Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-08-07

| they would get into the boats, leaving one man in the hold to scuttle the ship. and, lying by, to take him off when his work should have been performed.
 Either was likely; but one would make our preservation comparatively easy; the other would make 1t almost impossible.
 l made sure the carpenter would go to bed as soon as he had done break fast, but instead of doing SO he went to the port side of the long boat, ac- companied by Johnson, the cook and a couple of the hands, and presently heard the ffuttering and screaming of | hens.
 l l crossed the poop to see what was the matter. and found all four men wringing the necks of the poultry. In a short time, abouA sixteen hens-all the coop. The cook and Johnson gath cred them up and carried them into the galley.
 l Soon after they returned and clam bered on to the top of the ong-boat, the cover of which they pitched of, and fell, each with knife in his hand, upon the pigs. The noise now was hideous. The pigs squealed like human beings; but both men probably knew their work, for the screeching did not last above five minutes
 | The cook, with his face, arms and brooches all bloody, flung the carcasses among the men, who had gathered round to witness the sport, and deal of ugly play followed. They tossed the slaughtered pigs at each other, and men and pigs fell down with tremen- dous thuds; and soon there was not a man who did not look as though he had been rolled for an hour in the gutter of a shambles. Their hoarse laughter. their horrible oaths, their rage not more stocking than their mirth. the live men rolling over the dead pigs, their faces and clothes ghastly with blood-all this was a scene which made one abhor one's self for laughing at it, though it was impossible to help laugh | ing sometimes. But occasionally my mirth would be checked by a sudden spasm of terror, when l caught a sight of fellow with an infuriate face, mon Strous with its crimson coloring, rush with his knife at another, and be struck down like a ninepin by dead pig hurled full at his head before he could deliver his blow.
 The saturnalia came to an end, and the men, cursing, growing, grooming and laughing - some reeling half stunned, and all panting for breath surged into the forecastle to clean themselves, while the cook and John son carried the pigs into the galley. 1 did not quite understand what this scene heralded, but had not long to wait before it was explained. After much delay the decks were washed down and two men cleaned out the long boat. A large quantity of provisions and rum were then stored near the foremast, ready to be shipped in the long boat
 These preparations brought the reality of our position home to me, yot preserved my composure-
 Presently the carpenter came to where was standing, and asked me how many hands the long-boat would carry.
 " About twenty" I replied.
 "One on top O t'other, like cattle!'' he growled. Why, mate, there wouldn't be standin' room"
 " Do you mean to put off from the ship in herP''
 '' In her and one of them others" he replied, meaning the quarter-boats.
 " If you want my opinion, l should say that all hands ought to get into the long-boat She has heaps Of beam, and will carry us all we'll Besides, she can sail. It will look better, too, to be found in her, should we be picked up before landing; because you can make out that both quarter boats were carried away" "We're all resolved,n he answered, doggedly. I've mean to put off in the long-boat and one O them quarter-boats. The quarter-boat can tow the long boat if it's calm. Why ax'd you how many the long-boat 'ud carry, was because we don want to overload the quar- ter-boat- We can use her as a tender | for stores and water, do you see, so that if we get to barren place we shan't starve."
 II understand"
 ''Them two boats'll be enough, any ways"
 Il should say so They'd carry thirty persons between them, I an swered.
 To satisfy himself he went and took another look at the boats, and after ward called Johnson up to him.
 They talked together for some time and then procuring chisel and hatchet got into the port quarter-boat and pro ceeded to rip portion of the planking out of her. My rage and modification were so great at this action, which was clearly taken to prevent our escaping aft eE they had deserted us upon the sinking ship. that I did not trust myself to speak to the carpenter, although he stood by me after the work was done evidently expecting me to question him.
 The men then proceeded to load the remaining quarter-boat with about a quarter more provisions than she was fit to carry. they also supplied the long-boat with sails, oars and other ar ticies necessary to the expected cruise in her.
 After I had taken the suns altitude at noon and while the carpenter and I were in the cabin, where I had been working out my observations, said to | him:
 Perhaps you'll sit down for five minutes, MT. Stevens, and inform me exactly of your arrangements; for it is difficult for me to do my share in this