Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-02-22

mate aud cook, and the girl Jesse
brought the number on board up
to ten.
It's run of over FIVE hundred
miles almost due south from sgd
ney to Hobartstown, but until
passing Cape Howe we had the
coast in view, and knew where
shelter could be had in case oi a
storm. Our crew went cheerfully
to work, the weather favored u.s.
and for three days everything went
as smoothly as you please. l had
two of the old men and one of the
new in my watch, and on the fourth
night, as We just held steerage-way
during my watch, the man at the
wheel, whose name was Needham,
and who had been with us several
voyages, fused around for a time,
and finally said
HMr. Loring, I'd like to speak
with you about a matter"
"Very we'll ; what Is 1t y
UI don't like them new men,"
"For what reason n
"They've got their heads together
too often, sir, and they've talked to
Bill and Tom, my old mates, until
they've quite upset them"
"About what 2"
"Well, sir, about pirates and
islands and treasure and such
stoh. 1 didn't take to 'em and
they didn't take to me, and so
they don't trust me, but l can't
help but think there's something
wrong in the wind"
wasn't startled-not even wor-
ried. Sailors are always talking
such nonsense among themselves,
and aboard of every craft there is
always a tale. e.bearer who wants to
curry favors. Needham was dis
tant and peculiar, as had heard
the men say, aud that was why the
trio had not taken TO him. l
thought the matter over for some
time, and then thanked the man
for his information and asked him
to keep his eyes open. We had a
light breeze all night, and the next
day was very mild. We got a stiff
breeze from noon to midnight, and
on the morning of the sixth day
were below the cape. Thea the
wind died out fat and dead, and
all day long we hadn't sufficient
to ruffle a feather, l had been
watching the new men closely since
Needham stated bis suspicious,
but not a thing could discover to
confirm his statements. They were
cheerful, prompt, and respectful,
aud quite dismissed any thought
of conspiracy. If Needham had
heard or seen anything further be
had not reported it, although ln-
vited to do so.
The captains trick that night
was from 8 to IL. At 9 O'Clock l
was asleep in my berth, the cap
tain 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, be having moth
ing to do. All of sudden, as the
captain paced the quarter, some
one of the fo'castle shouted "Mur-
der !" There was a scramble and
a rush, followed by splash, and a
voice from the water gasped out ::
ats mutiny, captain, look out y
1t was the voice of Needham who
had been stabbed and flung over
board.
Next moment the captain saw
every other man before the mast
advancing aft armed with capstain
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 ordering, or arguing,
or waiting for explanations, 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 the captain, Jess and my
self were together aft, and all made
prisoners at once ats mutiny,
Mr.. Loring p shouted the captain
as | entered the main cabin. "Arm
yourself and we'll teach the rascals
lesson not to be forgotten , " lie
had scarcely ceased speaking when
a bullet struck him IN the right
shoulder, and a shot fred at me
grazed my head. One OF the mutt
neers had fired through the Oper
skylight. The captain staggered
to the sofa, and in jiffy l had the
lights out. Then 1 pulled the
heavy sash down and secured it
and were safe for the moment. L
needed no explanation to satisfy
me of what had happened. The
crew had seized the schooner, ant
Needham had been murdered be
cause he would not join the con
spiracy. l had revolver, and
started for the deck, but the cap
tain stopped me
"Come back, Mr.. Loring. Yo
, hava nO ahow They wonld kil