The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-09-01
THE ELLA NOBLE.

~ 49, @11oc eAAASS btANk iAJ i1lSLINAs DlxO
old sailor. 1.-THE craft was a brig called
the Swallow, and she was bound for the
west coast Of Africa, having a cargo of
cotton cloth, boots and shoes, rum in
casks, needles, brass kettles, cutlasses,
old muskets and other stuff that could
be readily traded for gold dust, nuggets
and ivory with the natives. In those
days, nor than 40 years ago, fortunes
were made in this trade. but times have
changed since then.
"Wehad another object besides trading,
for we were instructed to look after the
schooner Ella Noble, which had sailed
for the very locality to which we were
bound and had never returned. What
had become of her was a mystery, for
although she was spoken when within a
days sail of the African coast no further
tidings had come from her, and it was
feared she had met with some fatal dis
aster.
"The crew were mostly made up of
the toughest men found in shipping Of
fees and along the water front, for the
voyage was not a desirable one, as there
was sure to be no little risk of life and
the food could not be the best procurable
by any means. was not at all favor
ably impressed by my messmates, but
my head was full Of foolish notions about
the romance in a cruise to Africa, and |
was more than eager to go. Some of the
romance faded when I was put on salt
rations and compelled to do the duty of
a common before-the- mast sailor.
"The captain was a brutal fellow, as
he needed to be in order to command
such a crew and keep them in subjec-
ton. He had a voice like a foghorn and
a scowl that was black as a thunder
cloud. The first mate was a Spaniard
named Corello. He had a fiery temper
and a heavy hand, but l fancied him
more than the skipper. s
"For some reason Corello seemed to
take a liking to me, and | afterward had
cause to thank my good fortune this was
true. He was not nearly so hard On me as
he might have been, although l felt that
my lot vas mite hard enough.
"It was MT long after leaving port
that l observed queer actions among the
sailors. There was a great deal of NUT
tering, and sometimes | would espy
some of the men with their heads togeth-
er talking in low tones. | did not like
this, and so l told the mate aboutit. He
looked at me queerly, saying guardedly:
"'Have caire. Zese men no like a tat
tier. If zey hear you tell things, some
time you get He finished by drawing
his finger acrosshis throat in a significant
manne
"From that time Ifelt sure there was
trouble brewing, but l remembered the
warning and was careful to keep my
mouth shut. My dislike for the captain
increased, and I actually grew to detest
the man after I saw him knock down
with a MARINE spike a sick man whom
he had ordered aloft, but who was unable
to mount the ratlines.
During the first part of the voyage
the captain and Corello got along well
enough, and we had sighted the African
coast when they had their first quarrel.
The skipper attempted to bully the Span
lard, as was his custom with the regular
men, and Corello flared up in an instant.
Hot words followed. All at once the
master grabbed up a light running block
and flung it at the mates head.
'The aim was true enough, but Corello
lodged. Then the skipper caught up a
Delaying pin and started for the Span
lard. saw a flash of steel, and Corello
fell back against the main hatchway, a
knife in his hand. With a Spanish oath
he wore he would cut the captains
heart out if an attempt was made to
strike him with the Delaying pin.
"For a little time the two men looked
straight into each others eyes, and then
the captains hand fell. expected he
would order that Corello be seized and
put in irons, but he did nothing of the
kind. Instead he retired to his cabin,
and l saw a singular smile playing about
the mates mouth, while I fancied there
was q burning power in his black eyes.
"That night Corello came to me as l
stood my watch. He touched me lightly
on the arm, whispering:
"tIsave you. Don't you be scare when
the time come Then he was gone.
81 felt that a mutiny was threatened,
and l was in doubt about what to do. I
did not join the mutineers, and 1 had
about determined to report my suspicious
to the captain when I was relieved from
the watch. AS I was going forward l
saw two forms and heard the voice of
Corello saying:
"'Not this night. Tomorrow"
"This relieved my feelings somewhat,
and l dared not attempt to arouse the
skipper then, as I knew he would make
a terrible racket about it, so l went to
my bunk. I didn't sleep much, but the
night passed without further incident.
informing found us becalmed at the
mouth of a large river. The u came
up red and scorching, making the water
simmer like FURNISHED silver. Not .