West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-04-22
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HStoIy Of Adventure on Iand ord sea
EI2 G4JYTe RAlPGG DNVlS.
49,
copyright, 1895, by tho Authorl
CHAPTER XIV.
4 DEATH on BOARD.

Rt an Ceily hOur next morning after
The tragedy recorded in the previous
chapter a number OF the mutineers ap.
Eeared on the beach, where their prD.
visions yet lay III "a heap, and began "a
carry OH various articles. Our hope that
johnson might have been one of the trio
seized by the sharks wac soon dissi.
pated, as he was the fourth or fifth
man to appear Without so much AZ a
look at the snip he began shouting or
Gers, and for an hour was constantly in
nght. At the end of that time every
thing had been carried out Of sight
among the bushes. When ready TO 20.
Johnson turned to face rs. drew himself
up, and, fastening his gaze on Captain
CLARK. he said:
Captain, was playing yoU soft yes
terday when 1 told you that we'd be
content with the provisions. We want
the bark, and VOL keep trying for
her as long az there's n man left alive
You've shown us no mercy and need
expect none from us. ~
well, what'syour point?" asked the
captain AS tho follow paused.
les just this: Give as the bark.
and we'll go away in her and leave you
IN comfortable shape on the island. Re
fuse Us, and VOL find way to destroy
ship ard all OF you, even if we perish
at tho same time. Itshouldn't rest with
you and your bloody mates 10 say no to
this, for the men with wives and chill
dron ought TO have word Look here.
Saunders, Smith, Williams, you women
who want to see home again, are you
going to-
Captain Clark had rifle in his
hands. He raised it to his shoulder and
covered tho convict and said to him:
III count five and then drop you
dead in your tracksp'
be counted ONE two, three, and then
Johnson turned and walked away. 1t
TWAS not bluff on the captains part.
Lis finger was pressing tho trigger, and
no would surely have sent bullet into
tho fellows head. He would have been
justified in doing it: hut thus far we
lad shed blood only in defense, Some
of the people wero disposed to believe
that lr the mutineers meditated any
further move johnson would have been
too pclitic to utter threats, but two or
thrco of Us took different view of the
a. L
was man utterly without fear. and
when there was chance for fight he
never thought Of using strategy to Sc
euro an advantage. Defeat had worked
HIM up TO that pitch where Inc must
free his mind, and he would need watch
Ing none the less for announcing his de-
termination.
II the wind had not shifted directly
into the south, making it an utterly i'm
possible thing to sail the bark out of the
lay. 40 matter how large crew she
might have had aboard, l think our can
tam would have carried her out and
made SHIFT to at least reach another an
chorage. The nervous strain had begun
10 tell on US and some of tho women
were right down i'll, and the knowledge
that wo were still in peril and might
have TO fight for our lives at any NM
nto had no consolation in it.
II don't know what plans they
h@yr, said Captain Clark as wo coun-
seIed together, "but we must DO wide
awake fer them day and night. If they
BAD one single Inusket and 80 rounds of
ammunition we might have to make
terms with them. Thank the Lord that
they haveu'tI They'll cook I'D some
GeYlilsh scheme, however, and, as I said.
&c must 10 watchful. Let them once
get possession and they'd show mercy
10 nsltLer man, woman nor child"
What L secretly dreaded was that thew
would fro tho forest, which was lust then
very Cry. Tho thought came 20 them,
no doubt, but the Hindu would have
slso teen consumed. and their plan was
70 possess her. However, by noon of the
day have beon speaking about i5 came
on 70 rain III grand style, and the storm
Continued until next morning without n
break. Every thing being thoroughly
drencbed, with certainty Of more rain
at brief intervals. there was no longer
the fear that the forest might be fred
u accident or design.
All tho men. tho single women and
Mary Williams were counted off and
divided into three watches. Awnings
were placed Fore and aft to protect the
witch ou deck from the weather. and
during the day, unless too wet, one man
jn tao watch was to DO stationed in the
eros7'rfcs with a glass and rife. As
1 came Ga d1ty Oh the second morning.
having Mary and Haskell in my watch,
4 was the iirst ous % fake - trick aloft.
/ Icts ny rlllc at the crosstrees and went
up uu,It had q clear view If the island
o''r tic trees. 1 judged it 20 be about
$40 miles square, and it was thickIy
covered with trees and bushes exceut ia
occasional spots. The mutinecrs had
mado camp about half a mile due
norm Of the ship. The sail had been
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