The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-06-18

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nant of some desperate struggle, and
the striped convict jackets and red coats
OF the English soldiers, were scattered
over the deck.
1 requested that the decks be cleared
up and washed down, so that no vestige
might greet my eyes of that 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 con-
Wet skipper.
Amt the Fijis about here some
where ?" he asked
Yes, they are in 20 deg. latitude and
$50 deg. longitude.
"Well, take us there, Steeraway, and
you are free to go in the long boat Just
as soon as we sight 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, 1 computed the sailing dis
lance, and found there were about l 14O
miles to cover, which. deducting the diff
ference from our actual course, would
leave about $50 miles before we raised
the Fiiis. l reported the same to Goss-
hawk, who grunted anything but salts
faction. " No nearer than that? Well,
keep for the Fiiis, anyhow"
So kept her for the Fijis, 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 turned to me, saying, "Well,
done, Steeraway.
Ii / had only had my own way, [
would have put them on a 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 III low tone to several of
the men. L knew what they were i'm
mediately, for the convicts began to east
off the lashings from the long boat.
80 Gosshawk intends to keep his
PROMISE" l thought to myself, 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 almost motionless. 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 l got ready to stand
ill., "Steeraway," said Gosshawk, 81
guess you will have to make voyage in
the dark but it can't be helped"
The boat was lowered two kegs OF
water, bag of bareback, and three or
four junks of salt horse were tossed in,
and L was told to follow suit. As | was
cast adnft, the villains shouted after
me: Good-by, Stceraway, you have
done us good turn and we won't for
got it !"
made no reply, but sat in the stern
of the boat gazing after the receding
vessel. After looking at her for few
minutes | was overcome and bowed my
head i'll my hands and wept Just then
n splash in the water near the boat
aroused me. "A shark p thought 1.
Again | heard it, and then a low voice
as if from the deep: "Steeraway y
L sprung from my thwart as If struck
by galvanic shock. l strained my
eyes and peered into the darkness.
Presently / saw dark form swimming
! toward the boat. Again the voice came
over the water "Steeraway :" Ben
here knows L am not sllperstitious, but
L confess did feel little awe-stricken.
Before L had time to collect my scat
tered thoughts, a hand was laid on the
gunwale, and the form of man arose
from the sea.
cts Bolter, Joe don't be frightened
I'm no ghost ~
That short sentence broke the spell
which chung to me.
sob, Bolter ~ cried L, in transport
of JOY.
For Heavens sake, help me in the
boat, Joe ! 1 am mighty weak. Now
where's the water? That outside the
boat will do to swim in, but l can't drink
it.
Soon / had the water-keg to his lips,
and he took long draught.
There ! L 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, you see, Joe, l got an mixing
of what was coming, but before | could
get out of the cabin the rascals were
down upon us. SO L slipped into the
secret locker under the transom, and
they looked into every place but that.
Luckily, the locker contained some
canned meats and fruits, SO there was
no danger of my starving. l overheard
that fellows conversation-the one they
called Gosshawk-and L knew, Steer
away, that you were safe. also heard
him tell his cut-throat comrades what he
intended doing with you, when L heard
your boat lowered. l peeped from my
hiding place, saw the cabin was clear, as
they were all on deck to see you off.
Soon as L heard the boat cast adrift 1
crawled through the stern window, hung
by the frame for minute or two, then
dropped into the sea, swan after your
boat and here / am.
Bolter 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
lurid light over the ocean, and soon the
whole outline in fire of the doomed
Marathon could no seen Heavy