Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-08-08

Mates, IS there any thing you want to say to MT. Roy1eP' he ex;laimed.
 'When are we going to heave the ship toP" asked Fish.
 That's for you to answer" re- joined.
 Well, I'm for not standin' too close inshore," said Fish.
 "How fur off do you say is this here Florida coastP' asked Johnson.
 About sixty miles. Look at the chart" ..And every minute brings us near er," said a man. That's true," replied. But you don't want to leave the ship before dusk, do youP"
 The men looked at each other as though they were not sure that they | ought to confde so much to me as an answer to my question would involve. | particularly took notice of this. and felt how thoroughly was put aside by them in their intentions. The carpenter said: You'll under | stand our arrangements by and by. MT. Royle. How's the windP"
 ''About north," said I.
 "Mates, shall we bring the yards to till we're ready to stop her?"
 ''The best thing as can happen" said Johnson.
 Shell lie to the west ard at that, and II look to be sailin' properly if vessel sights her; and she'll make no headway, neither" said Stevens.
 You can't do better" l exclaimed.
 So the helm was put down, and as the men went to work descended to my cabin.
 The stewards head was at the pantry door, and I called to him: Bring me 8 biscuit and the sherry"
 wanted neither, but 1 had some- thing to say to him; and if Stevens saw him some to my cabin with tray in his hand he was not likely to follow and listen at the door.
 The steward put the tray down and was going away, when I took him by the arm and led him to the extremity of the cabin.
 Do you value your lifeP" said to him in a whisper.
 He stared at me and turned pale.
 In the fewest possible words de- tailed to him the plan the men had formed of scuttling the ship and leav- ing us on board. 1 told him the ar- engagements we had perfected for de- lending our lives and let him under stand that his only hope was to assist us in every way he could. As had anticipated, he was entirely unnerved for the time. But knew that towards sometimes make the most terrible antagonists
 The noon hour came and the men went to dinner. The quiet was so pro- found that it seemed almost as though the ship was deserted.
 In glancing through the skyhght saw Mary Robertson looking up at me. leaned forward, so that my face was concealed from the man at the wheel the only person on deck besides my self-and whispered:
 "Keep up your courage, and be ready to act as l may direct"
 II am quite ready" she answered. ''Remain in your cabin," I said, "and don't let the men see you;" for it had flashed upon me that if the crew saw her they might force her to go along with them in the boats
 '1 wanted a little brandy for papa" she answered. ''He is very poorly &nd weak. and rambles terribly in his talk"
 She turned to hide her tears from l me, and prevent me witnessing her | struggles to restrain them. She would feel their impotence, the mockery of them. at such a time; besides, dear heart, she would think I should d1s- trust her courage if she let me see her ] weep.
 The steward came forward under the skylight as she entered her cabin, and said:
 Il will fight for my life, sir."
 That is my advice to you" II will do my best l have been thinking of my wife and child, sir.'' l "Hushr' cried. "Not so loud. If l your courage fails you, there is girl in that cabin there who will show you how to be brave. Remember two things-act quickly and strike hard; and, for Gods sake! don't fall to drink ing to pull up your nerves! If l find you drunk, will call upon the men to drown you"
 And with this injunction left the skylight-
 1t was not until six o'clock that the carpenter ordered the men to get the long-boat over. But just before he called out, had noticed, with leap of joy Ill me, that the water out in the northwest was dark as with a shadow of cloud upon it.
 Though this was no more than 8 cat's-paw, and travelled very slowly, l "oo OCL CdAlA1 AOG OuAy AANAA GAC AANlSGh- tions of the barometer, but from the complexion of the sky, that wind was behind.
 The men did not appear to notice it, and when the carpenter sung out the order, all hands went to work briskly.
 But willingly as they worked, even these preliminary measures ran into 2 great deal of time; and before they haC done, a light breeze had come down or the ship, and taken her aback.
 The carpenter, seeing this, clapped some hands on to the fore and mizzer braces, and filled the fore and afte1 sails. The ship was therefore hove with her head at west. This done, he went to the wheel, pu the helm amidship and made it fast and then went forward again to super : intend the work.
 took up my position on the star board side of the poop, close agains the ladder. and there I remained. scanned the faces of the men carefully | on 11 inf