The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-04-23

'But all are 10 i've allkeE'
"Correct. We are Just officers in
name. We all cat in the cabin, sleep
where we please, and share and share
alike. Nobody is to set hisself up as
better than anybody else"
,:That's fair. And the Captain and
mate are to gol"
"Of course"
"Well, we'll have it all understood,
and the man who gives it away dies!"
"Pll warrant'you that I'll cut his throat
with my own handsm
The men presently went about their
business, but | made the pretense of
sleeping soundly until called to relieve
| the other watch. / was all in a tremble
at what | had heard, and was also all at
| sea as to what course | should pursue.
Whilst it seemed the proper way for me
to go to the Captain or mate with my in
formation, the reader must not overlook
the difficulties in the way. Ishould have
no opportunity to speak with Mr.. Parker
during the watch, and how was to get
below to interview him or the Captain
without being seenl Had only part of
the men been in the conspiracy | might
have succeeded very well, but as
it was all eyes would watch me. They
had not taken me into the plan because
| was only boy and of no account, but
if they had any suspicion that 1 had
picked up information they would watch
me closely enough. / planned a dozen
different ways to reach the Captain or
mate, and that did not put the latter on
his guard was his own fault. One night
during our watch he called to me to bring
him something from his stateroom. Bob
and his friends were forward at the heed
of the bowspait, and as ! came out of tile
cabin Mr.. Parker was at the water cas- K.
As reached him l whispered:
81 should very much like to speak to
you or the Captain, sir"
''If you don't get forward I'll speak
to you in a way you'll remember fon,a
year to come!" he growled in reply.
No doubt he imagined that l had SOM
complaint to make; but had he permitte d
me to speak the words it might have
prevented the tragedy which followed.
His rebuff discouraged me from approach
ing him again, or from seeking oppor-
tunity to speak to the Captain, and from
that night on | felt quite positive that
some of the men were always watching
me.
We had favoring winds and fair pas
sage up the Caribbean Sea, and one night
| heard Mr. Parker say to the Captain,
as that official was about toSleave the
deck, that Trinidad would be on our star
board quarter by daylight. We were
not to call there, but round the island
and head to the southeast. This was
soon after II o'clock and shortly after
my watch had come on deck. 1t was a
fine, starlight night, with five-knot
| breeze, and there was little work for the
watch to do. l was at the wheel, for l
could take my trick in fine weather with
any of them. About 1 o'clock Bristol
Bob, who was in his bare feet, came aft
/ to the foremast and sang out, though not
over loud, and in a very respectful voice: {:
''Mr. Parker, the brig seems to have
picked up lot of floating wreck stuff
across her bows. VIII you please come
| forward2'
The mate growled out something and
disappeared from my view. Five min
utes later Bob and the entire remainder of
the crew came aft in body, all in their
bare feet. l couldn't make out yet what
was going on, and Bob took the wheel
from me and said:
"Boy, run down and tell the Captain
that Mr.. Parker has been took very sick
on his watch"
Some of the men chuckled bit over
| this speech, and then mistrusted that the
mate had been killed. On the instant |
made up my mind to warn the Captain.
| found him sound asleep, but half
| dressed, and as soon as he was on his feet
l told him what had overheard in the
fo'castle, and what l suspected had just
occurred on deck. 1t was wonderful how
coolly he took the exciting news:
care you sure both watches are on
decl?" he asked.
''Yes, sir"
"And the men have come aft in a
bodyl"
"Yes, sir"
''Is Mr.. Miner with theml"
81 am sure / saw him."
"And Mr.. Parker is nowhere totbe
SEEM"
''No, sir"
"Then fear you are right. Go and
bolt the doors of the companionway fol-
me while get my pistols.
The men stood at the entrance to the
companion, and as they caught sight OF
me they stepped back a little, supposing
the Captain was following. l slammed
and bolted the swing doors, but not a
second too soon, and l was boiling the
door at the foot of the steps when
heard them crying out that they were
betrayed. The Captain now joined me,
and in addition TO the bolt we pulled a
lot of cabin furniture over against the
door and got brace against it as well.
The men on deck were very quiet for
the next half hour, no doubt holding a
council of war as TO what should be done.
The first thing they did do was to alter
the course of the brig to due east, and
the next thing was to ask for a parley
with the Captain. He sald not a word
until one of them smashed a pane OF
glass in the skylight, and then he de
manded to know what was wanted.
"The case is this, replied Bristol Bob,
in his gruffest voice, ''AIr. Parker has
been given a lift over the rail, and is now