San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-03-14

reported IL, alJnOugn invited 10 90 50.
The captains trick that night was from s
to Il. At 9 o'clock 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 form S
sake, he having nothing to do. All of a sud
| den, as the captain paced the quarter, some
one in the fo'castle shouted 'Murderl" There
was scramble and a rush, followed by a
splash, and a choking voice from the water
gasped out:
"Its 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 Delaying 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 or
dering or arguing or waiting for explana-
tons, he leaped down into the cabin and
bolted the heavy doors behind him. | had
heard the row. and was now dressed and SO
it came to pass that the captain, jess and
| myself were together aft, and all made pris-
oners at once Its mutiny, Mr.. Loring!"
shouted the captain as entered the main
cabin Arm yourself, and we'll teach the
rascals a lesson not to be forgotten"
He had scarcely ceased speaking when a
bullet struck him in the right shoulder and a
shot fired at me grazed my head. One of the
mutineers had fired through the open sky
light. The captain staggered to the sofa,
and in a jiffy had the lights out Then l
pulled the heavy sash down and secured it,
and we were safe for the moment. 1t needed
no explanation to satisfy me Of what had
happened. The crew had seized the schooner,
and Needham had been murdered because he
would not join the conspiracy. had a re-
volver, and | started for the deck, but the
captain STOPPED me.
Come back, Mr.. Loring. You have no
show! They would kill you before you got
on deckw
'But we must get the schooner back!"
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 tG';a my revolver and
stand in the companiOnw,sy 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 | washed
away the blood. 1t was thus painful but
not a dangerous wound. | soon had it at
tended to, and the captain thought he would
not be prevented from handling a revolver,
| had Just got him fixed up when some one
raped at the doors and voice exclaimed:
Below, thereI | want a word with you'll"
"What is itr' demanded the captain
1.-The schooner is ours, as you, of course,
know. We don't want your lives You can
have boat and start off as soon as you
please.
But we don't propose to go"
Don't get cantankerous, old man. We've
got the schooner and we know enough to keep
her We don't want you here If you accept
our offer. all right. If you want to fight it
out, then look out for yourselves"
That's what we propose to do" replied
the captain, and then all was quiet.
crept to the head of the companion stairs
and heard the mutineers cOnversing in low
tones, and while sought to catch what they
said a man ran aft to the wheel and the
others began to make sail The calm was
broken | knew the course they would make
without seeking a sight of the cabin com
pass. They would head to the west proba-
bly, for King Island, and while between the
south coast of Australia and the north coast
of Van DicmGn's Land, stretch of over 200
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
dancing away as lively as if all had been at
peace.
They won't try to get at lis for time
and perhaps not until morning." said the
captain, land we must make ready"
We first made a barricade at the door of
the main cabin, using the sofa, table and
chairs Then we got out and loaded five
muskets, placed three cutlasses handy, and
in addition, each had revolver. We worked
in the dark but we knew where everything
was to be found You might have looked
for 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 dis
turbed Then sail was shortened, the craft
laid to, and, as soon as the men had had
bite to eat, the leader summoned us with:
Below therer'
"Wen," answered the captain.
eve will give you another chance to leave.
You can have a boat, oars, sail, water and
grub and no one shall hinder your going"
Suppose we refuse to gop'
Then your blood be upon your own head
Rather than surrender the schooner we'll
burn her and you with herI I'll give you half
an hour to think it over"