The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-11
OLA.


myself, sir, since we first made it from the
masthead at daybreak. 1t is not on any OF
our charts"
"Then we have made real discovery"
ut appears SO, sir This part of the Pa
cifc is rarely visited. l have heard old
sailors speak of a large inhabited island in
these longitudes, but ] believe we are the
first white men who have ever seen it."
1--WE will run down closer and take q
look at it. We are in need of fresh water
and if it is safe it will do the men no harm
to stretch their legs ashore"
"There is something I wished TO speak
to you about sir" said the captain, coming
nearer TO where l stood and lowering his
voice, while he cast an anxious look at a
group of the men lounging near the wealth
er rail THE men have been acting very
strange of late They are discontinued
with our long cruise and l am afraid our
sighting this island will bring matters to
a crisis"
"But what have they to complain ofan
asked in surprise. They are better fed
better paid and better treated than the
average"
We'll, sir,' said the captain in hest
tatirg tone, sailors are a strange set of
men. We have been three years at sea,
wandering from place to place, without
any apparent object. They seem to have
got an idea into their stupid heads that we
mean aever % 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 fellows are doing their best to
| stir up trouble"
Now that he had called my attention 20
the fact, | 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, and
caught more than one scowling glance cast
in our direction.
Il believe you are right, answered IN
easily. do they all seem to be in the
same humor?"
No" 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
teen. Long odds in case of a fight! 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 viii come to their senses.
The old seaman shook his head ominous-
! II. Il doubt it," he said. 1--WE seen
mutiny before, and those men mean mis-
! chief. Well" he added philosOphically,
there is no use in striking colors before
the first gun is fired, and if worse comes to
worse we can make lively fight of it,"
The vessel cunning free under full can
vas had meanwhile rapidly approached the
! unknown coast ahead. Directing the cap
tain to hold on until within two miles of
land 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 long one, the Nydia had now been at
sea nearly three years, mostly in the IN
frequented quarters of the southern Pa
cifc, and | could easily understand their
discomfort at the prospect of an indefinite
| prolongation of the voyage. For my own
part had nothing to call me back to civil
| iZation. | was alone in the world, and rich
enough to indulge my tastes | loved the
freedom and the ever changing aspects of
the ocean. | was something of a scientist,
| and had made many valuable discoveries
OF new forms of life in the out Of the way
region we had visited. / was master in
my own ship, and untrammeled by the
conventionalities of society, where l had
never been at ease. People had called me
eccentric, as they do every one who does
not choose to conform to their rules. Ibid
not care. was satisfied.
But the men were not, and that was the
question which now had to be considered.
1t was evident that we must return to
some port, discharge the men and ship a
new crew. | resolved, however, that
would not forego my right to the discov-
cry OF the new island. / would at least
pay it a hasty visit to establish my claim,
make a note of its position and return for a
longer stay. l had got to this point, when
the captain sent the cabin boy to inform
me that the ship had been hove to as had
directed.
| went on deck, apd ordering the gig to
be lowered, directed Bates and Tom Grover
! co take the oars. | carried with me a rifle
! and revolver with ammunition, a sextant
for taking an observation, and some pro-
visions Then turning to the assembled
men, / made them brief propitiatory ad-
dress, telling them | was going to examine
the island and assure myself of its charac-
few days liberty ashore. One or two of
| them thanked me respectfully; the re-
mainder kept sullenly silent.
! had arranged with the captain that in
case the men showed any mutinous signs
! during my absence he was to fire a gun to
recall me. But neither of us believed that
the mischief was yet ripe. If it came at
/ all we believed it would be during the
J rit -2,ar, 2 TO
us. Waving farewell TO the honest old
seaman who stood by the rail watching
cur departure with a grave face, l directed
the men to shove OF.
AS we approached the island one of tbs
most beautiful scenes / had ever beheld
unfolded itself The land rose toward the
/ interior 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, shadowy Clens scores of water
! falls glittered in the sun.
So deserted did this island paradise ap-
pear that l had begun TO believe it uniu-
/ habited, when. as the boat rounded a bold
/ promontory into small landlocked bay. |
3
/ IL a circle upon the grass close to the beach.
! They had not detected US. and by proceed
| ing cautiously in the shadow of the over
| hanging bushes we were able to get within
/ 100 yards OF them without disturbing
/ them.
RATHER smaller and slghter than the
! average white man. they were finely pro-
/ portloned, with handsome features and
much lighter IN color than any savages l
/ had hitherto met with 50 far As could
] iGdEe at that distance their eNnrcssinn