Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-14

ing sOulld under the Dertn. Inere would not
seem 70 be anything alarming about this, for
most sh ps are full Of rats, but the fact was,
that the gold tank was built into the ship
Just un Ter the captains berth, the only en-
trance Icing by trap door. II this scrap
ing came from the tank it could not be rats,
for no rat who had any respect for his teeth
would lie likely to experiment on the zinc
lining. A few nights afterward l heard the
noise ag rn, and felt sure it was some sharp
instrument working on q metallic surface.
l awal, ned David, but be could not hear
anything, and said that It must be my i'm
aginatiol
''Soon after this, noticed that curious
change ad come over Arnie, our cabin boy.
His whole name was Arnold McIntyre. He
was really very young for the place, but
had been pleased with his appearance and In
duced M husband to take him. This was the
boys fr't trip. His father had been a pros
porous sc uatter In Australia, Scotchman by
birth, AMI a fine man.
"One night the father was awakened by
the barking Of the dogs, and on going to the
door found a gang Of bush rangers surround
ing the house. They evidently knew that he
had beer selling cattle that day and had
brought homo a large sum Of money. 1t il
not likely that they intended to harm him,
for it wis only the money that they were
after, bur he showed fight and knocked two
Of them down.
well, the end of 1t was that the poor
Scotchmsn got a bullet through his head,
and the lush rangers rode away with every
thing valuable. Mrs Mcintyre was never
the same again. She lost her wits, let the
baby fall On its head lin consequence of which
IL died moi long afterward), and she took no
notice OF Arnie. he was a bright clever lad,
and IL seemed pity that he should 60 TO de-
struction, we took care of him he was
very fond of US, and I took great pleasure In
teaching i'm, for he was very grateful and
a quick scholar.
IAN at once, as | said, q great change
seemed TO have come over him He came
into the cabin one morning as white as
piece OF canvas, and / noticed that his arm
shook so That he had to carry the captains
coffee cup with both hands He declared he
was well, End seemed to be startled when we
spoke sud- snly to him; but during breakfast
often not Iced that he was gazing at us with
an indescrihable expression. / have seen
something like it in the face Of dumb ami
NAL when 1t Is trying In vain to make itself
understood by a human being.
~ was 81 ting on deck with my work, one
pleasant m )rning soon after, when, happen
ing to need book which was below, l sent
Arnie down TO get it. When be handed it to
me there W IS a folded slip Of paper between
the leaves; a single word was scrawled upon
1.-THE wori 'Mutiny.'
THAT day when we had finished our din
ner, the car tain rose in his place and made q
short speech He said something like this:
Ladies and gentlemen, l wish TO have a
"a. fcrb- ia 4
TO cause ala I'm, and hope there is no occasion
for any, but l think it best that there should
be fair understanding between us, as to
how matter stand have reason TO believe
that all is not right on board-that thsrs is
mischief brewing among the crew II can
have the SUP port Of the passengers feel sure
that can anage the men. There must be
no panic among you 1t Is absolutely neces-
sary that al be calm, watchful and self con-
trolled- bslieve that you will be. / think
| can trust you and shall expect you TO sus-
tain me. We will look this danger in the
face, and we shall see whsther dozen true
Englishmen ian be cowed by gang OF con-
victsp
The speech had the effect my usband de-
sired. The Iasssngers felt that he trusted TO
their honor and courage, and the gentlemen
all promised to be ready to stand by him In
any emergency. The captain had all hands
piped on deck and we followed The crew
were a hard looking set OF fellows, most of
them, with rough, unshaven, Scared faces,
and they glowered at the captain from under
their heavy eyebrows like wild beasts.
my husba adj was not much OF an orator,
but when a u ans blood Is up be can talk, If
he ever can; and assure you be laid down
the law to those men in words they could un-
derstand.
There is not a man Of YOU he said, who
dares look me in the eye and say that he has
received anything but fair play from me, or
the subordins o ofticsrs, since he shipped on
ths Bonanza. Your past lives have not been
such would lead a man to put confidence
in you. The world has not been the better
for your Twin; in it, but have treated you
as II you had been the most honorable men
In England. You have had a chance TO
show that there was something of true man
hood left in you, yet Now, how have you
returned thisI | will tell you'll You mean
mischief | Understand this as well as you
do. Your plo. Is known to me, and the time
has come for you to give an account Of It.
You will find that l am not a man 70 be
trified with. am master OF this ship, and
intend TO rema so. The Bonanza is freighted
with gold duss, and / shall defend her with
my lifel command you all, as true British
sailors, to brin; forward your arms and lay
them on the ca lstanr
you may MT know that IL is against the
shipping articles for sailors to carry arms
one OF the first questions asked when a man
ships before the mast Is, Have you any
weaponsr
There was lence among the men when
the captain cen ed We could hear the soft
Tapping Of the nails overhead, and the occa-
stonal scraping 1f heel, as some one eased
bis muscles by shifting his weight from one
foot TO the Other. ] was standing by the main
shrouds and remember counting the ratlines
over and over, to help keep my .slf control
IL seemed a brief lifetime 70 me but SUD
pose IL was hardly thirty seconds before four
men came forward and laid down hor~e
pistola Not another man stirred. saw nv
husbands face ridden and his eyes fash an
grily.
4" is no one ell e trusr he shouted
u began 70 tr smble lest he should lose his
self control
ways kept on board for whitening spot.
when ship comes into port. He stopped
down and began TO draw two lines across the
deck In front o. him Suddenly there wal
sharp click. My husband had drawn q
pistol and cock ID It'll An instant after he
rose to his feet and cried In q voice Ike
thunder, You n sy walk up 70 that first line
and lay down your arms but II any man
crosses the second line I'll shoot him deadr
II closed my eyes, but when ! looked
again l could hardly see the top Of the cap
stan for the bowie knives and pistols that
covered fl
The captain called the sailmaker and
whispered a word In his ear He went be-
low and came up with the irons The pas
sengers lent hand, and in a few minutes
we had the ringlt aders provided for.
Then the CAP tain thought of Arnie. He
said, i understand you have got Arnie in
tow. Bring him up He was brought up
pale as death
Now, says the captain, you've got to
tell all you know about this business
The childs lips quivered If do they
will kill me-, he sid
Y on shan't b. touched said the CAPTAIN
Still Arnold wa afraid to speak He wa.
trembling In every limb. He was such @
little fellow his he ad did not reach I'D TO nv
shoulder, Ii was the hardest work to make