Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-05-24
CHAPTER II.
WHAT HAPPENED ON BOARD THE
"RESOI TTIQN"

WHAT HAPPENED ON BOARD THE
RESOLUTION"
From the foregoing it will be seen
that the storeship Resolution had on
board of her certain persons escaped
from the Penal Settlement at Sydney
and that Joan Locke, her master, had
connived at their escape. This much
is told by the Official records OF the
Settlement. What remains OF this story
is placed together from information
not officially availsble.
The Resolution is standing TO the n.
Y. E, with a fresh breeze abeam and
every stitch of sail set. MIR. John
Locke, who oils his hair and curls his
whiskers," IS walking the poop of his
cumbersome old ship, and the crew,
under the orders of the mates, are lash
ing the movable objects on deck anc
generally getting things ready for sea
before the land is lost sight OF. The
surgeon, Blackburn, as Sergeant Day
calls him in his affidavit, is seated IN
the cabin and whisding softly TO MN
self. every now and then glancing
through the cabin doors, which open on
to the main deck, as if he expected TO
see some one come in.
Captain Locke is fine figure OF a
man, a trifle over six feet in height, not
more than six-and-thirty years OF age
SLOWLY dressed. shining and perfumed,
and altogether justifying, by greasiness
of face and head and general fasnloh
of grooming himself, that serious ale
cation of the master of the Salamanca
in the matter OF hair and Whiskers.
Presently, the land being pretty ell
out Of sight and the night having lallen
enough for the man at the wheel 10 nave
asked for a light for the pinnacle, Mr..
Locke went up 10 the cabin skylgnt
and called down
Step up on deck a moment, BLACK
burn. want YOU
Mr.. Blackburn rose iri leisurely
manner and made his Tay to the poop.
Here | am. What do you want!
The surgeon of the Resolution is a
very different looking person to her
dashing master, being little man OF
very uncertain age and Of an exceeding
" dry and parched aspect, save for his
nose. which resembled that OF one OF
the shocking examples that temper
ance lecturers occasionally bring upon
Tho nlqtform with them to illustrate the
curse of drink. Certainly nc one could
accuse Mr.. Blackburn OF greasing his
hair or whiskers, though his voice
would have been all the better for OIL
i1g-iudging from its tones, which were
MOI unlike the hoarse note OF molly
hawk or BOBBY.
CAPTAIN Locke walked to the beak OF
the poop. followed by the surgeon.
well. we are in for it now, Black
burn. l didn't bargain TO bring away
half the Internal Colony for the sake
of this woman. What the devil shall we
do with them?'
INV dear sir. have thought OF that.
OF course it is inconvenient; but l as
sure YOU that it was unavoidable, ana
we can remedy the mattre later on
That's all very we'll; but the whoie
thing is out. That Jack-in-oflce chief
gaoler. governor. or whatever he calls
himself will report the matter at home,
and we shall he tried for It,.
Pooh! pooh! my dear sir In the first
place, the whole matter VIII De IorSol-
ten by the time we get back; and, by
your plan. supposing it is not forgotten,
there will be no evidence against you,
while You will have my evidence in your
favor"
Il think you might have told me, Jack,
that we were clear of the Heads, and
have let me out of that stuffy cabin of
yours before this.
This from a woman who had sudden
" came upon the poop from the cabin
by way of the ladder on the laboard
side. She was coarsely dressed in the
plain shawl and stuff grey gown OF a
convict Her ungracefu! attire did not,
however, disguise her great personal
beauty. She was about six or eight
and-twenty, tall, dark, and perhaps just
a trine too stout. Her black eyes and
dark flush under the pale olive skin of
her face, suggested the gypsy blood in
her veins. her speech. in her every move
ment.
Send that miserable little rat below"
she said. in quick, imperious tones
quite audible to the surgeon, and indi-
eating him with nod of her dark head.