The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-23

Fortunately the frs: coming of the
wind was light and the canvass upon
the ship comparatively small. The
yards swung easily and l braced them
up sharp and kept her close. The sky
to the south looked threatening and
the night was very dark. / ran below
and looked at the glass. There had
been a slight fall. but nothing to speak
of. l ordered the top-gallant sail to
| be furled. The men worked with alac-
rity singing out Justify. / could hardly
realize, as stood on the poop giving
orders, all that had occurred within
| the last two hours. Yet knew by the
strange faintness which from time to
time seized me that my moral and
physical being had received terrible
shock and that l should feel it all the
more keenly when the excitement had
abated.
The only food had taken all day
ing the need of some substantial re-
freshmcnt to relieve me of the sensa-
ton of faintness, l left the poop to
! seek the carpenter. in order to request
him to keep watch while went below.
When on the quarterback, and look
ing toward the cuddy, l perceived two
figures huddled together just outside
the cuddy door. There was plenty of
light here from the lamps inside, and
/ at once saw that the two bodies were
those of Duckling and C0xon.
L stepped up to them. Coxon lay on
his back with his face exposed, and
Duckling was right across him, breast
downward, his head in the corner and
his feet toward me- There was no
blood on either of them. Coxon had
evidently been struck over the head
from behind, and killed instantly; his
features were composed. and his gray
hairs made him look reverend object
in death.
Some men on the main deck watched
me looking at the bodies, and when
they saw me take Duckling by the arm
and turn him on his back, one of them
called: That's right; keep the
beggar alive? He's cookee's portion,
he isi''
These EXPLANATIONS attracted the at
tention of the carpenter, who came aft
Immediately and found me STOPPING
over Duckling. .-..
Hes dead, reckon" he said.
Dead, or next door to it." replied.
Better for him if he is dead. The
captains a corpse, killed quickly
enough, by the look of him." l con-
tinued. gazing at the white, still face
at my feet. 'You had better get him
carried forward and covered up.
Where's the body of the sailor 1
brought on board?"
"Why, pitched him overheard like q
dead rat. by orders of this Christian"
he answered, giving the captains body
a kick. HE had good deal of
feelin', this pious gentleman. Why do
you want him covered up? Let him 90
overheard now, won't 'ee? Hi, matesr'
he called to the men who were looking
on. Here's another witness agin us
for the Day o. Judgment! Heave him
into the sea, my hearties! We don't
want to give him no excuse to soften
the truth for our sakes when he's called
upon TO spin his yarnr
The men focked round the bodies,
and while three of them caught up the
corpse of the skipper as if it had been
a coil of rope, others of them began to
handle Duckling.
Him too?" asked one.
What DO you say, Mr.. Royle?" de-
the carpenter.
1T amt Mr.. Royle's consarn--it's |
cookee'sr' cried one of the men. And |
he began to bawl for ''cookcc."
Meantime the fellows who held the |!
captains body, not relishing their
burden. went to leeward; and. two of !
them taking the shoulders and one the /
feet, they began to swing him, and at
a given word shot him over the bull |
warks. They then came 0ack quite |
one of them observing |
that the devil ought to be very much |
obliged to them for their handsome !
present.
The cook now approached, walked /
aft by some men who held him by the |
arms. They were laughing uproari- |
ously. which was explained when / saw !
that the cook was drunk.
Here's your friend, Mr.. Cookee,"
said Stevens, stirring Ducklng with |
the toe of his boot Hes waitin' for
You to know wot's TO become of him."
Him berry good gentleman, re-
turned the cook, pulling off his cap
with drunken gravity. and making 4
reeling bow to the body. me love
DIS gentleman like my own son. Neb-
Der knew tenderer-hearted man. Him
yib me nice blow here" holding his
clenched fist to his jaw, land anoder
one here" clapping his hand to his
back. Then. after pause, ne kicked
the dying or dead man savagely in the
head. yelling in a hideous falsetto:
''Oh, til skin um alive! Oh, I'll pull
MS eyes out and make um swaller
dem! He kick an strike honest En-
glish cook! Oh. my golly! I'll cut off
his foot! Give me knife, sar," look
ng around him with a wandering,
cleaning eye. ''Gib ME knife, say,
an YOU see what | do.''
One of the ruffians actually gave him
1 knife.
l grasped the carpenters arm.
Mr.. Stevens" | exclaimed, in his
EAR, you II not allow this. For Gods
sake, don't let this drunken cannibal
disgrace our manhood by such brutal
leeds before US! Living or dead. bet
5er fling the body overheard! Don't
ct him be tortured if living; and if
lead. is not our revenge complete?"
The carpenter made no answer, and,
sick with horrorand disgust Twas turn
ng away, feeling powerleSs to deal
with these wretcheS, when, the cook
already kneeling and barring his arm
or / know not what bloody work,
stevens sprang forward and fetched him
'uch q tbump under the chin that he
oiled head over heels into the lee
'cupperS.
The men roared with laughter |
''Now, then, overheard with this
hs,,n .f,s T..