Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-10-13
The Story of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account Of
q Mutiny at Sea.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.

BY W. CLARK RUSSELL.
was gazing at ner ntenuy IN tue
effort to witness some indication Of lv-
ing thing on board, when, to my min
glcd CONSERVATION and horror, wit
messed an arm projecting through the
window Of the deck-bousc. and franti-
pallv wave what rcscmblcd white
handkerchief. As none Of the men
called ont, Judged this signal was not
porccptible TO the naked eye, and in my
excitement shouted;
There's living mnn on board Of
her, my lads!' dropped the glass and
ram at 10 call the captain.
met him coming up the companion
ladder The first thing he said was:
You're out Of your course" and
looked mp at the sails.
There wreck yonder" cried,
pointing eagerly, with q man ON board
signaling 10 us"
"Gct me the glass" he said, snlkily,
md ! picked 1t up and handed II to
him.
lie looked at the wreck for some mo-
mcut5, and, addressing the man at tho
wheel. exclaimed, making a movement
with lis hand.
keep her away! Where arc you
Steering tor
Good IIcavcn!" calculated I;
there's man on board-thcrc may
Doe ulhcr7!'
Hold your tonguc'' he exclaimed,
between hi, tccth what do you mean
Dos interfering with mcP Keep her
H IHftf al s.UN
During this time we had drawn sum-
GENTLY near to the wreck 10 enable tho
-uarpcr-,ightcd among the hands to re-
mark the signal, and they were calling
ont that there was somebody flying II
handkerchief aboard the hull.
Captain CoNou,' said |. with ms
firm voice q, could command
| wa, nearly in as great rage rs he,
aud rendered inson.iblc to all consc-
gucnccs by his inlumanity-"if YOU
bear away and leave that man yondcr
fO -ink with that wreck when he can
hr saved with very little trouble, you
viii become as much nmurdcrer as any
rulian who slabs % man asleep
When / had said this CONun turned
black in the face with passion. Ills
eye, protruded, hi hands aud fingers
worked us though be- were under some
electrical process, and | saw for the
first time In my life II sight | had al
why's laughed ut ns bit of impossible
novelist description II mouth foaming
with rage lie rushed aft, just over
Decking cabin. and stamped with all
hi, might
Now thought |. they may try
jI murder me, And, without u word,
pulled on my coat, seized n Delaying
pin, and stood ready, resolved that,
happen what might. | would give the
first man who huuld lay his fingers on
mo- -umcthng 10 remember me by
while hc had breath in his body.
The men, not quito understanding
what was happening, but seeing that n
"rpw' was taking place, came 10 the
lprocailu and advanced 10y degrees
along the main-dock. Among them
noticed the cook, muttcring to one or
ibn other who stood near.
Mr. puchlmg. awakened by the vio-
lcu' clattcrinr over his head, came run
ming up the companion way with he
wildcrcd, sleepy look in his face. The
captain graspcd hm by tho arm. and,
pointing tO me, criod out, with an oath,
'ilut villain was breeding amutiny on
board, and, he believed, wanted 10
murder him and Duckling"
at once answered; "Nolhing Of
ilr Kind. There J, man misorably
prri,hiug ON board that sinking wreck.
Mr.. Duckling, and he ought to be
saved. My lads | cried. address
ing the men ON the main-dcck, sis
there sailor among YOU all who
would have the heart 10 leave that
man yondcr without nm effort to rcscua
hmP'
"No, SIR shouted one Of them.
'Nr'll save the man; aud il the skipper
refuses wen make him.
"LutlN | called to the man at the
wheel.
"LuF at your pcrill screamed the
skipper
"Nit here. some hands, / cried,
land lay the man-yard aback. Let 20
tle port -braccsr'
The captain came running toward
mc.
Captain CoNon." cried In fury,
gw-ning tho heavy brass belaying-pin,
'l lod como within n foot of me I'll
dash your brains Out,'
My attitude, my enragcd face and
wonarWg gesture produced the de-
sired elect lie stopped dead, turned
D chastity white, and looked round at
Durklmg.
What do you mean by this (ctc
conduct you (utc) mutinous scoun-
dryi'' roarod Duckling, with volley
Of foul language.
"Glyc him ono for himself. II he
sal too much, Mr. Roylcm sung out
some hOarso voice on the main deck;
"wcI back ycrN Aud then came
cries OF They're q cursed pair o. muir
dCrurs!' "Who run the smack
doWnp' "Nho lets men drownp"
"Nhu stGrvCs honest menpn This last
exclamation asiollowcd by a roar
Tho whole of the crew were now on
deck, having been aroused by our
voices. Some of thom were looking on
with a grin, others with an expression
ui lcrcc curiosity, IL was at once un-
drrstood that / was making II stand
against the captain aud chief mate,
and a single glance nj them assured me
that by ono word ] could set the whole
Of them ON fire to do my bidding even
TO shedding blood.
In the meantime the man at tho
wheel had lullcd until the ship was
carccly moving, | kept my eyes on
thc captain and mato fully prepared
FOR amy movement they might make
against me. They evidently saw that
tho men We're all in sympathy with
me. They walked over TO the
lee side OF the poop and held con-
sultation. Then the captain went be-
low and, TO my surprise, Duckling