The herald., 1896-06-14

mo, not to England. I am going to land
theme here-every one of them. All hands
insist upon it. 1t has got to be done"
Barker sprang to his feet my God! you
can't be such villain, Captain Locke! My
daughter shall go to England! You don't
mean to say that you would betray us like
| this?'
The man had changed. All his former
servility had disappeared. and dangerous
| look came into his eyes. Locke began to
get frightened, and looked 1t, although he
had a loaded pistol in the breast of his
coat.
! "Oh, come, Barker, I can't stand that
sort of language. I am master Of this
ship you know"
"But your promises? Wha, is to be-
come of my unfortunate daughter? Good
God! Captain Locke. would you land her
among cannibals? Better for her had she
never escaped from the Settlement If this
is to be her fate"
He had come round to Locke's end of
the table now, and was standing beside
him. speaking quietly enough, but yet
with suppressed anger, and fear struggling
for mastery within him.
"Now, now, Barker, that is nonsense.
Chu assure yOu ludL uOI luo Sll6uLeSI udTul
will come to any one landing here. The
| natives are quiet, wouldn't hurt child.
And your daughter, with the others, can
remain here until the next ship comes
afong-a matter of a few months-and then
get away again as shipwrecked people.
Anyhow, can't and won't risk any more,
and take these people further
| The old seaman passea his hand across
| his brow in a dazed manner, and then
| spoke in husky tones.
Captain Locke. for Gods sake,
sir! . Look here, sir, have strug-
| gled and slaved and saved my every penny
to raise that hundred guineas to get my
daughter away from that convict hell;
|. and now, just as we have met after
three long years, you would part us again!'
Locke, still seated in his chair and feeling
the butt of his pistol. screwed up courage
enough to look into Barker's face
Certainly not. You will go with her.
The mate stepped back and drew deep
breath. "You damned scoundrel! May
God Almighty punish you for this" and
then without another word he turned on his
heel and walked out of the cabin.
minute after Locke followed and gave
orders to the second mate to lower away the
waist whaleboat. Assembled near the lad
der was a party OF five men and one wo-
man, getting ready to leave the ship.
The woman was Barker's daughter.
What her offence had been for which she
was transported to Botany Bay does not
here matter. She was tall and dark like
Mrs. Morgan, but not beautiful like her.
| This was the first time she had been seen
| on deck in daylight during the twenty
eight days voyage from Sydney Cove. She
had ate and drank and slept in her fathers
cabin, waited upon him with the tenderest
solicitude, and he lying upon the cabin
deck just beneath her bunk had pleasantly
dreamed of the happy life they would lead
together once more in England. Only at
night time, when 1t was her fathers watch,
would she come on deck. and then the
timid, shrinking creature would some-
times remain with him till he was reliev-
ed, fleeing below, however, on those few oc-
casions when either Locke or Mrs. Morgan
had come on deck.
The boat was ready, so the second mate
reported to Locke in whisper. Silence
had been maintained SO far. The crew,
gathered for'ard in group, were looking
sourly at the five men and the woman,
when Barker stepped out Of the cabin, car
rying bundle of clothing.
For moment he looked at the men
for'ard and then spoke.
well, lads this is poor way to serve
me like this. If you are honest men you
would stand by me, II only for the sake
of an innocent woman
Some mutterings followed, but none Of
the men answered.
The old mate gazed scornfully at them
for moment or two and then stepped over
to the group by the ladder and took his
daughters hand. Suddenly he stepped out
again and looked up to Locke who stood at
the beak of the poop.
"Where is that woman, Morgan, Captain
Locke? Why is she not here with us to
share our fate? If these five people are
escaped convicts and endanger your safety
how does it fall out that she, who is also
convict, remains on board?"