The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-06-11

pf0nt man II He gain the whole world
| and lose his own soul?"
"Oh, don't begin TO preach here. he re
turned Impatiently. Your wages are
liberal now, but they shall be raised high
er If you demand: and if We can run a
cargo safely INTO a West Indian port. you
are entitled tO,tWO nIggers In every hun
dTed as your commissions. All you'N
have TO do is just to carry on the duty
and serve your employers just as You
wOnld on any other voyage"
Have you been in the slave-trade be-
foIe?" | asked
Have |? OF course, or they wouldn't
have been likely to give me the command
OF this vessel. We had d great streak of
luck while ! was mate of the Harlequin.
We ran three carg0es across safely, and
landed them in far order. | made a fat
thing Of 1t, | assure You; and if | can run
clear this time, with my pay and commits
Sons | shall have no need 10 try 1t again
unless | choose
As | looked and listened il was difficult
to believe that MY playmate. Joe Calder,
was before me. But whatever he might
do, or however he might argue the mat
ter, had no idea of selling my integrity
at the price of two per cent. commission
tii u tuiSo III HiIildl lleSA huNi DlbONl'
Though had been a wandering seaman,
rough, and IN some respects reckless, and
was as poor as on the day | first went to
sea, | had always. hitherto, preserved my
conscience clear 1t was my best bower
anchor, and so / told the captain.
"Gorham," said he, You'll find Your
conscience a bothersome shIpmate in this
business, and if you'll take my advice,
You'll throw II overheard. | don't know
though, why You need let your conscience
trouble you, since you shipped in lgnOr-
ance Of cur real object; and of course you
are IN for 1t now, for lis too late to turn
back. You can just 90 on with yOur
duty, and leave the responsibility upon
me and the owner. Our shoulders are
broad enough to take the whole burden.
Il can't quiet my conscience with any
snch logic as that. am in for it as You
say, and 1t is too late to go back. | have
no power, either, to alter the object of the
voyage. But | tell You now | will have
nothing to do with kidnapping human
beings, either black or white, if / can help
it, and will leave your vessel at the first
opportunity with your consent, If can
get il If not, without it. As for the com
missions you speak of, | would not ac-
cept the whole cargo If offered me unless
it were to have the pleasure Of setting
them free"
II would, then" returned the captain
with loud laugh, and touch the doub-
lOOLs for them. | must confess m dis
appointed in yOu, GOrham, for | didn't
expect to find any seaman with those soft
feelings. GOu talk more like il parson
than mate of ship. Still I don't mean
to say that yOu are not a good officer, sea
man and navigator We understand each
other now. at any rate. If you leave the
vessel before the voyage is up, you'll have
to run from her, for | shall not make out
your discharge. And hope you'll think
better of this before we make the land.
and see 1t in a different hight"
Never SAID | firmly, as | Turned to
go on deck.
The subject was, by kInd of tacit un-
derstanding, dropped between rs, and
matters went on, while the Bloomer sped
on her course for the Gmena coast. |
could we'll understand that Calder did
rot mean TO have me leave the vessel. at
least before his cargo was made up, for
fear OF my dropping some information
that night lead to his capture; and that
he would, even, If necessary, restrain me
on board by force. Bnt he need not have
feared me after | was clear of the barque,
| like the generality of seamen | was strong
| ly averse to playing the part Of an in
| former, even In a case where | could feel
morally justified IN doing SO.
The same day that we made the land
| an English man Of-war brig gave chase
to us As it soon became evident that
| she was more than our match IN speed
we hove 10 like an innocent trader, and a
| boat was sent 10 board and examine MS.
! As she drew near. the captain called me
| below for a confidential word. "Mr. Cor
! ham," said he, we understand each other
| ] believe as to our opinions Of the busl-
ness we are 10. There is nothing about
| the vessel or her fittings that will lay us
| liable to SEIZURE; and don't fear this
! British officer unless some one turns 10
| former by giving him some hints If |
| thought you would do it." he continued
with a bitter oath. Il would shoot you
with my own hand, in spite OF old friend
! ships and the real regard | have for you
You needn't burden yourself with the
! cause" | answered, for | am willing c
make fair agreement with You. If yon
will land me at any settlement OF whites
where | can get away from the cursed
| coast, ! promise to hold my peace and SAY
/ HDlHlu8 " blIlB YOU III W lIoIbIC
Il will bind myself to discharge you az
soon as have made my voyage sure anC
ready 70 run westward again. Aud yor
shah be paid the fnll amount Of you1
wages up to that time. Bat | can't will
safety to myself let you go sooner"
| was fam to content myself with these
terms. and thus I became, to n certain
extent, party in great wrong. 1t was
! | know false sense of honor that re
| strained me. IN thus declining TO do wha
| was right because it wOuld lnjure the IN
terests of my captain and employers. Blu
1t was as good, perhaps, as the oft-quOt
ed patriotic cry, Oar country right o
wrong
The examination of tie vessel and be
papers developed nothing to excite th
suspicious of the boarding officer but a
| ! afterWard learned. one of the seamer
who. like myself had been antrapped int
what they believed was an honest palm
oil cruise was not as scrupulOus as my
self He found an opportunity 10 whls
per his opinion of the real character c
our enterprise TO some OF the boats cre'
and. as consequence. We were never los
sight of from that day forward, while o
| the coast. Many were the lodges W
, played upon the cruisers, and at las
Calder thought he had shaken off pursui
end We ran INTO an anchorage at th
mouth of river, where the human cattl
were herded in the barracoon, ready fC
, shipment.
A few hours, now, would decide tt
success or failure of the voyage, and tet
, the captains sincerity as regarded b
, promise to discharge me before leavin
! the coast. But we had not received MOI
than half the blacks on board. when as
the avengers had been watching from &
! ambush until sure of the evidence of ol
GU H. three armed boats made their q
pearance rounding bend within half
mile and heading directly for MS.
! The barque had been fitted to rely {
= speed and stratagem for success in Tu,
. ming the gauntlet of the cruisers, and pc
l ses-c>, no adequate means of repellil
Il force by force. But we had one lit
Z brass swivel which was capable of son
u l E