Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-30

- AoCA . AOCc Tue BbEHdI0 nor Inc
carpenter. But the Captain keeps two
pistols. They are right in the drawer of
Cne taDie IN the after cabin, and the draw
sr ism locked, 90 the cook says, and he's
oeen IN there. Mind, [ don't ask YOU to
steal Ihose pistols. We only want to get
them away from the cabin folks, who
might do some harm with them. Well
never use the pistols. Wen put them in
the COOKS storerOom, where they'll find
them quick enough. If it wasn't steal
ing, we'd just chuck those pistols over
''As usual, 1 did not stop to reflect. I
Volunteered to secure the three pistols
and was slapped on the back and told
was brave lad. l had on several occa-
siohs, While at work, peeped through the
alter cabln windows, and had seen the
tsDle IN the drawer of which were the
Two pistols. The Captains staterOOm
opened on of the after cabin, so that there
was some danger or waking the skipper,
put TINS did not brighten me out of under
taxing tue adventure. 1t was agreed that
should 20 into the cabin and secure the
plstols at seven bells, if the second mate
was then AFT, as ne was pretty sure to be.
Al length seven bells struck aft, and
were repeated by the lookout forward.
Inc second mate was standing aft by
the wheel, and the coast was
clear stole through the port
ca0ln door and went into the
sIateroom OF the mate, who had left his
uOor natf open. He was snoring heavily.
Beneath the bunk / found drawer,
partly open. l stuck in my hand, and
AFTER little cropping l found the pistol
ana TOOK 1T out. l got safely out of the
mates room, and, moving softly through
the forward cabin, gently opened the
NO0r Of tho n flor ~,
breathing OF the Captain, who seemed to
be sleeping soundly. 1 CROPPED my way
TO the table, and succeeded in opening
the'drawer and securing the two pistols
without making any noise. Then l stole
PACK TO the door, and was about to enter
the forward cabin, when "A thought struck
me. And strangely enough, tor the first
time in my llIe, stopped and reflected.
W hat thought l. ''if these men are
bent on real mutiny? What if they mean
to shoot the officers with these pistols?
Some one said that the Captain had
brought money with him to trade with Ia
China. Suppose the men propose to Sc.
cure that money, and sink or set fire to
the ship, after numbering the officers, and
perhaps me? They could easily escape
TO tue shore in the long boat
II looked toward the deck, and through
the door of the forward cabin | could see
dark figures moving stealthily and I'M
easily about. What could | do? A
thought struck me. One by one | re-
moved the cartridges from the revolving
cylinders, and thus rendered the pistols
harmless. Then l placed the cartridges
In my pocket and stole through the for
ward cabin and out on to the deck. l
was instantly seized by rough hands, and
the pistols were taken from me- Then /
found myself fiat on my back, with mans
hand over my mouth. l looked up and
saw pointed vt my breast a sheath knife,
which was in the grasp of a wicked-look-
ing sailor. saw thatI had fallen into
trap, and gave myself up for lost.
closed my eyes, expecting to feel the steel
enter my breast. Then / heard smoth-
cred curse from Pete.
"'These pistols haven't so much as
cartridge among the three Of them,' said
Pete.
81 opened my eyes. The sailor who had
prepared TO stab me had paused in his
murderOus work. Pete bent over me and
in fierce whisper wanted to know what
had done with the cartridges. Then l
thought that | saw glimmer OF hope.
''There was a box of cartridges in the
cabin drawer said 1; but bow did l
know the pistols wasn't loaded? l didn't
have time to stop and look
zone Of the sailors proposed that ]
should be sent back after the cartridges,
but said that | was afraid that they
would kill me the moment / got back.
Pete swOre that no one would touch me If
| brought back the cartridges, 'And,'
said he, wen give you your'full share of
the Captains money l said that l would
20 back. The sailors pushed me toward
the cablRd0OF. ] glanced over nv shout
der aHd caught sight OF the green light of
another vessel, some distance of. That
gave me an idea. After Pete had showed
me into the cabin door. l made bound
for the after cabin, and cried out at the
top Of my voices
"'shlp ahoy! Captainl A sail on the
starboard bow, close 20 US! She'll run us
down. Have out every bodyp
Il loOkeC over my shoulder. Dark
faces were glarlng in through the cabin
door. But the men seemed undecided
whether to follow me. Then came an
swering Shouts from the people in the
cabin. The m0tiaeers seemed to be taken
by surprise. A panic seized upon them,
and theyretreRKuf forward. The Captain,
mate, carpenter and steward came out Of
their stateroohls and hurried on deck, and
saw a vessel. cross our bows, but at good
distance ahead. Then the Captain gave
me a cuff, and dragging me INTO the cabin,
asked me how l had dared to wake him
that way when there was no danger. 1
hurriedly told the Captain what had hap
pened. He rushed into the after cabin,
and, unlocking a drawer under his bunk,
took out several loaded revolvers, one of
which he gave me. Then he called the
mate, carpenter, and steward, and gave
each OF them a revolver, and told us to
follow HIM. He went out on deck,
and we stood by him, ready TO de-
fend ourselves if we should be at
tackled. The Captain summoned the
second mate and told him to call all
hands aft. The mutineers came aft with
ugly looks i'm their faces. The Captain
told them that IL he had the time to spare
he would put into Rio Janeiro and have
them punished for mutiny. But he want
ed to continue the voyage, and he pro-
posed to make them behave themselves.
They could have made nothing by MUIR
dering him, he told them, for the money
which he was going to trade with in
China was all in bills OF exchange, which
they could not have had cashed. Then.
raising his pistol, the Captain ordered the
men 10 lay their sheath knives and the
empty pistols they had taken from me on
the capstan. They quietly obeyed him.
The Captain then reprimanded the second
mate for having been in the habit OF max
ing entries In his log book before his
watch went below. After he had done
with him the Captain pointed at me and
said:
az appoint this young man third mate.
He shall live In the cabin and be taught