The morning news., 1892-03-27
OLA.
By CHARLES LorIS HILDRErH.
(CopyrSoht, Iss2. By the United Press.l

4nAb ls JUST WHAT 4 uaNo octn ASKING
myself, sir since we first made it from the
masthead at daybreak. Il is not on any of
our charts
"Then we have made real discovery"
at appears so, sir. This part Of the
Pacific is rarely visited. have heard old
sailors speak Of a large inhabited island 10
these longitudes. but l believe we are the
first white men who have ever seen it"
ave will run down closer and take look
at it. We are in need Of fresh water, and
if it safe it will do the men no harm TO
stretch their legs ashore"
There is something wished to speak to
you about, sir. said the captain, comm z
nearer to where stood, and lowering his
voice, while be cast an anxious look at a
group of men lounging near the weather
| rail. "The men have been acting very
strange Of late. They are discontented with
our long cruise, and l am afraid our sight
ing this island will bring matters to a
| crisis"
"But what have they to complain of"
asked, in surprise. They are better fed,
better paid and better treated than the
average"
"Well, sir,n said the captain in hesitat-
| ing tone. sailors are a strange set of men.
| We have been three years at sea, wander
| lEOul DAhCo W pldG0s WipbOub any dpphT-
| ent object. They seem to have got an idea
into their stupid heads that we mean never
to return to civilization again, but intend
| to cruise about the world like a modern
| Flying Dutchman. There are two or three
bad characters among them, and these fell
lows are doing their best TO stir up trou-
ble."
Now that he had called my attention TO
| the fact, l saw that there was an evident
change in the demeanor Of the men. Their
ordinary careless good nature had given
place to a surly distrustfulness, aud
caught more than one scowling glance cast
in our direction.
IT believe you are right" answered un-
easily. do they all seem to be in the same
| humorY7
mo-" replied the captain, "Bates, old
Stark, the boatswain, and Tom Grover can
be trusted. There may be Others who will
stand by US in case of trouble"
Then there are four men we can depend
| upon, besides ourselves. Six against nine
teeni Long odds in case Of a fiRht Pass
the word to the men you mention to be on
| their guard. Get the arms together, to be
at hand If we should need them, and keep
an eye on their movements. We must not
appear to distrust them, and it may be they
will come TO their senses.n
The old seaman shook his head ominously.
| 81 doubt ID, he said. "I've seen mutiny
before, and those men mean mischief
Well, he added, philosophically, "there is
no use in striking colors before the first gun
is fired, and ii worse comes to worse, we
can make lively fight of it."
The vessel running free under full can
vas, bad meanwhile rapidly approached
the unknown coast ahead. Directing the
captain TO hold on until within two miles
of land. 1 retired to my cabin to think over
the ugly state of affairs.
Though the men had been shipped on the
understanding that the cruise was TO be a
long one, the Nydia had now been at sea
nearly three years, mostly in the unfre
quented quarters Of the Southern Pacific,
and l could easily understand their disoon-
tent at the prospect of an indefinite pro-
longation of the voyage. For my own
part / had nothing to call me back
TO civilization. was clone in the world
and rich enough to indulge my tastes.
loved the freedom and the eyer-ohanging
aspects Of the ocean. was something of q
scientist, and had many valuable discoveries
Of new forms of life in the out of the way
regions we had visited. 1 was master In
my own ship, and untrammeled by the
conventionalities of society. where | had
never been at ease. People had called me
eccentric, as they do every one who does
not choose to conform to their rules. l did
not care; was satisfied.
question which now had to be considered
1t was evident that we must now return tc
some port, discharge the men and ship Q
new crew. l resolved, however. that
would not forego my right to the discovery
of the new island. L would. at least, pay Il
a hasty visit to establish my claim; make
note of its position and return for longer
stay. / had got to this point, when The
captain sent the cabin boy TO inform mt
that the ship had been hove 60, as had di-
rected.
went on deck, aud ordering the gig tC
be lowered, directed Bates and Ton
Grover to take the oars. carried with mt
q rifle and revolver, with ammunition,
sextant for taking an observation, and some
provisions. Then turning to the assembled
men. ] made them brief propitiatory ad.
dress, telling them was going to examine
the island and assure myself of it's character
ana that, If safe, they were to have few
days liberty ashore. One or two of then
thanked me respectfully; the remainder
kept sullenly silent.
l had arranged with the captain that in
case the men showed any mutinous signs
during my absence, he was to fire gun to
recall me. But neither of us believed that
the mischief was yet ripe. II it came at all
we believed it would be during the night,
when they might hope to surprise us. WAY
ing farewell TO the homes: old seaman who
stood by the rail watching our departure
with grave face, directed the men tc
shove off.
AS we approached the island, one of the
most beautiful scenes had ever beheld un-
folded ITSELF The laud rose toward the in
terror in tall, rugged peaks, clothed with
rich verdure. Smooth green lawns sloped
down to the waters edge, dotted here and
there with large trees, above which lowered
the graceful heads of various species OF
palms. Among the narrow shedowy glenl
scores Of waterfalls glittered in the sun.
So deserted did this island paradise ap-
pear that had begun to believe it unin.
habited, when, as the boat rounded a bold
promonitory into small land-locked bay
l caught sight of a number of figures
seated in a circle upon the grass. close to the
beach. They had not detected us, and by
proceeding cautiously in the shadow of the
| overhanging bushes we were able to get
within 100 yards OF them without disturb
ing them.
Rather smaller. and slighter than the
average white man, they were finely pro-
portioned, with handsome features and
much lighter in color than the savages
! had hitherto met with. So far as could
judge, at that distance, their expression
was remarkably mild and gentle. Their
| sole dress was n sort of narrow skirt COM
posed of fringe Of some thread-like grass.
l could see no arms of any kind near
them.
While we were watching them curiously
one Of their number suddenly espied US. In
an instant they we're all upon their feet