Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-11-24

has knocked on the head success
fully"
"But what will he tell thcm?'
"Why, that his job Is nearly finished,
and that they had best take to the
boats and hold Off for him, as he Is
scuttling her in half dozen places,
and the people aft will find her sinking
and make a rush TO the boats If they
are not kept away. lie will tell them
that when he has done scuttling her he
will run up and jump overheard and
swim to them. This, il done clcycrly,
may decide the men to shove OH. We
shall see"
"it Is clever scheme she an
swered, musngly. "'Ghe boatswain's
life depends upon his success, and | be-
licyo hc will succeed in duping them
"What can be done he will do, am
sure ] said, not choosing TO admit
that had not her confidence In the
slritagcm, because / feared that the
more the boatswuin should cndcayor
to disguise bis voice, the greater would
be- the risk OF its being recognized.
"But let mo tell you that this Is the
worst view of the case. II is quito
probable that the men will take to the
boats aud wait for their mate TO finish
in the hold. not only because II will
save time. but because they will mag.
inc II an cilcctual way Of compelling
us 10 remain on the vessel"
"Whut yllainsl And il they take to
the boatsP'
"Thcn shall want you"
"What can dOP'
"Wo shall sec. Thcrr still remains
third chance. The carpenter IS, or
have read his character upside down, o
born murderer. IL ispos.ible that this
villain may design - leave the man
whom he sends into the hold 10 sink
with the sh p. He has not above hall
q dozen Chums. confidential friends,
amung tho crew, and IL will be his and
their policy TO rid themselves Of the
others ~ best thcy can 80 as to dim.
Irish the number Of witnesses against
them. II, therefore. they contemplate
this. thoy will leave the ship while they
suppose the net Of scuttling to be act.
ually proceeding. Now, among the
many schemes which have entered my
mind, there was one should have put
In practice had not feared to commit
any action which might IN the small
est degree impcril your safety. This
scheme was to cautiously sound the
minds Of tho men who were not In the
curppl tur's intimate confidence; nscer-
tain how far they relish the notion Of
quitting the ship for shore that might
provo inhospitab.o, or on which their
boats might be wrecked and themselves
drowned; and discover, Ivy what
shrcwdncss | am master Of, how many
| might get to come over 10 my side IL
the boatswain aud myself turned upon
Stevens and killed him, shot down
johnson, and fell, armed with my re-
volvcr and a couple OF Delaying pins,
upon Cornish and Fish 49, these three
men composing Stevens cabinet |
say that this vas quito practicable. and
no very great courage required to exc
cute il, as we should have killed or
stunned these men before they would
be- able to resist u.s."
"lhcrc would he ninc left
ayes; nut should have rcckoned
upon some OF them helping me-"
you could not have depended upon
them
well, we have another plan; and
refer to this only to show You n speci.
men of some Of tho schemes which
have como into my head"
"Alr Boylc, IL YOU had pistol to give
me, would help You shoot them ii II
would aid in saving our lives, she oX-
claimed, with her eyes on fire.
ThinNing 1t better that Stevens
should not find MS together repaired
to my cabin and she went to hers
During my watch the carpenter
joined me and had many questions
to ask concerning "Fioridy," which 10.
vcaled his total Ignorance Of its local.
ity lic supposed II was mn island aud
was surprised when ! explained to him
that 1t was n part Of the main coUst OF
North America.
Hc then asked mo what IompassUs we
had that we might take with us.
ave shall only want one IN the long.
boat ! replied; "and there is one on
the tabli in tho captains cabin which
will do, Have you got the long-boat all
realyP"
"Ay, clean MS a new brass fardon,
and provisionod for month"
snow let mo understand; when the
ship is hove to, you will sling the long
boat ovcrp"
IL explained all that before" he
answered, gruilly. mot that"
You're hungin' on tidy bit about
them there boats. What do you
thinkP'
81 suppose my lio Is as good as
yours, and that | have right 10 find
out how we are to abandon this shiT
and make the Shore" answered
with some show OF warmth, my objec
being to get nil the information from
him that was possible to bo drawn
a." You'll get the long-boat alongside
and all hands will jump into horP Il
| that it?'
"Why, wot do you think we'd &c
the boat alongside for II we didn't &c
into horP' he replied, with kind o
growing laugh,
"Will anybody be left ON the shipP'
Anybody left on the shipP' no OK
claimed, fetching sudden breath
"Wots put that In yer hoadP'
al was afraid that that yellow villain
the cook, might induce you to lcay,
the steward behind to take his chanc,
to sink or swim in her, just out Of 70
ycngo for calling bad pork good,
said /, fixing my eyes upon him.
" No, no, nothcn OF the sort" h,
replied, quickly and with cyidcn
alarm. Course the cook dye thinl
Is skipper to give them kind O. or
dersP'
Now YOU see what l am drivinj
at" | said, laying my hand on hi
arm, and addressing him with a smile
81 really did think you meant L
leave the poor steward behind. An,
what wanted to understand was how
Won nrOnOsnh TO mnnnmn with III