The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16
The Story of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account Of
q Mutiny at Sea.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.
CHAPTER VIII.


but when she filled, she brought the
wreck right abreast of the portfolio in
my cabin. / stood watching for some
minutes with peculiar emotions.
The ship now lying over shut the
wreck from view, and 1 shifted my
clothes as speedily as 1 could, being
anxious to hear what Captain Coxon
should say to me.
remember thinking that the girl l
had rescued was in an awkward posi-
ton, being the only female on the ship
and with no clothing except that she
stood in, which was wringing wet.
Even if she were able to get along for
a time she would certainly want 4
change of apparel before we reached
Valparaiso.
Thus thinking, was pulling on a
boot when there came an awkward
knock at the door, and in stepped the
carpenter, Stevens. closely followed by
Duckling. Stevens held a bar of iron
in his hand with a collar at either end,
and one collar fastened with a pad
lock.
mediatcly said:
Captain Coxon's orders are to put
you in irons. Carpenter, clap those
belayers on his shins!'
/ jumped off the chest on which l
was seated, not with the intention of
resisting, but of demonstrating; but
Duckling, installing the action, drew
pistol out of his side-pOcket, and,
presenting it at my head, SAID, right
through his nose, which was the first
time had heard HIM so speak: If
you don't let the carpenter do his work
I'll shoot you dead-so mIndr
You're a ruflian and a bully" said
/; but I'll keep my life if only to pun
ish you and Your master!'
Saying which, | reseated myself
folded my arms resolutely and suffered
the carpenter to lock the irons on nv
ankles, keeping my eyes fixed on Duck
ling with an expression of the utmost
scorn and dislike in them.
Now" said he, you Internal mu-
tinous hound! Ireckon you'll not give
us much trouble for the rest of the
voyage"
This injurious language was more
than my temper could brook. Scarcely
knowing what / did, | threw myself
against him, caught his throat and
dashed him violently down upon the
deck. The pistol exploded in his hand
as he fell.
Carpenter" cried, furiously,
"'open that door,"
The fellow obeyed me instantly, and
walked out of the cabin. Duckling lay
pretty we'll stunned upon the deck;
but in a few moments he would have
been up and at me, and, hampcred as
was by the irons, he must have mas
tered me easily. shambled over to
where he lay, dragged him upright
and pitched him with crash through
the open door against the cuddy table.
He struck it heavily and rolled under
it, and | then slammed the door and
sat down, feeling faint and quite ex-
hausted of breath.
The door had not been closed two
minutes when it was partially opened,
and friendly hand (the boatswain'S,
as | afterward learned) placed a pam
nikin of m-and-water on the deck,
and voice said: They'll not Act you
be here long, sir The door was then
shut again; and, very thankful for
refreshment of which l stood seriously
in need, got hold of the pannikin and
swallowed the contents.
l tried to reflect upon my position
but could not imagine what might be
the intentions of the captain towards
me or what would be the result of my
combat with Duckhng. Thinking the
ruflian might visit me again to get re-
venge, and knowing L would he al
most at his mercy, hampered rs l was,
! laid hold of sea boot with an iron
shod heel and held it ready TO strike at
the bully'S head should he enter. How
ever after little | saw him pass my
cabin with 4 blue lump over his right
eye, while the rest of his face shone
with soap which he must have used
without stint TO get rid of theblood which
had smeared it. | noticed a number
of the crew just under the forcaStle con-
versing in 4 very earnest manner, and
sometimes looking toward my cabin.
| saw that CoNon and the first mate
had me at 4 disadvantage. | knew
that the crew sympathized with me
but the idea of a mutiny among them
gave me no pleasure for | knew the |
captain supported by Duckiing would !
swear | was the ring leader, and the !
fact that / had called to the |
men to help me put off the wreck !
would tell against me III any court of !
inquiry. So l stood good chance of |!
being ruined professionally and even |
undergoing term of Imprisonment |
was also growing hungry, for it was
after nv usual dinner hour and | had |
done enough extra work to give me an |
appetite. The captain was eating his |
dinner for not only smelled the cook |
ing but heard him talking with the /
steward who was the only man in the |
ship who showed any liking for him. |
] tried to hear if the old man or the .
girl were with him, but caughtno other |
voice. l feared they would fare poorly |
at his hands for he was certainly a
cOld-blooded scoundrel.
BY and by l heard DuekEng's voice.
showing that the captain had gone on
deck. This man. either wanting the |
tact of his superior or hating me more
bitterly (Which admit was fair, see
ing how had punished him), said in
4 loud voice TO the steward:
''What fodder is that mutinous dog
yOnder 10 have?"
The steward spoke low and 1 did
not hear HIM.
Serve the skunk right" continued
the chief mate. by glory! if there
was caly pair of handouts on board
they should be on him. How's this
lump?
The steward replied and Mr.. Duck
ling continued:
Il guess the fellow at the wheel
grinned when he saw it. But FL be