The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-09

struggle. Suddenly hs found his voice,
and with a fearful oath he said: You
wop't! Trsat you fair! Yes. I'll treat
You fa!r!' AuG Selling an iron behaving
pin from the rail he let drive with all his
force at The spokesman. hitting bin on the
head. The man dropped as if dead.
Now will you obey, you sconBdrels?"
he continued. pointing his revolver at the
group of men. ''or FL give you a change
from iron to lead"
The mate entreated the skipper to come
aft, as he had something to say to him.
Suddenly his fury seemed 20 leave him,
aud he walked toward the wheel-grating
with the mate, but still holding his revolver
ready for immediate use.
AS soon as the men saw him turn some
of them made rush for the poop | I'M
plored them to stay where they were, aud,
jumping down among them, told them to
carry the wounded man forward and
would speak to them.
II was fortunate that the mate and |
were popular. otherwise there must have
been a mutiny.
After little difficulty l persuaded them
TO 20 into the fOrecastle and followed
them in.
As soon as they had laid the wnunde
man in his bunk | examined him. He was
still quite unconscious and was breathing
heavily. / told two men to attend to him,
while | harangueG the others in the fol-
lowing manner:
my lads. you've every reason 10 CON-
plain, but | must ask you not 10 mutiny
ike lot of Greeks, but to behave as Brit
ishers. There's no doubt In my mind that
the skipper is mad at certain times, and
being so, is not the fit man to command a
vessel. | promise you that lie shall be Sc
cured as SOON as an opportunity arrives
Leave it to us aft, and 1t will be done
quietly and lawfully. But if you try to
Ia ke the law into yonr own hands-Weil
we must defend the captain. SO be wise
and leave it to US and justice will be done.
Well take all the responsibility"
Yes, that's all very we'll" said an OBJ
stinate, souarelv-built sailor. 'But he's
killed old joe He'll never come to again.
Pm for vengeance. What do you say,
lads Let's swing him from the yard
arm"
Listen to me, men. I've promised to
secure him first opportunity and take the
responsibility. You talk OF yengeancel
You should be ashamed of yourselves.
The man is mad. in my opinion, and ii he
isn't he'll get justice where we put him
ashore. VIII you leave matters in our
hands aft? ?"
After short consultation they promised
me not IT, Interfere so long as he did not
interfere with them.
That's right, men. Keep the bandages
L
mate TO come forrard and see If he can DO
anything for him."
All day long the calm continued. The
captain STOOD Immovable, revolver ia hand.
gazing ont asteru. We set the men some
work forward. Neither the mate nor
went below, out stayed on the poop. About
two bells in the first dog watch one Of the
men came aft and asked one Of US TO come
and see Joe, as they thought he was lust
diving. | Immediately went into the fore
castle: | found the poor fellow laborjng
heavily for breath. He had never regained
consciousness and died quietly few min
utes after l entered
The saimaker asked il they might bury
him at midnight.
For" he said. "as he's been murdered.
that's the time to bury him. SO I've read
in books" mixing up, ! suppose, some
yarns he hal read about the burial of
suicides.
The skipper was still standing in the
same place and attitude; he had neither
eaten anything nor spoken to any one tile
whole day,
AS darkness came on light air sprang
up from the northeast. 1t seemed like the
last fintter of the ,rade wind; il bora us
along about one knot an hour. We thought
this little breeze might arouse the skipper
from his reverie; but he stood immovaDe.
and ne was presently lost to view in the
gathering gloom still gazing out astern.
The sea glittered with ph0s horic lights,
and the stars cleaned peacefully in the
heavens. Presently the gathering bright
ness in the east showed that the moon was
rising, and soon the red orb appeared from
the edge of the horizon; then, getting lost
behind low hanging cloud, rose triumph
antly. iliumin atiDg the sea and bathing us
in a Hood Of soft, silvery light. There
stood the skipper like a statue; he had
not stirred since morning. save to glance
hsful glance round when anybody moved.