The Forrest City times., 1895-12-13

now you must share it. | feel | should
not be doing right if let you choose
to-day without telling you of it, When
you have heard my story, you must
| choose for yourself, and be assured
your choice, whichever it is, will please
me. As for what you will hear, it will
/ remain your secret and mine; | shall
Keep 1t as before, and | must beg of you
to do the same all your life, even from
| your husband"
Emily sat in doubt and fear, sure that
her Kind father who had SO loved her
would not tell her anything to distress
her, if he could help it; and yet anxious
as to what such an awful secret could
be. The master of Olton sat in a chair
with his face away from the light.
watching intently that dear, sweet face
| CT his daughter, upon which the full
sunlight shone.
"Ihirty-five years ago a convict ship
was sailing from England for Botany
bay, under the command of brave cap
tain and crew. There were no fewer
than 40 convicts ON board-desperat
fellows of every descriptions: thieves,
highwaymen, manslayers, all kinds of
villains. Among them was one whose
case had excited much interest at home,
since many people believed him inno-
cent-morally, at any rate-of the
crime he was said to have committed.
Among a gang of poachers one night
he, their superior in rank. had had the
misfortune to shoot one of the keepers
,bD haI g.
tackled them. The shot had killed the
keeper, hut there was some doubt as to
whose gun it had come from, and when
the convict in question was arrested and
| charged the keepers swore that he had
fired the shot. For himself, he knew
not whether this was so; several of his
fellow poachers said he was innocent,
and that the real culprit had escaped.
His sentence, however, was that of
penal servitude at Botany bay for life
probably the doubt alone saved him
from being hanged.
Naturally his spirit was CALLED; he
| became morose, wild, severe in aspect
as in temper, and his reputation on the
convict ship was that of the worst
criminal on board. He rebeled at his
jailers, at his food, at his confinement
and felt ready for any dark deed. The
chance soon came. The vessel was of
the Cape of Good Hope, some miles
away, when he first got knowledge of
a projected mutiny, in which the cap
tain, crew and jailers were all to be
murdered; and the successful mutt
neering convicts were then to steer for
some unknown point in Africa and land
there.
at was desperate scheme, and with
the mutiny he was thoroughly in uni
son. but not with the murder. He was
| not yet as black as that, and tried hard
to dissuade his fierce companions from
it, but in vain. AS they persisted in
their plans, he felt that all he could do
vas to keep quiet till the time for action
came; but the captain and his wife
had been really kind to him, and he de-
termined they should not die. Yet he
would not betray his companions, like
a coward.
ION September s the attack was
made. He stood near the captains cab
in to protect its unsuspecting inmates.
When the mutineers, having seized the
watch on deck and killed them, came
rushing down, he ordered them back
from that cabin; they refused to go,
and fight ensued. The captain became
reused. the alarm was given, and, after
a desperate resistance. the rebels were
overpowered and put in irons. The
captain begged of the guards to set
the convict who had saved his life at
liberty, but they declined, pretending
that, in reality, he was as bad as the
rest. So he was closely guarded.
1T was on touching at Perth that
the captains opportunity came. Hav-
ing secured the cooperation of his
mates, he entertained the whole of the
guards to dinner one evening, and made
them hopelessly drunk. In the mean
| time, one of his party contrived to Sc
cure possession of their keys. and in "A
few moments the convict's irons had
| been loosened and he was free. The
| captain himself came and shook hands
with him ere he sent him off in the
boat which was waiting for him.
| 81 know said he, that what have
done for you is risky, and may cost me
something if my part is discovered;
but you saved my life, so l will take
| this risk to save you from the crushing
penal servitude. All have to say to
you is, get away from the coast, after
you have landed as soon as possible,
change Jour name and appearance as
much as you can; go into some honest
business, and though it is not likely, if
ever | do hear of you again, let it be in
such way that will do you credit, and
repay me for giving you your freedom