Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-10-20
The Story Of a Wreck.
Tbrinins and Romantic Account OF
o Mutiny ct Sea-
ny w. CLARK RUSSELL.

ing how had punished hlm), sald IN
loud voice TO the steward:
"What fodder is that mutinous dog
yonder TO havep"
The steward spoke low and l did
not hear HIM.
"Serve the skunk right continued
the chief mate. "By gloryl If there
was only pair Of handouts on board
they Should be on him. How's this
lumpP'
The steward replied and Mr.. Duck
ling continued;
n guess the fellow ut the wheel
9rinhed when he SAW II. But I'll bo
raising bigger Jumps than this on some
Of 'em before I'm done.
An this was said In a loud voice for
my ediiication, but ] must own II dld
act Brighten mo very greatly. 10
sneak the truth. thought more OF the
old man ana his daughter than I did
Of myself; for II they should hear this
Dragging bully from their cabins, they
would form very alarming conclusions
as to tho character OF the persons who
bad rescued them, and scarcely know,
indeed, whether we were not all cut
throats.
Shortly after this, Duckllng came
out on to the main-deck, and, observ-
ing me looking through the window,
bawlcd ut tho top Of his voice for the
carpenter, who presently came, and
Duckling, pointing 10 my window,
gave him some instruction, which he
went away TO execute. A young, or
binary seaman-an Irish lad named
Driscoll-wns coiling rope over ono
II - ii al. apAttt1 tttn fttuip-
mast Duckling pointed up aloft, and
his voice sounded, though | did not
hear the order The lad waited TO coil
the rest of the ropo "a fathom or SO
before obeylng; whcrcupon Duckling
hit him q blow on the back, slowed
him round. caught him by the throat
and backed him savagely against the
starboard bulwaEks. roaring, In Ian
guage quite audible 60 me now: "Up
with you, you skulkorl Up with you,
l say, or I'll pound you TO picccsV'
At this moment the carpenter APP
preached my window, provided with n
hammer and couple OF planks, which
he proceeded 10 nail upon tho frame
work. Duckling watched him with n
grin upon his ugly face, the lump over
his eye not improving the expression,
as YOU may believe. l was now In
comparative darkness; for tho port
hole admitted but little light. and, I'M
like the rest Of the cuddy bsrths, my
cabin had no bulFs-eyc.
reached the door with great deal
of trouble, for the iron bar hampercd
my movements excessively, and found
Il locked outside; but by whom and
when did not know, for ! bad not
heard tho key turned. But ] might
depend that Duckling had done this
with cnt-hke stealthiness, and that he
probably had the key in his pocket.
was hungry enough TO have felt
grateful for biscuit, and had half n
mind to sing out to the steward to
bring me something to cat, but reflect
ed that my doing so might only pro-
woke an insulting answer from the fol-
low. With some difficulty pulled the
mattress out Of the cot and put II into
the bunk. as my pinioned legs would
not enable mo to climb or spring, and
lay down and presently fell asleep.
slept away the greater part of the
afternoon; and when awoko n strong
wind was blowing and the ship lying
heavily over TO 1t.
looked over the edge Of the bunk,
and saw near the door u tin dish, con-
tanning some common ships biscuit ant
can OF cold water. | was 50 hungry
that jumped up eagerly to get the bis
cult, by doing which | so tweaked my
ankles with the irons that the blood
came from the broken skin. l mad,
shift 10 reach the biscuit, which PROVED
to be the ships bread us served to tn,
men. and ate greedily, being indce'
famlshed; but speedily discovered IN
substantial grounds OF complaint ia,
sailors had against tho ships stores
for the biscuit was intolcrably mold,
and rotten, and so full Of woovils tha
nothing but hunger could have induce
me to swallow the nbomination.
managed to doyour couple OF thes
things, and drank some water; an
then pulled out my pipe and began I
smoke.
limo passed YEARLY. On furtho
reflection did not believe any coul
would deal severely with me for | Ia
the evidence of the crew that la
done nothing worse than to insist upo
tho rescue OF human beings from
wreck. But my position was decided
unpleasant, none the less. As the even
ing advanced the wind freshened al
all hands were employed taking
sail.
Two bells nine o'clock had struC
when 1 was attracted by the sound
hammering upon the headlight Of N
cabin. With great difficulty | hoistC
my feet out OF the bunk and drew m
self to the port-hole.- UNFINISHED Il
screw that kept the headlight clos'
and 1t blew open.
Fearful of my voice being heard
the cuddy--for this was the hour VIII,
the spirits were put upon the tabl
and Il was quite likely that CoNon
Duckling might be seated within, drln
ing alono-I mullled my voice be'we,
my hands and asked who was there.
The fellow TANNED his face so {
fectually into the port-holc as to c
clude the wind, so that tho whisper
which he spoke was quito distinct
"Nle-Stevens, tho carpenter i
come from tho crew. but you're
take your solemn oath you not 'sp
upon us II / tell you what's goin'
happenP"
al am not in position to split,
replied. "But can mako no pro
Uses until know your intentions"
The man was n long time silel
Several times he withdrew his face,
l knew Qor could not see him)
the rush of wind that came In, TO sha
himself free Of the spray that bro
over him.
''It's just this" he said, bunging
the portfolio again. "We'd ratl
taka a twalve-month imDrisonm,