The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-11-12
like to hear about that"

Melbourne and Liverpool, some tWen
tvfive years ago. | shall never for
get the first voyage [ made with him
Vessels did not 90 so fast then a.
they do now, and | remember that W.
were just five months and three day>
from Phillips Dock, Liverpool
Our freight was gold dust for the
return trip, and the worst of it was
that we could get crew only Of con
yicts. Our own sailors caught the
gold-fever, which was running very
high then, and while the ship was
lying at Melbourne ran away to the
gold fields to prospect for themselves
These cOnvicts We're old sailors who
had been transported for crime. but
who had served out their terms and
wished TO return to England by work
ing their passage. David that was
husbands name-said we could do nc
better thar to take them; and he had
not the slightest fear that they would
make any trouble; they were too
anxious to get back to England.
All seemed to go we'll for a while,
but after we had been out to sea for
some time, it seemed to my husband
as if the Bonanza was a little off her
bearings; so the first bright day he
took an observation. He was shut up
for about an hour making the calcn
latiOns. When he came ont saw by
his face that something was wrong
He went aft and spent some time
with the helmsman. He had found
that the Bonanza was off her bearings
sure enough, The man at the wheel
told him that she wouldn't mind hel
helm that she was water logged
This got about among the passengers.
and they began to be nervous; so my
husband announced that he would
make an examination, and invited two
Of the passengers to accompany him
into the bold They went down into
the lower hold, where the ballast is
slowed, and found that the ship was
all right. The captain sent the boat
swain aloft to give out through the
trumpet that the report was false.
After this | could see that David
was uneasy, although | did not then
understand why.
L awoke one night just before
seven bells struck. When | heard the
bells, / knew it was only half past
three, and was trying to get to sleep
again, when my ears, which are ex
ceptionally quick, caught a peculiar
scraping sound under the berth There
would not seem to 5e anything alarm
ing about this, for most ships are full
of rats, but the fact was, that the gold
tank was built into the ship under the
captains berth, the only entrance
being by trap-door. If this scrap
ing came from the tank, it could not
be rats, for no rat who had any respect
for his teeth would be likely to ex-
pertinent on the zinc lining A few
nights afterward | heard the noise
again, and felt sure that it was some
sharp instrument working on a metal
lie surface. [ awakened David, but
he could not hear anything, and said
that il must be my imagination.
"SoOn after this. [ noticed that a
curious change had come over Arnie,
our caEin-boy His whole name was
Arnold Mcintyre. He was really
very young for the place, but | had
been pleased with his appearance and
induced my husband TO take him.
This was the boys first trip. His
father had been prosperous squat
ter in Australia, a Scotchman by a
birth, and fine man.
''One night the father was awakened
by the barking of the dogs, End on
going to the door found a gang of
bushrangers surrounding the house.
They evidently knew that he had been
selling cattle that day and had
brought home large sum of money
1t is not likely that they intended to
harm him, for it was only the money
that they were after, but he showed
fight and knocked two of them down
"Well the end of it was that the
poor ScOtchman got bullet through
his head, and the bushrangers rode
away with everything valuable Mrs.
lntyre was pever the same again.
She lost her wits, let the baby fall on
its head Tin consequence of which it
died not long afterward), and she
took no notice of Arnie. He was a
bright clever lad, and il seemed a
pity that he should go to destruction.
so we took care of him. He was very
fond of Us, and | took great pleasure
in teaching him, for he was very
grateful and quick scholar
''Ajl at once, as | said. a great
change seemed to have come over
him. He came into the cabin one
morning as white as piece of canvas,
and | noticed that his arm shook so
that he had to carry the captains
cotfee-cup with both hands. He de
clared he was we'll. and seemed to be
startled when we spoke suddenly to
him; but during breakfast I often
noticed that he was gazing at us with
an indescribable expression. l have
seen something like it In the face of a
dumb animal when it is trying in vain
to make itself understood by human
being.
4 was sitting on deck with my
work, one pleasant morning soon
after, when, happening to need book
which was below. | sent Arnie down
to get it. When lie handed it 10 me
there was folded slip of paper be
tween the leaves; a single word was
scrawled upon 1.-THE word 'Mutiny'
That day, when we had finished
our dinner, the captain rose in his
place and made ehort speech. He
said something like this.
Ladies and gentlemeG. l wish to
have few straight words with you.
l do not wish to cause alarm. Land hope
there is no OCCASION for any, but
think it best that there should be a
fair understanding between Us. as to
how matters stand. | have reason to
believe that all is not right on board,
that there IS mischief brewing among
the crew If | can have the support OF
the passengers. feel sure that | can
manage the men. There must be nc