The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-09
The Story Of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account Of
a Mutiny at Sea.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.
CHAPTER EIL-CONTINCEo.

gishly rolling to the swell which ran
in transparent volumes over her sides
and foamed around the deck-house.
Once, when her stern rose, read the
name, Cecilia, in broad, white letters.
! was gazing at her intently in the
effort 10 witness some indication of liv-
ing thing on board, when, to nv min
gled CONSERVATION and horror, | wit
messed an arm projecting through the
window Of the deck-housc, and franti-
caliy wave what resembled a white
handkerchief. As none of the men
called ont, judged this signal was not
percept!ble to the naked eye, and in nv
excitement / shouted:
There's a living man on board of
her, my lads dropped the glass and
ran aft t. call the captain.
! met him coming up the companion
ladder. The first thing he said was:
you're out Of your course" and
looked mp ut the sails.
There ) a wreck vOnder" l cried.
pointing eagerly, with man ON board
signaling 10 US"
Get ne the glass" he said, sulkilv.
and / picked il up and handed 1t to
him.
He looked at the wreck for some mo-
ments, and, addressing the man at the
wheel, exclaimed, making a movement
with his hand.
keep her away! Where are you
steering tO?'
Good Heaven!" l calculated ;
there 5 4 man on board-there may
be others,n
Hold your tongue he exclaimed,
between his teeth; what do YOU mean
by interfering with me? Keep her
-awayr he rOared out
During this time we had drawn suffi-
cientiy near to the wreck to enable the
shaTper-sighted among the hands to re-
mark the signal, and they were calling
out that there was somebody fGing a
handkerchief aboard the hull
Captain CoXOn," said |, with as
firm voice as / could command-for
/ was nearly il as great rage as he,
and rendered insensible to all conse-
quenccs by his inhumanity-''if you
bear away and leave that man Wonder
TO sink with that wreck when he can
be saved with very little trouble, YOU
will become us much murderer as any
When had said this COXon turned
black in the face with passion. His
eyes protruded, his hands and fingers
worked as though he were under some
electrical process, and | saw for the
first time in my life a sight / had al
ways laughed at as bit of impossible
novelist description mouth foaming
with rage. He rushed aft, just over
Duckling's cabin, and stamped with all
his might.
Now" thought l, they may try
to murder met And, without Il word.
/ pulled of my coat, seized Delaying
pin, and stood ready, resolved that
happen what might, [ would give the
first man who should lay his fingers on
me something to remember me bv
while he had breath in his body.
The men, not quite understanding |
what was happening, but seeing that a
''row'' was taking place, came to the |
forccas;le and advanced by degrees |
along the main-deck. Among them |
noticed the cook. muttering to one or |
the other who stood near.
Nv Duckiing, awakened by the VIC |
lent Gathering over his head, came run |
ming up the companion way with be- |
wildercd, sleepy look in his face. The |
captain erasped INN by the arm, and,
pointing to me, cried out, with an oath, |
THAT villain was breeding 4 mutiny on
board. and, he believed, wanted to
murder him and Duckling"
| at once answered: Nothing of |
the kind! There is 4 man miserably |
pcrishing on board that sinking wreck,
Mr.. Duckling. and he ought to be
saved. My ladsr | cried, address
ing the men on the main-deck, lis
there Il sailor among YOU ell who
would have the heart to leave that
man yOnder without an effort to rescue |
him?"
''No. SIR shouted one of them.
"Wc'll save the man; and if the skipper
refuses. wen make him.
''Luffr' l called to the man at the
wheel.
''Lufr at your perilr' screamed the
skipper.
Aft here, some hands" 1 cried,
land lay the main-yard aback. Let go
the port main-braces"
The captain came running toward
me.
Captain Coxon," cried in fury,
EraSping the heavy brass Delaying pin,
If you come within foot OF me I'll
dash your brains outr'
My attitude, my enraged face and
gesture produced the de-
sired effect. He stopped dead. turned
a CHASTITY white. and looked round at
Duckling.
What do you mean by this (etc)
conduct You (etc.) mutinouS scou-
drel?' roared Duckling. with yolley
of foul language.
"Givc him one for himself. if he
says too much, Mr.. Roylc!" sung out
some hoarSe voice on the main deck;
''we'n back yer!' And then came
cries of They're 4 cursed pair o muir d.
derers!' WHO run the smack =,
DOWN.? Who lets men drown?" +,
"WhO starvcs honest men?" This last ;
exclamation wasfollowed by a roar.
The whole of the crew were now on
deck, having been aroused by our
voices Some OF them Were looking on :
with grin, others with an expression
of fierce curiosity. 1t was at once I'M
derStood that | was making a stand
against the captain and chief mate.
and single glance at them assured me
that by GAe word could set the whole {
of them on fire to do my bidding even I
to shedding blood. S
In the meantime the man at the I
wheel had luffed until the ship was Z
moving. l kept my eyes on I
the captain and mate fully prepared
for any movement they might make !
against me. They evidently saw that |
the men were all in sympathy with {