The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-02-22
THE RECAPTURE.

e 'AAS NA~~sA S@ASSOAAS
And darkness filled the room.
@4 IN. Y. Tribune.
THE RECAPTURE.
"Man the mast-heads there!' was the
torder from the mate of the Statesman
on clear, bright morning in the tropi-
.cal ATTITUDES of the Pacific.
The order was obeyed by those whose
turn it was to take the first lookout of
morning. But the youngster whose sta
ton was up in the fore-top-gallant cross.
trees paused a moment in the foretep
and threw rapid glance around the
horizon.
"Sail on the weather bowl" he report
: ed. "A boat with all eail set coming
tight at U.S."
The announcement caused stir at
once on deck, and brought up not only
= the captain but all the watch below. The
all-important morning duty of washing
off decks was suspended for the time
being to gaze upon the unwonted spec
coming to board us in the morning, like
she veritable barber Neptune, of equa-
torial notoriety.
The boat was not more than couple
of miles from us when first disco vered,
approaching swiftly under the combined
power of sail and oars. The captains
telescope was brought to bear, and it
was soon ascertained that she had at
least full crew. We backed the main
topsail and hove to, waiting inpatient
ly to know more, and making various
shrewd guesses and speculations as to
her history and character.
n IA gang of runaways," said one, dog
lhatically.
. in the old Speedy"
"'They've lowered for whales, and got
lost from the ship" suggested another
speaker
.Ay, that's more likely"
s'The old man makes out eight men in
her." said one of the boat-steerers, COM
ing from aft.
Here was new phase of the matter,
and our theories were blown in the four
winds. Nobody would lower in pursuit
of whales with any more than six in the
boat; and even deserters, reckless as
they are sometimes known to be, would
hardly overload for a long sea voyage.
"Castaways, of course" was the unani-
nous opinion. ':Ship foundered or
burnt at SEA, and some of her boats lost
with her."
But we were not kept longin suspense,
for the stran ers brought their frail raft
alongside as rapidly as oars and canvas
could do it and leaped in on deck. In
few minutes we were in possession IF
the whole story, parody on the old
one Of Bligh and Fletcher Christian.
The boat col tanned Captain Watson, his
mate and six others, from the bark
Newcastle of Sydney, who had been
sci adritt the day before by'mutineers.
The second mate was at the he I'd of the
conspiracy, which had been most art
fully planned and carried into execu-
ton while he had charge of the deck.
His two superiors lad not even the
slightest sus picion of anything wro' n,
until they found themselves priso' aers
in their state-rooms.
1t was supposed that, McGrakor, the
new commander, intended to carry tlre
bark down among the Marshall fAahde
and there destroy her, taking up -
residence among the saVages. r. ,a a.s
were still twenty men or boar 41S s.'i
how many of them we're actively ~
in the plot, and how many wer sG -
cowed into submission to H. h'e nel!
authority Io was more than the es eap tsM
Sand how far do you .,>>,,s>,.o .o.,;.
to be from us now?' Isesd Cant ai Rent st
nave steere' west-northwest by
CON p W+a Us iie - as COULD" said Cap
:ai ia " nhs.'+, and have ruin, I should
!n!oee a,,h huoo! eighty miles. The Newcas
.,;, nnt los sight of her, WAS by the
WIZ O. the northern track, under easy
rom From Inc ought to be nearly due eas
-. Come below and le: us lay off you,
IAN 10 anything for you, if should fall
satisfaction to see."
The two captains went into the cabin
land soon the order was passed along to
make all sail on wind. Nothing wa.
seen during the day, and at night we
lacked back again. And the first grey
light of the morning showed us tho
:bark-recognized at once by Captain
Watson and his mate as their own vessel
.-runningdown across our course.
49, "Of course he won't pass near us if he
can help it," said Watson.
NO, suppose he will avoid US; but ]
am going to signalize at any rate. Haul
K the mainsail up" eaid Captain Bent to
the D., ofhce1 on decx, land set the ensign
Z. The orders we're obeyed, and much to
our SURPRISE the mutineers altered their
course q little, with the evident inten-
to-, Of speaking US.
"What can it mean that he is SO ready
* to speak to a s.ranger?" was the question
HElat passed from one to another of the
"Now I think of it," said the mate OF
the Newcastle, II think know his OBJ
+ ject. If he really means to wind up his
cruise in one of the Marshall Islan.is he
will want to make trade for tobacco
and firearms"
- "You've hit it," rejoined the captain
'That must be McGregor's object. There
isn't much tobacco on board, and but
E little powder. He wants to buy more
II Captain Bent, let you and l have anoth.
er talk by ourselves" he added, seeming
to have conceived some new idea.
Their conference was short; but judg-
Z ing from the expression of their faces
when they came on deck and took the
mates into their confidence, it seemed
1 to have been Productive of something
a. of importance. The bark's boat, in
which the wanderer had been picked
DIP, was placed overhead on the skids,
as if she had been one of our own, and q
y sail thrown over her. that she might cot
81 be recognized. The crew were instruct.
ed to keep themselves out of sight while
4. .. the two vessels were in communication
what bark is that?" asked Captain
Bent, innocently, after he had given his
a own name.
''The Newcastle, of Sydney"
Who Commands herr"
Watson" was the reply.
No just at present." muttered Wat
son himself, who was crouching in the
81 companion way, so as to see and hear
i. without being seen: "But 1 hope he
may before night" =.
One of my men had his leg broken
~ uoafo rdav ~ sold 0,,r "a Dtain &c and