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

clUuS1 uI tie ldEAi piOOu III lAAC14 W
take off the harshest of the pure Malay
character. The Tagals are the Luzon In
dams. Of the thirteen three, besides Pa
lana, could speak English. They were
called, respectively, Tolo, Seelah and
Wala-Wala They all wanted to 90 to
Americana" They had heard grand
things of that country, and wanted to see
il.
looked the men over. and led them
about the deck to see how much they
knew of her ship and rigging. / found
them far more proficient than had an
ticipated.
"Good sailor very good all r' de-
clared Palana, emphatically.
called Bracket and Dan Sampson,
the latter my second mate, and the result
was we engaged them and on the very
next day they joined the ship, bag and
baggage. Very soon We were glad We
had secured them. At the work of lad
ing they took hold with viii, not only
working faithfully, but intelligently. And
further, when we came to setting up the
standing rigging, they proved themselves
used to the work. In short, we-my
mates and myself-felt that We had been
particularly blessed in securing the Ma
lay seamen.
We Ieft Manila on Iciear morning in
| for a run to Batavia, on the Island of
Java-distance, as we sail, of about eigh.
teen hundred miles. The Malays work
ed splendidly they were really good
sailors. A few Of them were awkward
at first on the fore-ropes of the yards, but
/ they could hand and reef sail with the
best. Three days passed, and l could
not have asked for better men but on
the fourth came change, and it came
curiously enough.
One of my Oldest and best men was
Scotchman named Sandy McDougald. He
was over three-seore, and as active and
enduring as any man had think he
i was the most skillful helmsman | ever
knew. In his long years of yayaging TO
all quarters of the globe, he had contriv-
ed to pick up knowledge of almost eve
ry language he had ever heard and be
sure, if he came in contact with foreign
er whose language he understood, he
would never let on that he knw it. He
had fondness for being master of the
situation.
The Malays Of our crew spoke lingo
of mixed Spanish and Malay, closely re-
sembling that of the Tagals Of Luzon /;
and Sandy understood it, and could speak
it but never hint Of the fact had he
let fall before Palana or his eompsn-
ions.
On the morning of the fourth day out
Sandy McDpugald bolted into my cabin
without so much as q tap on the door.
His eyes were wild, and l really thought
his stiff gray hair was starting up all
over his head. He swept the place at
glance, saw that we were alone, and then
came up to my side.
"Cap'n! D'you know what you've got
aboard this ship"
What is it, Sandy Don't keep me
in suspense. Here, take a drop of this
brandy"
l saw that he was much shaken; 50
took from locker over my table bottle
of brandy and glass.
He drank; and then / motioned him
to seat beside me, And then he told
me
Palana, and six Others Of the Malays
we're in his watch. During the night last
past-they had had the mid-watch-he
had seen Palana, about an hour after the
watch had been set, 90 TO the forecastle
eompanionway and rap gently-a pecul-
lar rap-on the trunk and shortly after
four Of the Malays of the other watch
came up, and they all sat down under the
lee of the long boat. Sandy had remem-
bered a place, close abaft the forward
chock, where he could easily crawl under
the keel ofthe boat, and, as he suspected
mischief, he resolved to know what these
fellows had to talk about. And he dad
hear
Cap'nl They're regular piratical
crew. 1t is their business. And they've
shipped aboard the old Whitney for
the sole purpose Of cutting your throat,
and the tiroats Of all your old crew. and
taking the ship and heard the chief
that's Palana-say where they'd take
her. He means to run her into little
river, where ne has lair, near Tringano,
on the Malay coast. Tomorrow nights
the time set He.has the first watch; and
the blow is to be struck at midnight,
when the watch is relieved"
OF the entire truth Of Sandy's story,
and of his opinion, l had not a particle
Of doubt Many things which had thus
far appeared strange were now made
clear. Things which had puzzled me
puzzled me no more. Bu: that was not
all on that morning, after the men had
one up to breakfast, Sandy had run his
hands over Palana's clothes bag, and had
plainly felt brace Of large pistols, and
two long knives. And two other bag:
which he had yentured to handle he
had found to be supplied in like man
ner.
After a little further conversation
babe Sandy to keep close watch, and
we would confer again before the coming
night had closed in. When went on
deck found Palana on the quarterback
but he left it when he saw me. An houl
later saw him standing where he could
look down into the cabin and as hs
turned to move away, detected that pc
culiar look and nod which man give
who sees something that he is full sure
will one day be his own,
Suffice it to say, during the day | sas
enough to assure me that Sandy was righ
, il every particular. The Malays seemed
to be treading on air. They were hope
/ full and happy aye, they were iubilant
Their black eyes sparkled, and theil
strong cordy hands worked very expect
antlv.
During the second dog-watch, shortl,
, before sundown-Sandy beckoned to m'
from the wheel
"Cap'n r. he whispered, as | came NJ