The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-17

| would form very alarming conclusion
IS to the character of the persons VIII
had rescued them. and scarcely know
indeed. whether we were not all cut
threats.
Shortly after this, Duckling cam
! out on to the main-deck, and. observ
F., ing me looking through the window
bawled at the top of his voice for tn
carpenter, who presently came, an,
Duckling. pointing 70 my window
gave him some instruction, which b.
went away to execute. A young, or
binary seaman-an Irish lad nance
Driscoll-was coiling 3 rope over on,
of the belaying-pins around the main
mast Duckling pointed up aloft, ami
his voice sounded, though I did no
hear the order. The lad aited to col
the rest of the rope-a fathom or So
before obeying; whereupon Ducklins
hit him blow on the back, slewet
him round. caught him by the throa
and backed him savagely against ths
starboard bulwarks, roaring, in Ian
guage quite audible to me nov: "Ur
with you. you skulker! Up with YOU
l say, or I'll pound you to piecesw
At this moment the carpenter ap
preached my window. provided with 8
hammer and a couple of planks. which
he proceeded to nail upon the frame.
work. Duckling watched him with a
grin upon his ugly face, the lump over
bis eye not improving the expression,
as you may believe. l was now in
comparative darkness; for the port.
hole admitted but little light. and, un-
like the rest of the cuddy berths, my
cabin had no bull's-eye.
l reached the door with a great deal
of trouble, for the iron bar hampered
my movements excessively. and found
it locked outside: but by whom and
when l did not know. for l had not
heard the key turned. But l might
depend that Duckling had done this
with cat-llke stealthiness, and that he
probably had the KEY in bis pocket.
was hungry enough to have felt
grateful for biscuit, and had half a
mind to sing out to the steward to
bring me something to eat. but reflect
ed that my doing SO might only pro-
woke an insulting answer from the fell
low. With some difficulty pulled the
mattress out of the cot and put it into
the bunk. as my pinioned legs would
not enable HE to climb or spring. and
lay down and presently fell asleep.
l slept away the greater part of the
afternoon: and when awoke a strong
wind was blowing and the ship lying
heavily over to it
l looked over the edge of the bunk,
and saw near the door a tin dish. con-
tanning some common ships biscuit and
a can of cold water. l was so hungry
that | jumped up eagerly to get the bis
cult, by doing which l so tweaked nv
ankles with the irons that the blood
shift to reach the biscuit, which proved
to be the ships bread as served to the
men. and ate greedily, being indeed
but speedily discovered the
substantial grounds of complaint the
sailors had against the ships stores;
for the biscuit was intolerably moldy
and rotten, and so full of weevils that
but hunger could have induced
ME to swallow the abomination. l
to devour couple of these
things. and drank some water: and
then pulled out my pipe and began to
smoke.
Time passed YEARLY. On further
reflection l did not believe any court
would deal severely with me for had
the evidence of the crew that had
lone nothing worse than to insist upon
the rescue of human beings from 4
But my position was decidedly
none the less. As the even
ING advanced the wind freshened and
all hanis were employed taking in
sail.
Two bells (nine o'clock) had struck
when l was attracted by the sound of
upon the headlight of nv
cabin. With great difficulty hoisted
my feet OUT of the bunk and drew N.Y.
self to the portfolio. UNFINISHED the
screw that kept the headlight closed
and it blew open.
Fearful of my voice being heard in
he cuddy-.or this was the hour when
he spirits were put upon the table.
md it was quite likely that Coxon or
Duckling might be seated within. drink
NC alone-l mutti, my voice between
nv hands and asked who was there.
The fellow damned his face so eff
ectually into the pOrt-hole as to eX-
dude the wind. so that the whisper in
which he spoke was quite distinct.
''Me-Stevens, the carpenter. I've
,ome from the crew. But you're to
axe Your solemn oath you'll not split
lpon US if tell you what's goin' to
Il am not in position to split" l
'eplied. But can make no prom
>es until l know your intentions.
The man was long time silent.
Several times he Withdrew his face. as
knew (for l could net see himl by
he rush of wind that came in, to shake
himself free of the spray that broke |
'ver him.
its just this" he said, bunging up
he portfolio again. Wed rather |
axe twelve-month Imprisonment
shore, in the worst Jail in England. |
han work this vessel on the rotten
God we're obliged to eat What we
rant TO know is, will you take charge !
J the ship and carry her where we /
ellis yer, if we give you commando"
was too much startled by this cues
ion to reply at once Influenced by /
be long term of confinement be-
ore me if Captain CoNon remained in
ontrol, by my bitter dislike of him
nd his bully factotum. by the longing
o be free, and the hundred excuses l !,
ould frame for cooperating with the
rev. my first impulse was to say yes.
tut there came quickly considerations
I the danger of mutiny on board ship,
t the sure excuses OF men made reck-
ess BY liberty and freed from the dis
ipline which. though their passions
hight protest against it, their still
tronger instincts admitted and obeyed.
Give US Your anSMer'i said the