The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-02-22
THE RECAPTURE.


And darkness filled the room.
IN. Y. Tribune.
THE RECAPTURE.
MAN the mast-heads there! was the
order from the mate of the Statesman
on clear, bright morning in the tropi-
cal latitudes 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 foretop
and threw rapid glance around the
horizon.
sail on the weather boww he report
ed. "A boat with all sail set coming
right at u.s.
The announcement caused a 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
tacle of a whale boat alone on the ocean,
coming to board us in the morning, like
the 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
shrewd guesses and speculations as to
her history and character.
"A gang of runaways," said one, dog
matically.
ooh, that's nothing: Why, when rs
in the old Speedy"
''They've lowered for whales, and cot
lost from the ship" suggested another
speaker.
''Ay, that's more likely"
''The old man makes out eight men in
her." said one of the boat. erers, COM
ing from aft.
Here was new phase of the matter,
and our theori es 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 ae
they are sometimes known to be, would
hardly overload for long sea voyage.
"Castaways, of course" was the unani-
nous opinion. ''Ship foundered or
burnt at sea, and some of her boats lost
But we were not kept long in suspense,
for the stran ers brought their frail raft
alongside as rapidly as oars and canvas
could do it and lea ped in on deck. In
a favu ptncYx r
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 by3mutineers.
The second mate was ut 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 had not even the
slightest suspicion of anything wrong
until they found themselves prisoners
in their state-rooms.
1t was supposed that McGregor, the
new commander, intended to carry the
bark down among the Marshall islands
and there destroy her, taking up his
were still twenty men or board; but
how many of them were actively engaged
in the plot, and how many were merely
cowed into submission to the new
authority. was more than the captain
could tell.
And how far do you suppose your ship
to be from us now?" asked Captain Bent.
II have steered west-northwest by
compass, as near as I could" said Cap
tain Watson, "and have run, l should
judge, about eighty miles. The Newcas-
tie, when los sight of her, " IS by the
wind on the northern track, under easy
sail. She ought to be nearly due east
from u.s."
"Come below and lie: us lay off your
course on q chart. don't know as l
can 10 anything for You, if should fall
in with your ship, but it might be some
satisfaction to see."
The two captains went into the cabin,
and soon the order was passed along to
make all sail on wind. Nothing was
seen during the day, and at night we
lacked back again. And the first grey
light of the morning showed US the
bark-recognized at once by Captain
Watson and his mate as their own vessel
running down across our course.
"Of course he won't pass near us if he
can help it," said Watson.
L L
am going to signalize at any rate. Haul
the mainsail up" said Captain Bent to
the officer on deck, land set the ensign
at the gait"
The orders were obeyed, and much to
our surprise the mutineers altered their
course little, with the evident inten-
ton of speaking US.
"What can it mean that he is 50 ready
to speak to s.ranger?" was the question
that passed from one to another of the
"Now 1 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 lslanis he
and firearms"
you've hit it," rejoined the captain.
"That must be McGreyor's object. There
isn't much tobacco on board, and but
little powder. He wants to buy more.
Captain Bent, let you and have anoth'
er talk by ourselves" lie aided, seeming
to have conceived some new idea.
Their conference was short; but judy
ing from the expression of their faces
when they came on deck and took the
mates into their confidence, it seemed
to have been productive of something
of importance. The bark's boat, in
which the wanderer had been picked
up, was placed overhead on the skids
as If she had been one of our own, and &
sill thrown over her. that she might cc
be recognized. The crew were instruct
ed to keep themselves out of sight while
the two vessels were in communication
"What bark is that?" asked Captain
Bent, innocently, after he had given hi,
own name.
1.-THE Newcastle, of Sydney"
S'' HWhO 1. commands her?'