The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-14

with an indescribable smirking grin of ad-
miration, as though struck by his familiar
acquaintance with land entirely out of
sight.
But my words" continued my sweet
heart, give only few who are educated
among you any ideas. Yet | can tell
you no more than this: that we are IN the
heart of the great Atlantic Ocean, and that
huge world Tor choice IS spread on either
hand. away IN the Pacific round Cape Horn,
and away in the Indian and Southern
oceans round the Cape Of Good Hope.
Where shall | carry you 10 ?"
\ number of convie;s spoke at one.
"Wud at a tibe !-Wud at tibe" yelled
Aaron. ---.--
Lets go home" shouted a man on the
quarterback
Debate it," said Aaron.
An uneasy stir ran through the mass of
| the conylcts, and long. deep growl Of dis
sent.
"Homer" cried Tom passion ateIy.
"How's homo called in English? What's
it's name? Is it Newgate or MilIbank o.
her Majesty's ship Warrior? Is it the
dockyaId and the arsenal and irons and
handouts, cursiDg warders and carbines
ready for your brains? You want my ad-
vice; I'll counsel you
Some angry laughter broke from the
men;
who's the madman that talks of home?"
shouted Tom. Shall | sail you up the
Thames and moor ye alongside the hulk
Is Plymouth your port. or do you choose
Portsmouth,"
"Wny not try for the Islands about
Torres Straits exclaimed one of the
convcts who had been seaman, Several
baw!ed to know where Torres Straits
were.
TO the norrard of Australia" replied
the convict There the seas thick with
Islands. Plenty to eat and drink, mates,
and casting away ship is as easy ard safe
as drawing cork.
"Ain't Norfolk Island hard by?" ex-
claimed another.
My idea" said ringleader. raising his
voice as he oYerhung the poop rail, lis to
beach the vessel on the west coast of
Africa; there We breaks up into parties and
disperses, and every party has their yarn
ready manufactured to accoun. for their
selves agin being met with or falling in
with a settlement"
Were you ever ashore on that'coast?"
exclaimed Tom.
No" answered the man.
Then put this picture before you. one
ana ALL Tor who address you know what
l am saying: Not patch of verdure-
leagues OF sand like glass glaring and shin
lng-a few half-starYed jackals "a few
bushinen who live on beetles and putrefed
seals and 90 clothed in sinking sheen
skins-a hare or Two at long intervals and
night like lantern looming in vapors--
here and there penguns braying, here and
there sea fewls shrieking-and the surf
roaring always Is that gond enough for
you? You'd be clean-plcked bones in a
week"
All This while the ocean remained BREATH
less. Far away were the two black specks
ot quarterboats. and beyond was the
CLEAN OF the lnngboats sail, a point of
light under the horizon like the image of a
Star. Fortunately for the conyicts, the Law
oil the yards flung the shadow of the canvas
upon the deck otherwise il was broiling
where the sun was. The poop was shell
tered by the awning that stretched from
the mZZenmast to the brass rail. MANY of
the people stood with their coats over their
arms and their shirts open; n mist rose
from them; | figured how it had been al
NIGHT In their quarters when / saw that
mist and the mOtIonless windsails and the
main hatch half sealed with its cage-Iike
barricadP.
MAY speak," cried a man on the
quarterback. lifting up his hand
TO the poit," answered Aaron. Every
bad with ad idea bay speak; but to the
poit."
Here's big shir," said the man, in
very fair cultivated accent Che was about
SIX and twenty years OF age) had held a
situation as clerk and had been sem
fenced Tor forgery. land we're a numerous
anu pohel LuI many Oh determined men.
needing nothing but the organization that
Captain Buffers capable Of. | propose
That we chase small vessels and capture
them. send their crews adrift like those
y0nder. man each captured craft with
number of ourselves, every lot con-
tanning n proportion Of those who
are sailors or who have followed the
sea. THIS would dispense US. Every
crew would do as they thought proper
with their own craft. l should be for
wreckng mine on some safe coast near a
town where we could represent ourselves
as castaways."
The cOnvicts listened with close atlen-
ton Aaron looked at Tom. who made no
sign.
What dye say to 1t. ButlerP" shouted
a fellow.
do what you please" answered my
sweetheart.
Advise u.s." said the hare-lpped man.
rs landlubber's fancy" said Tom.
"A number oil men talked at once. One
OF the original crew of the Childe Harold
roared out: IT'S smothering rotl The
captn's laughing at you. Chase! In n
craft arter this pattern. with twelve or
fourteen hands and working crew, ne'er
great gun nor "a soul saving the eaptn
ana The mate as nd be capable Of nayigat-
ing them small craft after they was
boarded and takenw He spat hard and
turned his back in contempt.
My notions been this all through tho
blushen piece" said bee.le-browed. flat
nosed, rufianly looking convict. sail to