Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-11-03

The carpenter now got of the sky
light.
1--WE told the steward to turn to
and get tho mems breakfast" said he.
'Oufn's 10 be ready by eight; and l
reckon I'll show that sniveling cock
ney what II IL 10 be hungry. You
don / call this a mutiny, do yer, Mr..
Roylep Why, the men are like lambs"
eyes, so they are, answered. IAN
the same / shall be glad TO feel dry
land under me. The law always hangs
the skipper Of a mutiny, you knows
and I'm tho skipper by your appoint
ment. So the sooner we all get out OF
this mess tho better, Ell. MIR. Stevens"
That's right enough" said he's
"and VIC look 10 you TO get us out Of II. "
"I'll do what you ask mel won't
do more" answered.
1--WE don't want more. Enough's
what We want. You'll lot us see your
reckonings every day-not because wo
doubt yoli--but it'll ease the minds Of
the men to know that We aren't ike to
foul the Bormudas."
"Tho Bermudas are well 10 tho
nor ard OF our course" answered,
promptly.
"Ail right. Mr.. Roylc, we look to
you," he said, with face on him and
In q tone that meant q good deal more
than met the ear. snow mates" adj
dressing the others, "cut for'ard end
get your breakfast, my lads It's eight
bells Mr.. Royle, I'll 60 below and
call the boatswain; and shall him and
mo have our breakfast and you AFTER
ward, or you fustp Say the word. I'm
agreeable vichever way II goes"
replied, wishing TO have the table to
myself.
Down he went and leaned over tho
poop rail TO watch the men receive
their share Of the cuddy stores. They
were decent enough in their behavior
entering the cuddy ono by one to re-
ceive the stores which the steward was
serving out.
The food consisted Of butter. white
biscuit, rasher Of ham TO each man
and tea or cocoa; excellent fare to men
who had been starved on rotten pro-
visions also found that each man
had been served with glass Of rum.
The carpenter was the first TO come
on deck. had seen him (through the
skylighD eating like q cormorant, his
arms squared, his brown tattooed
hands busy with his mouth, making
atonement for his long fast in the fore.
castle. He kept his cap on, but the
boatswain had better manners, and
looked, as no faced his mate, a quite
superior and different order OF man
altogether.
As soon as was alone with the boat.
swain l said to him: What has
Stevens been talking aboutp' As
said this / cast my eyes on the open
within hearing!
Ho shook his head, and after u short
pause exclaimed:
Hes a bad uni he's bad uni he,
an Out-and-outerH'
'Do you know which OF them struck
the captain downp'
ale did," he answered, at once.
~ could havo sworn il, by tho way
in which he excused the murderer"
"Stevens." continued the boatswain,
''is Mt tho bottom Of all this here bust.
ness-him and tho cook. Isuppose h,
didn't want the cook for chum, and
so knocked him over when he was 20.
ing TO operate on Duckling's body.
But Duckling was bad 'un, too, and
so was the skipper. They've got "a
thank themselves for what they got.
The crew never would ha' turned had
they been properly fed"
81 believe that" | said. but III
tell you what's troubling me, boat
swain. Tho carpenter has some desigI
bal oil L. ..FL. IL II
ing. Does he really mean that shoulC
navigate to within fifty miles of Now
Orleansp'
"Yes, sir, he do" answered III,
boatswaln, regarding mo steadfastly
"And he means then to heave the shlI
TO, lower away the boats, and maxi
for ono Of the mouths Of the Mlssissip
pi, or land upon some part OF the coas
and represent himself and his compan
ions ne castaway sailorsP"
"Quite right" said the boatswai
watching me iixedly.
"lf that Is really his intention"
proceeded, 81 can not believe that Ia
will allow me TO land with the others
He distrusts mo. lie Is as suspicion
as all murderers are"
Tho boatswain continued cycling m
intently, as man might who strives t.
form resolution from the expression
in nnothers face.
''He means to scuttle the ship h
said, in n low voice.
"Ahr l exclaimed, starting, a.
should have foreseen this
"llo means TO scuttle her Just befor
he puts of in tho boats" he added, Il
a whisper
watched him nnxiously, for l 50,
that he had more to tell me. ii
looked up at both skylights, then e
ward the cuddy door. then toward th
companlon-ladder, bent over to m
and said:
"Mr, Roylc, he don't mean to let 20
leave the vessel
HE means to scuttlo her, leayin
mo ON boardP"
lie nodded.
"Did he tell you thisp"
He nodded again.
"WhenP'
"Just now"
"And thomP" exclaimed, pointin
toward the cabin in which were MI
Robertson and his daughter.
They'll be left, too" he replied.
took deep breath and closed tn
knife and fork on my plate.
NOW, then, mattel" bawled the cal
penter' 5 voice down the companion
show long are you goin' to be?"
Coming answered the boatswaiT
A thought had flashed upon mo.
"There must bo others In this shi
whom Stevens distrusts as well as me,
l whispered "Who are theyP Give IN
but two other men and yourself, an
I'll apnaorn fhaN tb, .Il,, ,uGm L. 49,.