Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-09-18
THE COOKS REVENGE.

On the OJn Gay OF september, 1905,
at z o'clock in the morning, with the
Cape of Good Hope bearing almost duo
east and 700 miles away, we sighted a
ship dead ahead. l was second mate of
the English brig Lord Give, and we
were bound from Australia to Liverpool
with wool.
1t was my watch-which you must
know was the port or captains watch
and we were within two miles of the
stranger when the morning mist cleared
and we sighted her. She was small,
square rugged vessel, driving slowly off
before the western wind, and she did
not show square foot of canvas on any
of her masts. took the glass and went
aloft, and my wonderment increased.
There was one man aboard of her, but
only one as far l could see. He was
pacing the quarter deck, and had his
face turned toward us. There was no
signal of distress flying, and yet 1t was
plain enough that something was wrong
there.
descended after a long look, and Just
then the captain came on deck. We had
about five knot breeze, and we were
not long in overhauling the stranger.
Her wheel was lashed, and as we came
upon her starboard quarter we still failed
to make out more than the one man. We
were near enough to see that he was n
Portuguese, and evidently one of the
crew. The name of the ship was the
Three Brothers, and she hailed from the
Cape. We all Immediately remembered
seeing her at Sidney, and of her having
left two weeks before we did. She was
loaded with wool to be taken on at the
Cape by the liners coming down f'om
India. Our captain hailed as we swept
past her, but the sailor waved his hand
to signify that nothing was wanted.
"There is something very queer
there" said our captain as we got clear of
her, 'and propose to investigate.
We luffed up coupe of points to be
clear of her and threw the brig into the
wind l was ordered to take two men
and pull off to the stranger, which was
drifting along at the rate of about two
miles an hour. We had boat down and
were off in minute, and in another ten
we should have been up with her had not
something happened. The Portuguese
stood looking at us for half minute as
we approached. Then he disappeared
and suddenly caught sight of nusket-
barrel over the rail. Twas wondering if
my eyes deceived me, when the villain
fired and one of my men pitched forward
on his face, shot through the back, and
breathing his last within five minutes.
hesailor then stood up and warned us by
gestures to keep away or he'd serve out
another, and you may guess that we lost
no time in returning to the brig.
What had occurred only deepened the
mystery. There was ship, evidently in
the best condition, but without a sail set
and in charge of only one mar. Instead
of pursuing her voyage she was drifting
like log. If in distress she showed no
signal and one of our men had just been
murdered while we were on the way to
offer our services. 1t was pretty tough
nut to crack, but our captain was de-
termincd to find the kernel. We hauled
back on our course and again overlook
the ship and this time we ran down so
close to her that one could have pitched
his cap aboard. Every man of us was
looking but we saw only that Portu-
guese sailor He had five or six muskets
piled up ON the cabin skylight and he
turned his back on us as we swept past.
The decks were clear and in perfect or-
der and the sails had been neatly slowed
and furled.
"What's the matter9 What has lap
peneda What do you wanta"
So the captain shouted at the man, but
he paid not the slightest heed. We ran
ahead of her about a mile and then luffed
up again, and as the ship came drifting
down the captain said
There's been some awful doings
aboard yonder craft. 1t hasn't been
mutiny, because there'd be more men
about, but Pm thinking that man has
somehow made way with every other
soul It's our duty to solve the mystery
If we can, but we don't want any more
murders. Mr.. Piper, you will pull off
to him again and try to get aboard.
Take musket with you, and if he fires
at you try and kill himl"
went off, with two more men, hold
ing the boat across the drifting ship.
When she was within musket-shot, the
Portuguese began blazing away. could
only see the top of his head above the
rail, as the ship had high bulwarks, and
I don't suppose my bullet even whistled
in his ears. He had terrible advantage
of us, but had determined to make a
dash and board him, when his third shot
struck one of my men in the arm and
crippled him for life, and within fifteen
seconds he fired again and knocked my
hat off my head.