The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-10

ava
about the safety of the ship. The plan
was, as I overheard it, to take to the
boats, and it suddenly occurred to me
that they would refuse to take me with
them. I suppose l got this idea from
the men telling me that was no good,
and that ought to be flung overheard,
and other expressions intended to upset
me. You CAN Judge how green l was
by what followed. I was in McCoy's
watch, and on the night of the fourth
day, as he seemed to soften up bit
when giving me an order, made bold
to say:
Mr.. Mccoy, when you get ready to
have the ship 60 down, you won't leave
me to drown, will you2'
"W-what?" he gasped, as he stag
gered back like one shot. .
In ten minutes he had it all out of me,
and he stood before me pale-faced and
trembling. When he had made sure
that had not said anything to any of
the crew, he took me aft aud locked me
up in stateroom designed for the super
cargo. Next morning | was taken to
the cabin and questioned by the Cap
tain and mate and returned to my prison.
They were not harsh with ine, but on
the contrary, promised that should go
in the Captains own boat, and that l
need not work any more. was made
cabin boy, and was warned. that If l
dropped one single word to any person
l should be flung to the sharks ut once.
They could trust me. Simple Simon
that was, 1 cared only to save myself
when the hour came. could not real.
ize that the scuttling of ship was any
thing more than sharp trick. For all
I knew, it was practised every day IN
the year.
One day when we had been out about
two weeks, as near as l can remember, l
was sent to help the second mate look
for something wanted from the iazarette.
His name was Elderson, and he was the
only one aboard who had friendly look.
He had spoken to me kindly two or
three times and felt that he was a
friend. We were scarcely alone when
he took from his pocket box of sulphur
matche:, fshline and several hooks,
and large pocket knife. He handed
them to me and said:
"Ben, take these and stow them away
in your pocket. and on your life say
nothing 20 any one! Be sure to keep
them about you"
He turned from me as if he did not
want to be que> toned, and I pocketed
the articles without word. was in q
state of wonder, hewever, and nothing
was made plain until the next day. At
| 10 o'clock in the forenoon the ship was
hove to about mile from small island,
boat ordered lowered, and then all
hands were called aft. When they had
assem- lied the Chaplain said:
"Men, discovered two days ago that
this boy was leper. He has got 1t bad,
and is to be pitied. My duty in the
case is plain. He must be marooned. !"
"Aye, aye, sir" chorused the crew.
81 shall fit him out and set him ashore
here" he continued, "and you are my
witnesses that it is step necessary for
the safety of ALL"
There was a ready assent, and before I
fully understood what was going on |
| was in the boat with Mccoy and being
pulled toward the island by two sailors.
Even when I knew that was to be left
did not raise an objection. | supposed
the island to be inhabited, perhaps there
was city there, and was not sorry for
the change. We ran in so close that |
could wade ashore, and the mate handed
me several bundles which the men sup
posed contained food, clothing and con-
v;ences. As soon as had everythl" 6
out of the boat the three gave ME curt
good by, and sat down on the sand and
watched them return. The boat was
hoisted up, the Albatross made sail, and
I was marooned upon an uninhabited
! island This fact was not fully reali, ed
until toward night. and was so simple
that it was several hours before had
figured it out why I had been set ashore.
I was in possession of the plot to scuttle
the ship. and I must be got rid Of. The
captain had called me leper to :'uStify
his action with the crew, and it was
planned that I should not live long
ashore. When I came to undo the bun
dies I found them to be c.mposed of
empty bottles, oakum and bits of can
vass. There was not particle nf food
not an article of clothing nothing
but rubbish. 1t was then I realized the
kindne of the second mate. He must
have overheard them plotting to maroon
me, and he went as far as it was safe for
him to go.
When, at about noon, rose up and
understood M position, felt that the
first thing to do was to explore my island.
am writing Of the year 1852 At that
time many of the islands in the Car:b-
bean Sea had not been charted or
named. was, as / aftcrward ascer-
tanned, on q key or isle to the north of
Trinidad, and up to twelve years ago it
was down on the charts rs "Little Coco"
1t was about three miles long by one
and half wide, AID fairly wooded.
There were various birds, troops of
monkeys, and numerous snakes, but no
wild animals to put one in fear. I had
been landed in the little bay on the wes-
tern side of the island. Ifound spring
of water quarter of mile inland, with
plenty of wild fruit all around me, and
on the first night of my stay l slept on
the open beach. twas three days be-
fore fully realized my osition and saw
that must depend entirely upon myself.
When I walked clear around the island
and across it, and l decided that my best
location was near where I had
come ashore. Had l gone to the east end
of the island and raised signal Ishould
have been taken off in a week. as there
was channel between that and the next
island north murh used, but this had
no means of knowiur When I found