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

1t my trial; you remember how glibly he
gave his evidence and answered questions
on his OATH VIII he take his oath now
that his story was true? You. ROtch, here
stands my friend Bates. who has judged
me throughout wronged man; here stands
Miss Juhnstone'S cousin, who believes me
inn ocent; here stands that Miss tombstone
about whom | have so often talked to you
they hear me. they will listen to you; is it
true that l attempted to scuttle the Arab
Chief?"
Rotch kept silence.
BATES. Johustone." continued Tom,
''you see how it is! He swore it on the
Bible; he made felon of me; he ruined
my life-broke my heart. He's mute now.
Observe him? Does he fear to speak be-
cause I'm armed?"
He whipped the pistol out of his pocket.
pointed it down, and fired it into the deck.
Now take courage. Speak-did | at
tempt to scnttle the Arab Chief, or was the
charge yours and NoddeE's conspiracy
against me?"
The man. with an ashen face, now folded
his arms. but made no reply. keeping his
eyes still rooted on the deck.
Captain Rotrh," exclaimed Mr.. Bates,
tits clear to my mind, it's been clear to me
all through, that you've done this gentle
man such a horrible wrong that no fend
could imagine anything worse or more
cruel. Act the man now and own to 1t
clear him, and by so doing sweeten your
own conscience which'll be coming TO you
from God sooner or later. You'll fare less
i'll by Smelling out than by keeping silent.
Look, man, how you are in our power!'
At these words Rotch lifted his eyes
AMI gazed steadily 1T Tom; never could l
have imagined such an expression of hate
in the human face; he gazed, then sank
his eyes again, but never spoke
"Retcb, you shall have time" Tom said.
%
You dictate has been signed by you and
witnessed by those who are in the vesSe i.
Time you shall have; its duration MI.
Bates and l will settle. If, at the expira-
ton IF the time / allow, you refuse to
prove me the innocent man you know me
to be, then, by the eternal God of heaven
and justice. I'll hang you at the yardarm. !"
This said he strobe to the after end of
the cabin, aDd opening the door of the last
berth on the port side, he cried out, walk
in here"
Rotch raised his head and slowly looked
around him. A wonderful change had
happened in the mans countenauce; he
was blOated and swollen. Parts of his
face were livid and parts a CHASTITY white;
his eyes had strained appearance and
seemed to project. l once saw a man
tumble down in ut near my house at
Stepney, and Rotch's face reminded me OF
that man when they turned him over and
lifted his head.
walk into this BERTH" cried Tom.
This time the villain obeyed; he moved
slowly. supporting himself by the table as
he went; he entered the little cabin and
Tom shut the door and locked it,
He's AS much astounded as frightened"
said Bates; surely he'd have thought to
meet any one down here sooner than you.
Where would be reckon you are, Butler, if
not across the seas? Not afl0at and IN
charge of a smart little brig, anyhow"
"Tom," said |, hell hang rather than
confess. Re looked at you with a horribly
malicious, wicked eye"
My sweetheart came to the table and
leaned upon il to breathe and rally. He
was very pale. but his eyes glowed with
the light of savage satisfaction and his
general expression was one of sullen,
wrathful eXultation. The hour was now
about o'clock. We had made no midday
meal; l asked Tom il [ should get some
dinner for the little company of us.
''Ay," said he, but first | want a word
with our new hand. Take the wheel from
him, VIII, and send him i'm
The man Collins entered, dangling his
Scotch cap; he was scared; the pistol re-
Port had nc doubt frightened him heartily:
The wheel stood Immediately in front of
the house. the door and little windows
were open, and the man would need to be
deaf not to hear what bad passed.
"N hat IS your name," said Tom.
John Collins, sir"
what was your rating aboard the Arab
Cbie;?"
able seaman, sir"
''Tm master of this little brig till I find
an owner for her," said Tom. "(Ve're o.
ing to work her north, so as to get Great
Britain handy aboard should any of us
turn sick of the sea and want TO 90 ashore.
We're not bound to the Cape, as You've
been lea to believe. It's ali the same to
you, suppose?
"Pd rather make straight passage
home, OF course" answered the man.
"We're not pirates as what yop'ye hean
listening to might Lead you to fear. You
can cheer up, my lad, reckon that YOU We
got good berth, and that all will 20 we'll
with you. See here. now; | Commanded
the Arab Chief when Rotch was her chief
mate, and Nodder second and carpeDter.,
Those two scOundrels swore that 7 at.
tempted TO scuttle her to defraud the
insurance offices. They brought me be.
fore the court and got me sentenced TO n
term OF TRANSFORMATION. ] happen to be
here in this brig off tie island of Tristan
d'Acunha when they, along with YOU. are
sent aboard me as shipwrecked men want
Collins. Collins, It's large and beau
tifnl mercy shown TO broken
hearted man. ana an opportunity he's
been made too much OF a devil nv
ROtch to despise. Before my two villains
leave this brig they sign a confession.
declaring that their charge against me was
a shocking, horrible lie, that they, them.
selves maze the holes in the bark and hid
the anger in MY cabin. Rotch is the bigger
villain; the other is an llliterate, drunken
scoundrel Rotch shall have time granted
him, II he"
"rom." interrupted, collins wants to
speak"
l had been watching the fellow while
my sweetheart addressed him, and OBJ.
served his face take sort of color, and
grow full of meaning. Tom arrested his
speech; Collins. twisting his Scotch cap in
both hands, exclaimed: captain. IFS
oft while l stood a-listenjng. You'll be
the party meant, and I'll just give you
what's in my head while I've got it. I
was at the wheel one night from 10 to 70
about fortnight afore we was burned out
OF the ship"
You mean the Arab Chief?" said Mr..
Bates.
"Oh. yes cried, wildly. "For Gods
sake. don't interrupt him, Mr.. Bates.'
''Well. as 1 says" continued the man
after pause and slow, unintelligent
stare at me, Il was at the wheel. Nodder.
be had charge of the deck. He'd been
drinking. I'll say hero that that there
Nodder was never off drinking l don't
believe he was sober two hours together
down 10 the moment when we was burnt
cut. He gives me certain course to steer
oy. Twarn't the couIse the chap I'd re-
lleved had named The capt'n-that's
Rotch--comes up. looks into the binn acie.
calls Nodder and hazes him for being
off his course. Nedder gives it him
back. reckon that the capt'n had
taken a drop too much himself. They