Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-04-19
II. He is to be first, you sec.


ond.
But all are to live alikel"
Correct. We are just officers in
name. We all eat in the cabin, sleep
where we please, and share and share
alike. NoOody is to set hisself up rs
better than anybody else, y
That's fair, And the captain and
mate are 10 go"
"Of course.
"Wcll. we'll have it all understood.
aid the man who gives il away dIcS!'
III warrant You that | cut his
throat with my own hands,
The men presently went about their
business. but ! made the prclenSc of
sleeping Soundly until called To H..
lieve the other watch. was all in "A
trcmbIe at what had heard, and was
also all at sea rs la what course |
should pursue. While il seemed the
proper way for me Ia 90 Ia the captain
or mate with my information, the
reader must not overlook the liilicul-
ties in the way. | l>hould have no op-
portunity Ia speak with Mr.. Parkei
during the watch, and how was To
get below Ia interview him or the cap
tain without being seen. Had only a
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 had picked up information they
would watch me closely enough. |
planned "A dozen different ways Ia 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 Ia me to bring him something
from his stateroom. Boband his friends
were forward AT the heel of the bow
spirit. and as came out of the cabin
Mr.. Parker was al the water cask. As
/ reached him | whispered;
Il should very much like to speak
to YOU or the captli, sir"
IF you don't 90 award I'll speak
10 you in Il way you! Irmclnber fora
year to come" ice 90 Alrd. III reply.
No doubt hr imagined "i | had
some complaint 10 make; b >ad he
permitted me To speak the w,.ds II
might have prevented the tragedy
which followed. His rebuff discoui
aged me from approaching him again,
or from seeking opportunity TO speak
10 the captain, and from that time OH
felt quite positive that some of the
men We're always watching me.
We had favoring winds and fair
passage up the Caribbean, and one
night heard Mr. Parker say TO the
captain. as that official was about To
leave the deck. that Trinidad would be
ON our starboarIl quarter by daylight.
We were not to call there. but round
the island and head to the southeast
This was soon after ~ o'clock. and
shortly after my watch had come on
deck. Ii was fine, starlight night,
with five knot breeze and there was
little work for the watch Ia do | was
al the wheel for could take my trick
in fine weather with any of them.
About O'Clock Bristol Bob, who was
in his bare feet. came aft to the fore
mast and sang out, though not over
loud, and in very respectful voice;
Mr.. Parker. the brig seems 10
have picked up "a lot of floating wreck
stuff across her bows. Will you please
come forward"
The mate growled out something and
disappeared from my view. Five min.
utes later Bob and the entire remain.
der 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 bit over
this speech. and then | mistrusted that
the mate had been killed On the in
stant | made up my mind 10 warn the
captain | fouud him sound asleep,
but half dressed. and as soon as he
Yas on his feet | told him what had
overheard IN the fo'castle, and what |
suspected had just occurred on deck.
1t was wonderful how coolly he took
the exciting news.
Are You sure both watches are on
deck" he asked.
Yes. sir.
"And the men have come aft ip a
body
YES. sir"
''Is Mr.. Miner with themi'
81 am sure | saw him
And Mr.. Parker is nowhere TO be
SEEM
mo. sir"
Then | fear you are right Go and
bolt the doors Of the companionway
for me while | get my pistols"
The men stood at the entrance TO the
companion, and as they caught sight
Of me they stepped back little, sup
posing the captain was following. |
slammed and bolted the swing doors,
but not moment too soon, and | 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 lot Of cabin furniture
over against the door aud got brace
against it as we'll
The men on deck were very quiet for
the next half hour, no doubt holding
a council Of war as 10 what should be
done. The first thing they did was to
alter the course of the brig Ia due east,
and the next thing was to ask for