The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-08-17

rcSi.C me, L noteu th"I lis iace WAS
deadly pale and that his lips wero
tightly compressed.
"My two officers have been mur.
dered, Mr.. Vincent, he fairly gasped.
"Murdered?" exclaimed. 81 have
suspected foul play from the frst
Have you any evidence?"
''lhc best in the world. You have
noticed the big Dane, Qvistgard2"
"That mild-looking fellow with the
red beard?"
"Ies."
why, certainly; but you done
suspect him, l hope"
'Of course not. On the contrary
there Is n mutiny on foot, and he-but
here is note he slipped into my hand
moment ago. Read it for yourself.
Unless you and and this faithful fell
low can Outright or outwit fifteen hell
hounds, we are doomed"
With face that must have been A.
white as the one before me, and hand
that was anything but steady, I picked
up sheet of paper which the captain
had thrown on tho table and read the
following:
Captain-I have just discovered a horrI-
bic plot. All tho crow. except myself, have
mutinied. Tho mates were Knocked on tho
hotd AMI thrown overheard. yoG vii, share
the SanN Iatc when you como on deck to re-
lirv" tho watch tonight, unless you heed
th's warninJ. Meet mo ten minutes before
mo c!oSe OF the second dug-watch, Just Mt
tho main hntchway, and will tell you every
thing. In tho mean time do not speak 20 mo
or send for me. for wo arc closely watched.
| am suppose to side with tho crew. Tne
least mistake would he fatal. Don't toll tho
passenger. Un may be all right. hut / doubt
IT. For Coils sake, captain, don't &C near
the rail-"
"Don't tell tho passenger, I NUT
tered rs looked ut the captain, not
only horror stricken Mt the contents of
the note, but surprised and hurt at tho
uncomplimentary reference to myself.
But the captain, who must have d.
vined my thoughts, relieved my mind
on this point by saying:
"That's all right, my dear Vincent.
The fellow is only triho over eau
tious. Don't mind him. 1 would
trust You with the ship. and my life
too, for that matter. Yor see have
shown my confidence by allowing you
to read the note. Now, want your
advice. Your assistance 1 shall count
on without asking, when the time
comes"
"Thank you, captain" answered..
''To start with, l should certainly not
go on deck till it is time to meet the
Dane, if [ were You.
My companion had now regainod
his composurc to II certain extent, and
sat for moment drumming tho table
with his fingers.
'Who has the watch now?" / con-
tinucl presently.
"Uutton, the tall seaman with the
red scar on the back of his hand" was
tho answer. Gle is acting rs first
mate, and hnd decided to give Jones.
the little Wclshman, the position of
second tomorrow. Both are fairly
good navigntors, and, by all the gods,
! cant understand it! 1 could have
sworn that these two men were rs truo
rs the dead mates ever were, until l
got this w 'rning from QvistSard. But
he is right. my boy, he is right. All
this comes from that unfortunate
Batos affair. | wonder who is the
leader? If he could be shot or placed
in irons, it might qucll the others.
Have you apistol?"
GA small pocket affair."" answered.
81 have two large ones and n repeat
ing rifle in my chest" continued the
captain. Glow would it do to batten
down the hatchway Of the forecastle
when part of the dogs are below Mt
supper and pump lead into the rest Of
them? don't believe they are armed,
unless they have a few knives. We
could then make for the nearest port"
"Bcttcr wait till you see the Dane"
| replied. ''Ilc may be ablo to give
You the name Of the leader"
For an hour or more VIC continued
to plan, but without being able to de-
eide on anything definite. At last it
WAS agreed that should go on deck
and see what could he learned there.
In halG-anhour | returned with any
thing but favorable news. The men
were talking Suardedly in groups, and
when | passed near them they quickly
dispersed. The big Dane was leaning
over the rail near the log, silent, and
apparently y watching with absorbed at
tcntlon the receding, foam-capped
waves in the ships wake.
Before sundown, all our weapons
had been oiled, examined, and loaded,
the captain and myself secreting the
revolvers about our persons, and Ieav-
ing the rifle for the Dane.
The sky had clouded over late in
the afternoon, and night, gloomy and
foreboling, settled down on the
schooner.
'The very elements seem to be in
sympathy with this cursed business"
said the captain, when it began to
grow SO dark III the cabin that we
could hardly make out each others
faces, "and | feel as if tho jig was
about up with me.
AS soon rs tho last streak of day
had disappeared, the captain, revolver
in hand, mounted the companionlad
der and stole softly on deck. 1 fol-
lowed him part way, but stopped, ac-
cording to his directions, and stood
with my head and shoulder above tho
companionway ready, in case of en-
ergency, to lend assistance that might
lie In my power
| never looked into blacker night.