Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-04-16
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the other watch. was all in tremble
at what had heard, and was also all at
sea as to what course 1 should pursue.
While 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. / should
have no opportunity to speak with Mr..
Parker, during the watch, and
how was to get below to inter
view him or the captain without
being seen? Had only part of the
men been in the conspiracy I might
have succeeded very we'll, 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 l had picked up
information they would watch me close
ly 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 state
room. Bob and his friends were for
ward at the heel of the bowsprit, and as
/ came out of the cabin Mr.. Parker was
at the water cask. AS l reached him
whispered:
~ should like very much to speak to
you or the captain, SIR"
IF you don't get forward I'll speak to
you in way you'll remember for year
to comet" he growled in reply.
No doubt he imagined that had some
complaint to make; but had he permit
ted me to speak the words it might
have prevented the tragedy which fol-
lowed. His rebuff discouraged me from
approaching him again. or from seeking
opportunity to speak to the captain,
and from that night on 1 felt quite posi-
tive 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 cap
tain, as that official was about to leave
the deck, that Trinidad would be on our
starboard quarter by daylight. We were
not to call there, but round the island
and head to the southeast. This was
soon after twelve o'clock and shortly af-
ter my watch had come on deck It was
fine starlight night, with fve-knot
OACO~Cf
watch to do. l was at the wheel, for
could take my trick in fine weather with
any of them. About one 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
acrose her bows VIII you please come
forward?"
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. /
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 tn men chuckled bit over
this speech, and then / mistrusted that
the mate had been killed. On the in
slant made up my mind to warn the
captain. / 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 ] suspected
had just occurred on deck. 1t was won.
derful how coolly 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
bodyP"
Eyes, sir"
SIS Mr.. Miner with them?"
81 am sure / saw him"
"And Mr., Parker is nowhere to be
seen?"
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, supposing
the captain was following. ] slammed
and bolted the swing doors, but none
too soon, and 1 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 ad-
dition to the bolt we pulled lot of cab
in furniture over against the door and
! got brace against it as we'll
The men on deck were very quiet for
the next half hour, no doubt holding q
council of war as to what should be done.
The fiFst thing they did do was TO alter
the course of the brig to due east, and
the next thing was to ask for parley
with the captain. He said not Q word
until one of them smashed 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 gRRffest voice, 'Mr. Parker has
been giS8h lift over the rail, and IS
now holding his trick at the bottom Of
the sea. If you will como up and surren.
der like a gentleman we'll turn yoT
adrift in the yawl to sail yourself ashore
If you refuse, we'll make an end oi
YOU"
''Are all the crew in this?' asked the
captain.
F'All of them"
81 don't believe Mr.. Miner is with
you"
AYE, but 1 ami answered thai
worthy, land I'd advise you to do as We
ask, If you care for your life"
They'd murder me the moment
stepped on deck" whispered the captaiI
to me. 'Ill killed be anyhow, and
might as we'll die like q game man"
He then called to them that he'd never
surrender, and that he'd shoot down AM
man he could bring within range. The
fellows cursed ana yelled in response
and though we could hear them moyinl
about the decks from that time till day
light, they made no new move. Whsl
day fully broke, Bristol Bob again de
msnded surrender, but received th,
same answer. We expected them Il
smash the rest of the skylight, but thi
they hesitated to do, as they wonlt
have no means of repairing it when tn,
captain was disposed Of. There was no
| avan a yaicko1 arouo than xuhila ~.