The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-24

fore and aft! Round with the yards
smartlyr'
Fortunately the first coming of the
wind was light and the canvass upon
the ship comparatively small. The
yards swung easily and I braced them
up sharp and kept her close. The sky
to the south looked threatening and
the night was very dark. l ran below
and looked at the glass. There had
been q slight fall. but nothing to speak
of. I ordered the top-gallant sail to
be furled. The men worked with alac-
rity singing out Justify. could hardly
realize. as l 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
more keenly when the excitement had
abated.
The only food had taken all day
was the two ships biscuits; and. feel
ing the need of some substantial re-
frcshment 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 l went below.
When on the quarterback. and look
ing toward the cuddy. perceived two
figures huddlcd together just outside
the cuddy door. There was plenty of
light here from the lamps inside, and
I at once saw that the two bodies were
those of Duckling and Cpxon.
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.
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 isl"
These ordinations attracted the at
tention OF the carpenter, who came ait
Immediately and found me STOPPING
over Duckling.
He's dead. l reckon" he said.
dead, or next door TO it, replied.
Better for him if he is dead. The
captains corpse, killed quickly
enough, by the look of him." l con-
tinucd. 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
brought on board?'
"Why. pitched him overheard like Il
dead rat. by orders of this Christian"
he answered, giving the captain body
4 kick. 'Hc had good deal of
feelin'. this pious gentleman. Why do
you want him covered up? Let him go
overheard now, won't zee? Hi, mates!'
on. Heres another witness agin us
for the Day o Judgment! Hcave him
into the sea. my hear1es! 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 tiocked 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.
ut amt Mr.. Royle's consarn--it's
cookce'sT" cried one of the men. And
he began to bawl for .'cookee.'
Meantime the fellows who held the
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
4 given word shot him over the bull
warks. They then came back quite
one of them observing
that the devi! ought to be very much
obliged 10 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 lsaw
that the cook was drunk.
Here's your friend, Mr.. Cookee,"
said Stevens. stirring Duckling with
the toe of his boot Hes waitin' for
you to know wot's to become of him."
Him a berry good gentleman" re-
turned the cook. pulling off his cap
with drunken gravity, and making
reeling bow to the body. '.Me love
dis gentleman like my own son. Neb-
Der knew tenderer-hearted man. Him
glib me a 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 i'll the
head. yelling in hideous falsetto:
'Oh, til skin um alive! Oh, I'll pull
his eyes out and make UNI swaller
dem! He kick an strike honest En-
glish cook! Oh. my golly! I'll cut off
his foot! Give me a knife, sar." look
ing around him with a wandering,
cleaning eye. LIB me knife, l say,
an you see what do"
One of the rufiians actually gave him
a KIN fe.
l grasped the carpenters arm.
"Mr. Stevens" l exclaimed. in his
ear, you'll not allow this! For Gods
sake, don't let this drunken cannibal
disgrace our manhood by such brutal
deeds before US! Living or dead. bet
ter fling the body overheard! Don't
let him be tortured if living; and if
dead. is not our revenge complete?'
The carpenter made no answer, and,
sick with horrorand disgust, l twas turn
ing away. feeling powerless to deal
with these wretcheS, when, the cook
already kneeling and barring his arm
for l know not what bloody work,
Stevens sprang forward and fetched him
such & thump under the chin that he
rolled head over heels into the lee
scuppers.