The morning call., 1893-05-07

and most of the soldiers looked as sorry q
set Of rOgues as any that were in the snip,
and needed but irons and the barber to
make you suppose them criminals Of the
most desperate kind.
A pause in the proceedings happened
when the last of the soldiers had passed
down the ladder and entered the boat.
Aaron shouted 10 the fiddler to stop his
noise So great was the silence among The
cOnylcts that everything said clearly reached
the ear. The pTze-fighter went into the
gangway aud looked over, and turning TO
some OF the people whom | had taken 10 be
among the chiefs and ringleaders. called
out. There IS roub for as bady agaid"
Tom ard VIII came to the rail and looked
down at the boat. The doctor sat in the
stern sheets with arms folded and head
bowed. He exhibited no signs Of life.
Captain SutheTlsnd's posture was that of a
crushed and broken-hearted man. Igrieved
and could have wept and entreated for the
poor fellow; he was good. harmless sailor
an excellent seaman and his usage was bar
barous, seeing that the conyicts had no
other cause to punish him and revenge
themselves than his being in command OF
the ship.
When Aaron called out, as l have Just said.
Captain Barratt sprang TO his feet and
shouted, w Mhere are my mems wives ana
chIluren? onre not going TO send US
adrIft without them, are you?"
We'll forward eb cd 10 you vhed we've
dud with 'eb. exclaimed Aaron, turning
his head without turning his body and
shouting with his massive hand at the side
of his mouth 'Jodsud," here he addressed
convict named johnson. one OF several
armed men who guarded the entrance of
the main hatch; it was this johnson who
had bawled dawn TO the doctor and others
10 come ur, There's ToOb for twedty. bore
i'd the logboat; call 'em up"
Iom made stride to the head Of the
poop ladder. and in a voice whose accents
rang through the ship like a volley of pistol
shots, shouted: Hold Aaron the next to
come up and enter the lougboat are the
women and children"
The mass of convicts looked up at him;
lndescribable was the effect Of this universal
turning of faces one way.
Dot log ago you wouldn't ave any
thing to do with this business" shouted
Aaron, savagely. What wasd't your busi-
dess thed isd't goig TO be your busidess
dow"
I'm have no discussionl" cried Tom,
with the utmost ferocity! Pm a man of
my word. Blood has been shed, and now
you want to round off the murders with the
most hellish piece OF cruelty ever perpe-
tTated on the high seas. We have lived to-
gether," he cried to them all in clear, fierce.
powerful tones, Tor many months-n the
hulk and here: and | know there are scores
among you who dstest the thought of keep
Ing the poor wo7!en and little children from
their husbands, whose sole fffense has
been their duty. Am l right? You are
under The influence Of men who, as your re-
spOnsDle leaders, elected by yourselves.
should De the last TO advise you 10 blacken
yet what God knows is black enough, BY
iiq tendlsh act OF brutality and inhumanity."
I'VE don't want to be jawed," bawled
tipsy convict; better bring the doctor
aboard again If that's to be the lay"
"Butler!' shouted Aaron. "I'b dabbed if
yon,re gnig TO have your way i'd everything"
"But III have my way in this-PI have
NJ thigP' pripH vii
of madness in his voice, and the look of a
madman in his voice You begged me to
take charge. Fifty OF you whiued and
pettioned me as the only navigator amorg
you to command this shin if you seized her.
And L consented; on what terms? No
cruelty, said, and safety for three friends.
There's to be cruelty now cruelty so hell
lsh that the yilest heart among you must
sicken and shrink, il it will but give the In
tsntion n Thought You're playing me
Don't do it!' he cried, raising his voice
and brandishing his arms at the great mob
below.
l glanced at the lougboat at this moment.
The doctor had pricked his cars. and was
sitting looking ND at the ship with pale
face of astonishmsnt. Captain Barrett
erect in the boat listened and stared.
Captain Sutherland repeated three or four
times WHO is it2 Who is to" for Tom was
lot to be seen then; indeed nobody was
Vi5iDlt alNlb INC WHOle line OF tile SHIP 10
those people low seated, save Aaron Mt the
gangway and the fiddler and me and Win at
the rail.
Some fellow near the mainmast hoarsely
shouted: Butler wants it all his own way.
Let him chuck it and rot. There's Bates.
the mate Of the ship. He's bin ken to
obliee Butter. He's navigator. He'll do
the trick"
Nor thuDdered Bates. roaring oct as
though he were hailng the foretopsail in n
gale OF wind; you've forced me into giving
orders and Pm cursing myself for my cow
ardice. But so Help me, You men, as |
stand here, one ana all Of you, good and
bad, drunk and sober, as you listen, sooner
than that you shall keep the women and
children on the chance of my taking Buffers
place. you may now-now-now." lie roared,
pointing up, turn to and reeve your yard
arm whip and run me aloft. Dye hear me? ?
Now-now! he screamed in the extremity
OF his wrath and resolution and having
spoken he b1cked from the knot of conyicls
out Of the thick of whom he had exclaimed.
put his shoulders against the bulwark.
folded his arms and settled himself firmly
on his legs as man prepared for the worst,
and at that instant he made as heroic fig
ure MS Tom.
Silence followed. The hush was extraor-
dinary. The desp stiffness that lay upon
the white ocean seemed to come into the
ship as spirit. i saw that Aaron was at
loss. He looked savagely about him and