The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-07
CHAPTER x.

This, then, as reasoned it out 10 NV
self. was York's idea and no doubt it
was In his mind when he came aboard
at the Cape. His talk of the islands and
the goldfields had excited and corrupted
the crew and probably the guards. The
convicts were to be released, the ship
seized, and those in possession would
then go their own way. York would be
the nominal captain, but could not
doubt that Ben johnson would be the
actual ruler and leader. did not be-
lieve the crew as whole would go into
such a thing if they believed that MUIR
Ger was to be done. They would stipu-
late that officers and passengers were to
be marooned on some island and given
a chance for life. They had been we'll
used, well fed and had no grudges to
satisfy. They had been led from the
path of duty by the smooth talk of the
villain York, but they could not wish
rs harm.
/ could not be sure that all the crew
had entered into the plot. There were
at least three middle aged, steady going
men who had probably not been APP
preached, but this would not help us out
much. When the moment of revolt
came, they would be looked out for, and
when they found the bark in possession
of the mutineers they would be COM
PEELED to strike hands with them. With
the convicts numbering more than three
to one, and with at least score of sail
ors among them, and perhaps at least
one navigator, II was easy enough to
arrive at the result. They might not
maroon the crew or send them adrift,
but the chances were even up that they
would, retaining only the services of
York.
To fully realize the state of affairs
you must understand sailors nature.
/ doubt If abuse or starvation could
have driven our crew to mutiny. The
average sailor has lively imagination.
He is a good listener. A smooth tongued
liar can convince him against his will.
He is always signing for lazy life,
and though he is wasteful Of his money
the idea of having plenty of it will lead
him into almost anything. The pictures
York had drawn Of the goldfields and
the green islands of the Indian ocean
had corrupted them and blinded them
to consequences.
You will ask why did not at once
let them know was in possession OF
their secret and take prompt measures
to check the contemplated revolt. l an
swer that because such step OH my
part would have brought things to 6
head at once and insured our destruc
ton. And, too, was not sure they
were fully committed to the plot. ano
should we chance to fall in with anoth
er man-of war or overhaul q merchant
man and keep her company it would al
ter their plans materially. went tt
Captain Clark with my information, o
course. He was just able to move abou
and in a nervous state, and dared no
tell him as much as have told you. III
reflected for awhile after hearing m.
story, and then said:
"Well, Ralph, / do not see that W.
can do more than is being done. If tn
crew is with the convicts, they can TAX
the bark at any hour it pleases them
and our only hope is that they may de
lay until we sight man-of-war.
that case we could straighten out affair
very quickly. AS we have been far OF
our course, and as York has had m
means of ascertaining our position 10
many days past, there will be no NOV
for a day or two yet. He won't want
take charge Of ship without KNOWN
what course to sail her. 7"
This was good philosophy, and too
care to give no one the latitude an
longitude as worked out from the moo
observations OH the next two days. YORK
as l learned from Haskell, made repea,
ed efforts to secure the results of my ca
culations and was seemingly much pu
ont over his failures. changed tn
course of the ship twice in the two day
{ in order to further mystify him.
In the morning watch OF the thlr
day after my conversation with Hawle
I in the lazarette we sighted n ship beal
ing up to us from the south, and pres
emily made out that sho was an Amer
can whaler. AS she drew near she he'
n signal that she wished to speak III
! and an hour later her captain was pull
| ed to the Hindu's side i'll his own boa
, I met him at the rail and conducte
/ him to the cabin for an interview wit
Captain Clark. He introduced himse
as Captain Lewis Holt of the New Bee
ford whaler Good Luck, which ma
then been cruising for a year and hal
His GRAND aboard of us was to replei
ish his medicine chest. and as this wa
his first visit to a convict ship he wa
naturally curious. He witnessed the OF
CREATIONS of a gang taking their mornin
wash up, and almost by accident hear
some one speak the name of York. ID
instantly turned to me and asked;
"Have you got mate aboard by thu
name?"
"No, I picked up man by that nam
at Cape Town, who claimed to nav
been third mate Of a whaler, bnt ne
acting as guard over the convicts.
Light hair, blue eyes, large nos
two front teeth gone, great talkerr