Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-01-07
Dayton, Nevada, Saturday. January 7, 1893.

v
or more across the Atlantic.
The roundhouse, for which was bound
and where was now to sleep and serve,
stood some six feet above the decks, and
considering the size of the brig, was Of
good dimensions, Inside were o fixed
table and bench and two berths, one for
the captain and the other for the two
mates, turn and turn about. 1t was all
fitted with lockers from top to bottom,
30 as to stow away the officers belong
ings and q part Of the ships stores.
There was second storeroom under
meath, which you entered by a hatchway
in the middle of the deck. Indeed, all
the best of the meat and drink and the
whole Of the powder were collected in
this place, and all the firearms except
the two pieces of brass ordnance were
set in a rack in the aftermost wall Of
the roundhouse. The most of the cut
lasses were in another place.
A small window with a shutter on
each side and a skylight in the roof
gave it light by day, and after dark there
was a lamp always burning. It was
burning when l entered, not brightly,
but enough to show Mr.. Shuan sitting
at the table, with the brandy bottle and
!. tin pannikin in front of him. He was
a tall man, strongly made and very
black, and he stared before him on the
table like one stupid.
He took no notice of my coming in,
nor did he move when the captain fol-
lowed and leaned ON the berth beside
me, looking darkly at the mate. stood
in great fear of Hoseason, and had my
reasons for it, but something told me
need not be afraid of him just then, and
whispered in his ear, How is he?" He
shook his head like one that does not
know and does not wish to think, and
his face was very stern.
Presently Mr.. Riach came in. He gave
the captain glance that meant the boy
was dead as plain as speaking, and took
his place like the rest of US; SO that we
all three stood without word, staring
down at Mr.. Shuan. and Mr.. Shuan ION
his side) sat without word, looking
hard upon the table.
All of a sudden he put out his hand to
take the bottle; and at that Mr.. Riach
started forward and caught it away
from him, rather by surprise than vio-
lence, crying out with an oath that
there had been too much Of this work
altogether, and that q judgment would
fall upon the ship. And as he spoke (the
weather sliding doors standing OPEN he
tossed the bottle into the sea.
Mr.. Shuan was on his feet In trice.
He still looked dazed, but he meant mur.
der. aye, and would have done it fol-
the second time that night had not the
captain stepped in between him and his
victim.
"Sit DOWN. roars the captain. "Ye
sot and swine, do ye know what ye've
done? Ye've murdered the boyp
Mr.. Shuan seemed to understand, fol
he sat down again and put up his hand
to his brow.
"Well." he said. che brought me
dirty pannikin."
At that word the captain and l and
Mr.. Riach all looked at each other for
second with kind of frightened look,
and then Hoseason walked up to his
led him across to his bunk and bade him
lie down and 60 to sleep, as you might
speak to a bad child. The murderer
cried little, but he took off his sea
boots and obeyed.
"Ahw cried Mr.. Riach with dread
full voice, "ye should have interfered
long syne. It's too late now"
%o;n
nights work must never be kennt in
Dysart. The boy went overheard, sir'
that's what the story is, and would
give five pounds out Of my pocket it was
truei" He turned to the table What
made ye throw the good bottle awayT
he added. "There was nae sense In that
sir. Here. David, draw me another
They're in the bottom locker" and he
tossed me q key. "Yell need o glass
yourself. SIR" he added to Riach. "You
was an ugly thing to see."
So the pair sat down and hobnobbed
and while they did so the murderer, who
had been lying and whimpering in his
berth, raised himself upon his elbow and
looked at them and at me.
4udt WAS tuo n1bb AABut OA my uoW
duties, and in the course Of the next day
l had got we'll into the run of them. ]
had to serve at the meals which the cap
tain took at regular hours. sitting down
with the officer who was off duty; all
the day through l would be running
with dram to one or the other Of my
three masters. and at night I slept on q
blanket thrown on the deck boards at
the aftermost end Of the roundhouse
and right in the draft Of the two doors.
It was hard and a cold bed, nor was
suffered to sleep without interruption,
for some one would be always coming in
from deck to get dram, and when a
fresh watch was to be set two and some
times all three would sit down and brew
a bowl together. How they kept their
health know not. any more than how
kept my own.
And yet In other ways 1t was an easy
service. There was no cloth to lay; the
meals were either of oatmeal porridge
or salt junk, except twice week. when
there was duff, and though was
clumsy enough. and (not being firm on