The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-02-17

What thought /, II these men are
bent on real mutiny2 What if they mean
to shoot the officers with these pistolsi
Some one said that the captain had
brought money with him to trade with
in China. Suppose the men propose to
secure that money, and sink or set fire
to the ship, after numbering the officers,
and perhaps me2 They could easily es-
cape to the shore in the long boat
81 looked toward the deck, and
through the door of the forward cabin
l could see dark figures moving stealth
lily and easily about What could do9
A thought struck me. One by one I re-
moved the cartridges from the revolving
cylinders, and thus render the pistols
harmless. Then placed the cartridges
in my pocket and stole through the for
ward cabin and out on to the deck.
was instantly seized by rough hands,
and the pistols were taken from me.
Then l found myself fat on my back,
with a mans hand over my mouth.
looked up and saw pointed at my breast
sheath knife, which was in the grasp
of wicked-looking sailor. 1 saw that
had fallen into a trap, and gave my
self up for lost. / closed my eyes, ex-
pecting to feel the steel enter my breast.
Then | heard a smothered curse from
Pete.
"'These pistols haven't so much as a
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 thought that saw glimmer of
hope.
"'There was a box of cartridges in the
cabin drawer said l but how did
know the pistols wasn't loaded2 1 didn't
have time to stop and look
zone of the sailors proposed that
should be sent back after the cartridges,
but said 1 was afraid they would kill
me the moment 1 got back. Pete swore
that no one would touch me if brought
back the cartridges, And said he,
well give you your full share of the
captains money 1 said that 1 would
go back. The sailors pushed me toward
the cabin door. l glanced over my
shoulder and caught sight of the green
light of another vessel some distance off.
That gave me an idea. After Pete had
showed me into the cabin door l made
a bound for the after cabin and cried out
at the top of my voice:
"'Ship ahoyl Captain! A sail on the
starboard bow close to us She'll run us
down. Have out, everybody
81 looked over my shoulder. Dark
faces were glaring 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 mutineers seemed to be taken
by surprise. A panic seized upon them,
and they retreated forward. The captain,
mate, carpenter, and steward came out
of their staterooms and hurried on deck, |
and saw vessel cross our bows, but at
a good distance ahead. Then the cap
tain 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. | hurriedly told the |
captain what had happened He
rushed into the after cabin, and, |
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 revolver, and told |
us to follow him. He went out on deck, |
and we stood by him, ready to defend |
ourselves if we should be attacked. The |
captain summoned the second mate and
told him TO call all hands aft The |
mutineers came aft with ugly looks in
their faces. The captain told them that
if he had the time to spare he would put
into Rio Janeiro and have them punished
for mutiny. But he wanted to continue
the voyage, and he proposed to
make them behave themselves.
They could have made nothing by
him, he told them, for the
money which he was going to trade
with in China was all in bills of ex.
change, which they could not have had
cashed Then, raising his pistol, the
captain ordered the men to lay theiI
sheath knives and the empty pistols
they had taken from me on the cspstan
They quietly obeyed him. The captain
then reprimanded the second mate for
having been in the habit of making
entries in his log book before his watch
went below. After he had done with
him the captain pointed at me and
iaid
II appoint this young man third
nate. He shall live in the cabin and be
aught navigation. The first man who
ouches him shall be shot. Now, men,
90 about your business.
"The sailors obeyed him, and they
the voyage without attempt
ng another mutiny. | was taught navi-
,ation, and slowly rose to be captain of
his ship, all of which never would have
if had not stopped to think
It the critical moment when | was about
0 leave the after cabin with the stolen
Distols in my hand. n-Neto York Times.
The SDider Cure.