The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-03-22

w q got q SUN DreC.c from noon 10 inLu-
night, and on the morning of the sixth
day were below the cape Then the
wind died out fat and dead, and all day
long we hadn't sufficient to ruffie a
feather. had been watching the new
men closely since Needham stated his
suspicious, but not a thing could dis
cover to confirm his statements They
were cheerful, prompt and respectful,
and / quite dismissed any thought of
conspiracy. II Needham had heard or
seen any thing further he had not re-
ported il, although invited to do SO.
The captains trick that night was
from eight to twelve o'clock. At nine
o'clock L was asleep in my berth, the
captain was lounging and smoking,
and jess was in the cabin after some
article of clothing. There was no
wind yet, while the night was soft
and starlight There was a man at
the wheel, but this was mere FORMS
sake, he having nothing to do. All of
a sudden, as the captain paced the
quarter, some one in the fo'castle
shouted .Murderr' There was a
scramble and a rush, followed by a
splash, and a choking voice from the
water gasped out:
It's mutiny, captain, look out!'
1t was the voice of Needham. who
had been stabbed and flung overheard.
Next moment the captain saw every
other man before the mast advancing
aft armed with capstan bars and belay-
ing pins. The negro cook was with
them, and the old man was not long in
realizing that something worse than
mUtiny was on. Instead of ordering,
or arguing, or waiting for eXplana-
tions, he leaped down into the cabin
and bolted the heavy doors behind
him Ihad heard the row. and WAS
now dressed, and so it came 10 pass
that the captain, jess and myself were
together aft, and all made prisoners
at once. Its mutiny, Mr.. Loringi'
shouted the captain as / entered the
main cabin. Arm yourself and we'll
teach the rascals a lesson not to be for
gotten,' -
He had scarcely ceased speaking
when a bullet struck him in the right
shoulder, and shot fired at me grazed
my head. One of the mutincers had
fired through the open sl1y-light. The
captain staggered TO the sofa, and in a
jifTy l had the lights out Then 1
pulled the heavy sash down and Sc
cured il. and we were safe for the mo-
ment- 1t needed no explanation TO sat
iSfy me Of what had happened. The
crew had seized the schooner and Need
ham had been murdered because he
would not join the conspiracy. l had
a revolver. and started for the deck.
but the captain stopped me.
Come back. Mr.. Lo-ing. You have
no show! They would kill you before
you get on deck!" -
''But We must get the schooner
backr' / said. .
Certainly; but we can't do it BY
throwing our lives away. We are safe
for the present Help me off with my
coat and attend to this wound. Jess,
you take my revolver and stand in the
companionway to guard the doors"
/ got at the wound as soon and as
carefully as | could, and was rejoiced
to find that the bullet had struck the
bone and glanced off. Indeed. it fell
out of the flesh as l washed away the
blood. 1t was thus painful but not
tended to. and the captain thought he
would not be prevented from handling
revolver. l had just got him fixed
up when some one raped at the doors,
and a voice exclaimed:
Below, there! l want q word with
you,' '
What is it?" demanded the captain.
The schooner l. ours, Is YOU, of
course, know. We don't want Your
lives. You can have a boat and start
OF as soon as you please"
but we don propose to gor'
Don't get cantankerous, old man
We've got the schooner. and we know
enough TO keepit We don't want you
here If you accept our offer, all
right If you want to fighti it out. then
look out for yOurselvesr'
6 That's what we propose to do, " re-
piled the captain, and then all was
quiet ----.-.--. s...
l crept to the head of the companion
stairs and heard the mutineers con-
versing in low tones, and while /
sought to catch what they said, a man
ran aft to the wheel and the others be-
gan to make sail The calm was
broken knew the course they would
make without seeking a sight of the
cabin compass They would head to
the west. probably for King Island,
and while between the south coast of
Australia and the north coast of Van
DicInan's Land, a stretch OF over two
hundred miles, there would be no fear
of meeting with any craft larger than
a coaster, owing TO the numerous
shoals and shadows The breeze came
up lively, and the schooner went dane
ing away as lively as if all had been
at peace. --.-
They won't try to get at US for a
time. and perhaps not until morning
said the captain. ''and We must make
ready
We first made a barricade at tho
door OF the main cabin, using the sofa.
table and chairs. Then we cot out
and loaded five muskets, placed three
cutlasses handy, and, in addition, each
had revolver. We worked in the
dark. but We knew where every thing
was to be found You might have
looked Tor the girl to break down. but
there was never a sign of it Indeed.
she expressed a hope that the men
would not give in too soon, and
seemed to desire an attack. When
we had done all we could, we sat down
and waited for the night to pass away.
The schooner reeled of the miles at
a lively pace for the next four hours.
and morning came without our having
been disturbed. Then sail was short
ened, the craft laid to, and, as soon as
the men had had a bite to eat, the
leader summoned us with:
Below, therei'' ~
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