The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-07-22

that. How the slave trade counts
against o man nowadaysl Call me if 1t
freshons."
Tho mato was alono again. His ac-
cidentGl and unnecessary proposition
to work up the mon, coupled with the
mention of Billings hnsty temper,
gave form to his speculations. Bill.
lings knew his place and work too well
to ever put himself in the way of pun
ishment, but, worked up with the
rest, ho would probably join them in
rebellion. Thon, Gs one of q mutinous
crew, he could be disposed OF. He
would mako sure OF that.
Next day the working up began. All
hands were kept on deck in the after
noon. Unnecessary repetition of or
dors, oaths, epithets and insults fol-
lowed the crew as they hurried around
| the deck or worked in the rigging.
Man after man was sent from the
wheel until Billings took the helm,
when even tho critical mind of the
mate could find no fault with the steer
| ing, No matter how suddenly he ap
peared at the binnacle he only found
the ship on her course exactly. And
Billings, though always respectful,
did not hesitate 60 occasionally fix the
calm, open blue eyes on the scowling
viage of the mate in an expressionless
stare-not too prolonged, yet enough
to crowd the evil heart into tho throat
aud stiae the words of abuse he longed
to utter. There had been no further
recognition between the two,
At the end of week the exasperat-
ed men were ripe for mutiny and muF-
der, which Billings's influence alone
prevented. One night as they hauled
aud painted like overladen horses on
tho forebrace, and the mato stood
amidships pouring forth volleys Of in
vective and mnlediction, q marlinspiko
whizzed past his ear from tho dark
ness near the forerigging and buried
itself IN inch deep in the woodwork OF
the cabin. He fired his pistol for
ward, but struck no one. 1t was not
Billings who had 5arown 1t, as he had
hoped on the moment Billings was
perched on the rail looking forward.
But Billings was the one man there
who had seen the missile thrown, and
in the forecastle DISCUSSION which fol-
lowed took q position against tuch
methods, losing thereby his ascend
ency over his mates and only regain
ing it Ly knocking down the marlin
spike thrower and two other oppo.
nents.
"If the time comes," he said, "when
we will bo justified in the courts,
you'll find me ready to put the after
guard in irons and take the ship home.
Meanwhile I've no desire to hang or
60 to prison."
But Billings himself was not infalli-
ble. Under the outward semblance OF
calm was the hot resentment of q self
respecting man at the insults, often
now, lovelod at bim directly. AS the
captain had testified, his failures IN
life had all been due to hasty action,
and for the sake of the littlo wife and
babies at home he had begun again at
the bottom, resolved to suffer and sub.
for it. The mates persistent persecu-
tion slowly undermined this resolution,
and ono night ho gave way.
Sitting astride the extreme end of
the main topsail yard; passing and
heaving out the weather reef-earing,
while his fellows on the footrope lifted
tho sail out to him. he listened with
bursting heart TO the copious flow of
impersonsl abuse which the strident
voice of the mate carried up to them.
And when his pame was called, cou-
pied with foul epithet, the darkness
of tue night turned red. All details
of spar, rigging and decA, and the
forms of his shipmates were swallowed
in tho crimson background. He saw
nothing but the form anduplifted face
of the mate, nearly beneath HIM.
Tho HEAVIER in his hand swung above
his head and whirling downward,
struck the deck at the mates feet and
bounded high in air over the lee rail.
Then, tho vicious bark of pistol was
heard and q dim gray cloud OF smoke
followed the HEAVIER to leeward.
Shot from yardGrm. How many
times has this happened in the carly
days of the century.
Billings rolled backward and with
limbs xtended-straight and stiff,
turned slowly over as ho fell and dis
appeared an the water, feet first, close
to the side of the ship CLOSE enough
to be saved by rope had he appeared
and one been thrown.
Putting his smoking pistol in his
pocket, Mr.. carp cut short the chucklC
in his throat to roar out: "Reef that
sail; finish that Job, you luDbers." Al
they were anything but lubbers they
finished it. OF what need TO describe
the munity which followed. A cap
tain, two mates and a steward, armed
with shotguns, aud helped by Il car
} penter with a formidable broadax
can, as q rule, quell any mutinous up
! rising of unarmed sailors that may oc
} cur. This is what happened, and witt
three wounded men IN the forecastle
discipline was restored. But u storm,
discussion took place in the cabin be
/ tween Captain Smith and the first of
: ficer, fragments of which reached til,
cars of tine man at the wheel and tn,
, working up ceased.
About 10 o'clock on a calm, sultry
. evening, about Q week after, the frs
officer and the steward descended
( with lantern, to discover the where.
alputs of certain cabin stores which
! the former had slowed in port.
''I put them here" said th5 mate
} "oloso up to tho cabin trunk; you