Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-05-06

masth head ut daybreak. 1t is not on any of
our charts"
"rhcn we have made real discovery"
at appears so, sir. This part of the Pa
cific is rarely visited. have heard old
sailors speak of large inhabited island in
these longitudcs. but | believe we are the
first white men who have ever seen it,"
1--WE will run down closer and take
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 wished to speak
to you about sir" said the captain, coming
nearer to where stood and lowering his
voice, while he cast an anxious look at
group of the men lounging near the wealth
err rail THE men have been acting very
strange of late. They are discontinued
with our long cruise and ! am afraid our
sighting this island will bring matters to
crisis"
"l}ut what have they to complain off"
asked in surprise. They are better fed.
better paid and better treated than the
average"
well, sir" said the captain in hest
Eating tone. sailors are Il 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 heir stupid heads that we
mean never to return to civilization again,
but intend to cruise about the world like
n 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 to
the fact saw that there was an evident
change in the demeanOr of the men. Their
On N II hu1 triX
place to surly distrustfulness, and
caught more than one scowling glance cast
in our direction.
II believe you are right answered I'M
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 he 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 IA fight! Pass
the word to the men you mention to he 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.
The old seaman shook his head ominous-
ly. 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 a lively fight of it,"
The vessel running 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 II long one, the Nydia had now been at
sea nearly three years, mostly in the I'M
frequented quarters of the southern Pa
cific, and could easily understand their
discomfort at the prospect of an indefinite
prulongaton 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 Il 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 untrammelcd by the
conventionalities of society, where | had
never been mt ease. People had called me
not choose to conform to their rules. did
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 mt least
pay it hasty visit to establish my claim,
make note of its position and return for a
longer stay. 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, and ordering the gig to
be lowered. directed Bates and Tom Grover
TO take the oars | carried with me rifle
and revolver, with ammunition, "A seXtant
for taking an observation, and some pro
visions. Then turning to the assembled
men, made them "A brief proptiatory adj
dress, telling them was going to examine
the island and assure myself of its charac-
ter, and that if safe they were to have a
few days liberty ashore One or two OF
them thanked me respectfully; the re-
mander kept sullenly silent.
had arranged with the captain that in
case the men showed any mutnous sign,
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
night, when they might hope to surprise
us. Waving a farewell TO the honest old
seaman who stood by the rail watching
our departure with IA grave face, directed
the men to shove off.
As we approached the island one of tn,
most beautiful scenes ! had ever behelC
unfoded itself. The land rose toward til,
interior in tall, rugged peaks, clothed
with rich verdure Smooth greer
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 tn,
narrow, shadowy glens scores of water
falls 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 bolC
promontory into small landlOcked bay,
caught sight of "A number of figures seated
in "A circle upon the grass close to the beach
They had not detected rs and Inv nrocaad