The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-09-10

he could not understand
1 was now positive that the piracy
the murder-wss contemplated that 1t
was as sure TO come, if not preyanted, as
was the coming of the midnight hour,
and my plans we're arranged The course
had resolved TO adopt was not original
with me. Captain John Baker, Of the
barque Florantine," had once resorted
TO the same thing in case of mutiny.
As soon as my plans were matured 1
took my officers into my confidence, but
net until after the first watch had been
set, and the time for work was drawing
near.
At eight O'Clock Palana came up from
the forecastle 10 go on duty. He was to
stand the first watch. He had put on
loose-ftting Guernsey frock, and l plain
ly saw the impression of two pistols be-
meath. And the other Malays had done
the same.
The starboard watch was on-my own
and stood it, with Mr.. Sampson, as |
had often done before. At nine o'clock l
set myself TO watch my opportunity. /
knew the Brackett was ready inthe cab
in TO ccele up on the instant he heard
the word. Sandy, also, was on the q'ii
cise.
All Upon the stroke of ten O'Clock |
saw my chance And here was the situa-
ton The wind WAS west-nor' west, which
gave US the wind on the beam, with the
starboard tacks aboard, and the breeze
was fairly fresh. We were carrying full
topsails and topgallant sails, the royals
furled
The Malay chief, Palana, had been con-
versing in the lee gangway with two of
his mates. At precisely ten O'Clock he
EFT them, and came aft as far as the main
topgalIant backstay, just abaft which he
stopped and looked over the rail. He
leaned both his elbows on the rail, and
appeared to be looking over into the wa
ter-thinking-and not one of his COM
rades near him.
Now or never !" I said to myself, as
l crept swiftly but noiselessly towards
him. l had taken the precaution of put
ting pair of cloth slippers on my feet.
came up behind him, grasped him
around the thighs, and, with very
quick, -trong lift, hoissed him overheard
T. 49,. Ill Jora IN a r,Nnauf Hs1 sent
forth sharp, wild cry as he went, while
l, starting back towards the wheel, cried
at the top of my voice
Man overheard Man overheard
Men to the braces Lay the main topsail
ahack, Quick Lively, my men p Then
Sandy took mp the cry, and announced
that PaIana, the Malay, was the lost
man.
By the time the ship had been hove to,
and whiis the steamboat was being low
cred, the whole Of the Malay crew had
gathered on the quarterback, and were
wildly shouting ,jabbering and gesticulat-
ing. Sandy said they were eager to save
the chief: and l very quickly saw that
they were eager to go in the boat. While
the boat was being brought to the gang
way, Brackett shouted that he could hear
the poor fellows cries for help The Ma
laws heard him, and were frantic in their
eagerness to be of.
let them 90 over into the boat-every
one of them-and they went without a
thought of anything, save their suffer-
ing chief. was to lose my boat. but lit
/ tie cared for that. Better lose thous-
and boats than one human life given into
my care. Ave, and better lose the boat
than lose the ship and all that was in
| her.
The Malays went into the boat, and
put Off; and when they had got well as
tern gave the order for filling away,
and very shortly thereafter the ship was
on her course again.
Whether the Malays in our stern boat
ever found their chief or not, never
knew. For themselves the weather was
fine, and they probably reached shore
in safety. Ifthey suffered from hunger
and thirst, could not help it.
We reached Batavia without difficulty,
doing double duty with grateful hearts
And there We vere particularly blessed.
We found fifteen men, the crew of q
Nova Scotian bark, hailing from Halifax,
that had been wrecked during q severe
storm in the Straits of Sunda- They were
eager to get home, and glad to ship with
me and / need not say how glad l was
to welcome them on board the " Clark
Whitney" They were good men, every
one; and that we reached home safely
may be known from the fact that am
here to tell the story.