The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-01-02


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.
''It was a 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.
"On September the attack was
made. He stood near the captains cab
in to protect it's 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.
"It 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.
"I 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 l have to say to
you is, get away from the coast, after
you have landed as soon as possible,
change your 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 a way that will do you credit, and
repay me for giving you your freedom
tonight
'The tears stood in the convict's
eyes as he thanked his benefactor, and
grasped his hand.
Sir, I shall take your advice. NY
little bit of good was almost gone by
the brutal treatment have suffered
for I don't think killed that game
keeper, but even if I did, it was purely
accidental. You have proved to me
that all the kindness and gratitude are
not yet gone out of the world, and I
hope some day to be able to show you
how appreciate it.
"Within a few minutes more the boat
had landed him on the mainland. He
watched it return to the ship, and then
departed.
'It was six years after this that, with
money made in sheep farming, Joseph
Turnell, the former convict, turned up
at Ballarat just as the first rush of the
gold fever occurred. 1t was Turnell
who bought the great tract of land
which was afterward discovered to be
almost wholly gold under the surface,
and who sold it, after getting some
thousands out of it, for a very large
sum. But nobody in England or Aus
tralia, when Joseph Turnell's name was
mentioned, ever thought for moment
that he was the escaped convict about
whom such a stir had been made at
home, both on his escape, and later,
when dying tramp confessed that it
was his gunshot that memorable night
which killed the keeper.
"Joseph Turnell was wealthy, and had
married dear girl in Victoria, who had
borne him a daughter ere she died
Need l go on, Emily? You have guessed
! it all! He came to England and took
the name of Harry Vane, owing to hav.
ing had some estates left him, as he told
his friends; in reality, to throw any
chance old acquaintance off the scent
There is no fear now of any discovery
or disagreeable thing happening. felt
nervous the first year or two, but now
the only two who know all this are you
and l, for even the good old captain is
dead. So, you see, was imprisoned un.
justly after all, but it has turned out
a good thing for me in the end. And
now you have wealth and beauty,
wanted, for my own ambition, to see
you lady by title and position, and the
earl of Seacroft could have no finer
countess nor you more desirable hus'
band"
She sat pale and agitated, yet smiling
now, for was not her dear father free OF
that awful, even if unintentional, crime
which had made her feel SO sick as he
told her the story?
$50 you think l must choose Lord
Seacroft?" asked she.