Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-04-18

anyone, ana the log Will tell Us now lar
we have run. We know that all the
islands are to the northeast. Every one
is down on the chart. Beyond them is
the Atlantic. The island l am after.is
not down on the chart. It is northeast
of Trinidad, and may be 200 miles
away.
Don't Miner know" asked the
other
Never heard of it, but this is his
first trip this way"
lis he agreed7"
Certain. He is to BE- first, you
second"
but all are to live alike"
"Correct. We are just officers in
name. We all eat in the cabin, sleep
where We please, and share and share
alike Nobody is to set hissef up as
better than anybody else"
"That's fair. And the Captain and
mate are to go2"
"'Of course
'FWell, well have it all understood,
and the man who gives it away dies"
'I'Il warrant you that I'll cut his throat
with my own hands"
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 l should pursue.
Whilst it seemed the proper way for me
to 90 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 seen? Had only part of
the men been in the conspiracy l 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 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
of the bowspait, and as came out of the
cabin Mr.. Parker was at the water cask.
AS l reached him whispered:
''I should very much like to speak to
you or the Captain, sir
eff you don't get forward I'll speak
to you in a way you'll remember for
year to come" he growled in reply.
No doubt he imagined that had some
complaint to make; but had he permitted
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 I 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
l heard Mr.. Parker say to the Captain,
as that official was about to leave 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. It was a
fine, starlight night, with a fve-knot
breeze, and there was little work for the
watch to do. [ was at the wheel, for |
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 foremost and sang out, though not
over loud, and in very respectful voice:
''Mr Parker, the brig seems to have
picked up lot of floating wreck stuff
across her bows. Will you please come
forward|
The mate growled out something and
from my view. Five min
utes later Bob and the entire remainder Of
the crew came aft in body, all in their
bare feet / 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 a bit over
this speech, and then [ mistrusted that the
mate had been killed. On the instant l
made up nv mind to warn the Captain.
l found him sound asleep, but half
dressed, and as soon as he was on his feet
| told him what had overheard in the
fo'castle, and what l suspected had just
occurred on deck. 1t was wonderful how
coolIv he took the exciting news:
"Are you sure both watches are on
deck" he asked.
eyes, sir"
"And the men have come aft IN a
body?"