Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-01-21
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made of the prisoners. Each convict
was Intercepted and examined as to
his state of health, and not one OF them
had complaint to make. A first class
Indaman could not have shown aclean-
er bill Of health. No convict ship ever
resumed her voyage under more favora-
Bile auspices, and for a week was al
most care free. During this time had
kept a pretty close watch on the new
guard, York, as was in duty bound to
do, but had seen nothing to find fault
with. He was cheerful, obedient and
apparently vigilant, and no more could
be asked for The first thing to excite
my suspicion, or l may better say my
curiosity, was in his asking Haskell for
our latitude and longitude and after
ward consulting chart Of the Indian
ocean which he had brought aboard
with his dunnage. After the noon OBJ
servation had been worked out we made
no secret Of it among the passengers,
several Of whom had charts and were
keeping the run of the ship. Had York
asked me for the position and told me
he was pricking Off the run for his own
satisfaction should have thought moth
ing strange about it, for he was all in
telligent man, and I had an idea that
he understood navigation fairly well.
His sailor instinct as well as desire to
post himself was excuse enough. He
had asked Haskell in confidential wav
70 give him the f1gures, and he had con-
suited his chart in a secret manner.
II don't like the man," continued
Haskell after giving me the above in
formation.
"But why?' qucried.
Its hard to say, but the feeling Is
here that he isn't dead right. He asks
great many questions, but never an
swers any. He's got very sly way OF
pumping q man. He and l haven't
taken to each other at all, but he has
pumped the other guards and some Of
the sailors until he is posted on what
ever has happened since we left the
channel. He's done little else when of
duty and not asleep but to ask ques-
tons.
"What particular thing does he seem
"Well, now that you mention 1t,
think he's been quite concerned about
the firearms. Last night he was EARNING
to some Of the sailors about the gold
iiggings and wondering why they
didn't cut sticks and make their for
tunes. When they asked why he didn't
Oil his own pockets, he replied that he
,L1 g., 70
ship reached Sydney. dol't want to
raise suspicious, sir, but it looks bit
queer all around. I'm never quite easy
in my mind when it's his turn below"
Haskell had been made captain OF the
guard after the removal OF Hooper, and
his surmises and suspicious were enti-
tied to all consideration. 1t gave me
very unpleasant feeling to think l had
been deceived in York, but did not act
on impulse. If he was all right, it
would be a bad thing to jump on him
and have to take it all back, and if he
was engaged in plot the correct thing
to do was to lie low and hope to expose
him. Thus it came about that while DR..
Haxton was congratulating himself on
the smooth way in which things were
going had never been more anxious
We had favorable winds and reeled
off the knots for 20 days after leaving
the Cape, and then we got calm, fol-
lowed by gale from the south. On the
very first day of this unfavorable wealth
er Captain Clark was struck down by
block falling from aloft and so severely
injured that he was good for week be-
low. This left the whole burden OH my
shoulders. don't wish to put forward
my Importance, but feel that l should
relate things just as they happened.
The result of the southerly gale was
that we were driven Il long way to the
northward Of our course. When the gale
finally broke and got an observation
and verified it by dead reckoning, l
found that we were $50 miles off our
true course. When this information was
given to the captain, who was then only
able to sit up for half all hour at time.
he replied:
"Well, Ralph, that is not much to
complain of, as the bark came through
all right. The wind has come right at
last, and two or three days will put us
back on the right track.
During the storm there was nothing
to complain of in the conduct Of sailors,
guards or convicts. l was trusting Has
kell to keep his eyes open and give me
any news worth communicating but he
brought me mono until the bark had
been headed down to the southeast.
Then he found opportunity at night to
say to me:
II can't make out that fellow York.
I have watched him with increasing
vigilance. but have failed to trip him
up, though there are many things to
arouse my suspicious. He has an inf1u-
ence with the crew little short Of mag
netic. Men who didn't like him at all
are his best friends now. am the only
one of the guards he hasn't made
friends with. "
"Does he talk muoh?" queried.
every little, as far as have observed,
and yet believe he does great deal Of
it, Some of the men are talking about
the goldfelds and others of life on an
island, and believe the fellow is work
ing up to some climax. Did you know
that he and Miss Foster have quite fall
en- in love with each other during the
past week."
Ia it possible?"
"And, queerly enough Miss White
told me to my face this morning that
she didn't believe Ben Johnson guilty
Of the crime or deserving of the punish
ment. She seems to have great admit
ration for him, even if it is not some-
4hinu stronnar think wa had hest