches. 88
"Well, steeraway,. says Gosshawk,
"where ara we ?,'
About eighty miles from Van Dieman's
Land"
Now, then" says he, "you just fix this
ship SO she will be more north than that in
twelve hours from now Make her run north
until ask you again where we are.n
"And mind you don't play any points, or
you'll find the bottom of Davy Jones pretty
quick"
asked him then who would work the yes--
sell.
"Why, you just give the orders aud these
men will work her and mind you give them
right"
"Then brace around the yards" replied /.
$50 ! can get her on the other track
"All right" said Gosshawk, tell us the
ropes" Iexplained to them and pointed out
the braces. M
In ten minutes we were around and sailing
almost due north.
When day broke my heart almost sank
within me. The deck presented a siclsening
sight. Pools of clotted blood here and there,
torn clothing, the remnant of some desperate
struggle and the striped convict jackets and
red coats of the English soldier, were scatter
ed over the deck.
requested that the decks be cleared up
and washed down, SO that no vestge might
greet my eyes of that terrible encounter 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 80
deg. south latitude and 173 deg. longitude
east all of which / correctly informed the
convict keeper.
"Aintthe Feejees about here somewhere? ''
he asked.
Yes they are in 30 deg. latitude, and 1870
deg. longitude.
"Well, take us there, Steeraway, and then
you are free to go in the long boat just al
we sight land. I'll take care of the Marathon
myself, them"
As we still had about 720 miles to the
or'ard to make and about 420 miles OF lon.
gitude, computed the sailing distance, and
found there were about 1140 miles to cover
which, deducting the differences from our
actual course, would leave about $50 miles be-
fore we reached the Feejees, reported the
same to Gosshawk, who grunted anything but
satisfaction, No nearer than that? Well,
keep her for the Feejees anyhow"
SO kept her for the Feejees and on the
fourth day +" Land, no +" was shouted by one
of the convicts who was stationed aloft.---
Gosshawk's eyes frightened up and he turn
ed to me, saying, Well DONE Steeraway''
If 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 a low tone to several Of
the men. l knew what they were Immediate.
ly, for the convicts began to cast off the lash
ings from the long boat. . So Gosshawk in
tends to keep bis promise, thought to my
self, and was to be cast adrift In the long
boat.
When within fifteen miles of land the
breeze died away and the old Marathon lay
motionless. Gosshawk swore, and stamped
the deck, but to no purpose. Kind Provi-
dence paid no attention to him. About dusk
the wind made its appearance, and | got ready
to stand in. "Steeraway," said Gosshawk,
~ guess you will have to make a voyage in
the dark but it can't be helped"
The boat was lowered two kegs of water,
bag Of bard tack and three or four junks OF
salt horse we're tossed In and was told &c
follow suit. AS I was adrift, the villains
shouted after me I" Good bye, Steeraway.-
You have done us good turn aud we won'i
forget it i"
! made NJ reply, but sat In the stern of the
boat gazing after the recedng vessel. Afte
looking at her for few minutes was over
come and bowed my head in my hands ant
wept. Just then a splash in the water nea.
the boat aroused me- "a shark {" though
l. Again I heard it, and then low voice Al
! ;f from, the deem 90 Sfeeraway % M