Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-01-21

courage which enforces obedience al
most without command. The "lnf1u'
ence" which forced him into tho posi-
ton should he held to account.
We had many days of fine weather
after the man-of-war left us, and no
convict ship ever held her course under
more favorable auspices 1t was during
this period that began to see more OF
Mary Williams. have admitted that l
had taken a great fancy to the girl.
You may even call it case OF love on
my part, and will not deny the alle-
CATION. was not so soft headed, how.
ever, as to f1atter myself that l could
win her in week. Her parents felt
grateful to me, and I knew that she
shared in the feeling. Why not2 l had
helped to save her from lasting igno-
miny. This feeling Of gratitude caused
her to meet me in friendly manner,
and I compelled myself to be satisfied
with that Whenever circumstances
would permit, I smoothed my path, as
you might expect, and as any other man
would, but I flattcr myself that used
more diplomacy than many another
sailor would in my position.
must tell you the conclusion we
reached after q bit regarding the con.
victs. When I say "we.' I mean Cap
tain Clark and myself, for we did not
always take the doctor or the second
mate into our confidence, and as for the
passengers, of course, they had nothing
to say. We felt that we should be per-
fectly safe until reaching the Cape. We
might give tho convicts ever so good an
opportunity to mutiny and they would
not take advantage Of it. The meeting
with the man. of-war had settled that
matter. Two days after Captain Hodg-
son left us we met second cruiser, and
on the fourth day we exchanged signals
with third The convicts would figure
that mutiny in the regular track of gov
eminent vessels was altogether too
risky. But after leaving the Cape the
hour of peril would come. Once to the
eastward of tho Mozambique channel,
with the island of madagascar far to the
north, we should have entered upon the
broad expanse of the Indian ocean,
where a craft might sail for days and
weeks without sighting a sail. There
were sailors among the convicts, and
there were others who knew the Aus
tralan coast and the coasts OF Java and
Sumatra and the off lying islands. Once
let them get possession Of the bark and
they had only to keep her head north
east to find 100 safe Ravens. | should
have been less anxious if Ben johnson
had sulked and exhibited more or less
defiance after his whipping. He would
then have acted natural part. Instead
of that he became humble almost to
cringing, and I was sure he had all OBJ
jcct in view in assuming this role. One
afternoon while he was at work on
deck he asked permission of the doctor
to speak to me. had passed close to
him 100 times since the whipping, but
he had never raised his eyes to mine.
On this occasion, when l approached
him, he said:
"Mr. Tompkins, it may make no diff
ference to you what my feelings are to-
ward you, but in spite OF my being a
convict / have not lost all self respect.
swore falsely against you and am sor-
ry for it.. a"
"That is past and gone" l said,
hardly knowing how to take him.
"Ihave threatened you and-and 9TH
ers since I came aboard the ship, and l
am sorry for that" he continued.
"Well?" l answered.
II admit that was leader in the
conspiracy, and I say that my punish
ment was we'll deserved"
"And now what do you wish?"
"Simply to say that l regret every
thing, sir, and that am firmly resolved
to be q better man. I have influence
over the gang aboard. Ishall exert it in
the right direction There will be no
moro trouble aboard this craft. l know
that o good word from the officers Of
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