The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-25

ing received his cue from Tom the brute.
alter drinking. sat up and asked how it
was that Captain Butler was out of quOd.
He was transported for fourteen year.
he said. He's got eleven or twelve year
10 sarve yet. Who's the smothered boke
that was down here a-calling of hsself
Captain Buter?" VIII answered, "ROtch
knows" What's been done to him ?''
Hes locked up just now" says Will.
Are they a-going to hang him?" ''If he
don't confess" On this N0Gder lay back
and turned bis face to the briggs side and
VIII came away.
hen we sat down to dinner. Collins
being at the helm. Tom cut some beef and
filed tumbler half full of wine and sent
The meal by MI. Bates to ROteh. Bates
was some time in the cabin with the viii
lain; indeed his own dinner was cooling.
Suddenly Tom jumped up, and going to
my berth, which lie used when he worked
out his sights, the navigating instruments
and charts being there, fetched some
writing paper. pen and ink. Bates q t that
moment appeared at the end of the cabin.
Tom called to him, "Obige me by putting
these things into Rotch's BERTH"
Bates did so, locked the door, sat down
and fell 10 his meal
did he speak ?" said Tom.
Yes" said the mate. "He has an evil
eve. He's aged ten years. too. He said,
Captain Butler talks of hanging me-
l.,
know how to save your life He hang
me! Thapud be murder. Curse him i!
You're brother sailor-would you stand
by and allow il to be done?' Pm no
brother sailor of yours said /. Right
the man that you've diabolically wronged
By making clean breast of your wicked
ness. If you don't, there's never q brother
sailor aboard this brig that won't put all
his beef into the rope that yardarms ye.' l
thought he'd fling himself upon me. His
face was as full of deviish malice as you
could have squeezed out of all hands aboard
the convict ship. | put down his grub and
came away. He didn't speak when l took
in the paper and ink"
The subject was changed, and the talk
tha followed mainly concerned the routine
to be adopted.
When l lad cleared the table I stepped
out to look at the island, and saw no IN ore
than large, faint shadow, seventeen or
eighteen miles away. The wind had
veered little, and we were making bet
ter course for the northern climb. though
where we were bound 10 | no more knew
than how this wild, strange adven ture
was to end. l felt weary, and, entering
the deckbouse, sat down at the foremost
end OF the table, close to Toms cabin
door. leaned my cheek on my hand, and
gave myself up to thought. Strange as it
may seem, | was sensible of a secret
grievonS disappointment that the ISL
and scheme was closed. / longed
to be Toms wife. Had we arranged
with Governor Glass to settle at Iris
tan. | might III few weeks have been
Toms bride, At this rate when were we
to be married? If my sweetheart waited
for Rotch to speak, the villain might keep
us sailing about for months; unless, in-
deed, Tom hanged him, which was less
likely to happen as time cooled his blood
and mine. And, certainly. to hang tie
man would be to murder him. as l already
understood, though assuredly had Tom
put the yardarm rope into my hand and
babe me pull, I'd have dragged-on that
or on any other day-with less compunc-
ton than I'd have crushed a spider.
While / thus sat thinking over such mat
tiers as these, in steps VIII; he looked
about and sat down. / heard noise OF
feet overhead and guessed that Tom and
Bates walked the deck together. The
sailor Collins steered; the sunset glowed
like sheet of burning gold upon the sky
light.
Marian" said Will. ''how long is this
roaming to last?"
81 wish L could tell you." answered.
Buffers one. goading idea just now is
revenge. But / want 10 get home-rg out
afresh-slgn for new ship. and start
again. This sort Of thing is merely pick
ling one 1t will qualify me as a lob
scourer, daresay, but I'm learning moth
ing useful, never have quadrant in my
hand. and get no jobs OF seamanship to do"
Ton told you he'll steer the brig
straight for England and put you and
Bates in the way of getting home. VIVA t
more do you want? But for him you'd
have been murdered by the convcts. Or
you might be lying dead in an open boat
along with Captain Sutherland and the
others. But you're safe. ana Toms steer
ing you home"