West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-03-04
CHAPTER VII.
HOW MArrrns IMPROVED.


HOW MATTERS IMPROVED.
Tho man of-war remained with us
until the cages were made secure, and
when ready to resume her voyage Hcos-
Or, Larkins and Green were ordered
aboard 90 be landed in England. They
iAado 40 objections, knowing that we
could clap them i'm irons if they remain
cd ca the bark. There wasn't the slight.
est doubt that they had Shaped for
the purpose of libcrating tho prisoners,
hut There were reasons why we wished
10 be rid of them as quietly as possible
twas lncky for us that Captain Hodg.
son Of the mnn-ef war was an cxcep.
ION 80 the average. BY stIaining point
lie could have taken charge of the Hin.
du and returned US TO England, and
Chat wculd have meant financial ruin
TO the owners He was satisfied, how.
over that the summary punishment
meted out TO the four mon, together
With The removal of the confederates
named, would put an end TO our trou-
lies. He hauled Dr. Haxton over the
ccals pretty severely, had sharp word
for the femairder of the guards and our
crew, aud when the Hindu resumed her
course officers and passengers felt great
ly relieved. l cannot say that the pun
ishment Of the ringleaders had a moral
elect on either the punished or those
who looked ON and feared to get the
fame dose You cannot better the ma
lure OF criminal 10y any form Of cor
l'oral punishment. We did not hope for
that. The object was TO cow them, and
this was fully accomplished. Even Ben
johnson, who had received double
dosc, and who must have felt the dis
grace lecnly, acted like totally differ
ent man.
We had TO have three guards in the
place Of those taken away, and Captain
Clark arranged with Haskell, Thomas
and Saunders TO fill the places. Saun.
ders was one Of the four married men
among the passengers, you will remem-
Ter, while Thomas was the man we
We're returning TO the Cape. ! wish TO
tive Dr IaxtOn all possible credit, and
therefore say that he made an earnest
effort to do his duty after we resumed
our voyage. The trouble with him was
that he was not the man for the place.
File was not good judge Of human ma
ter which compels respect and that
courage which enforces obedience al
most without command. The "inlu-
ence" which forced him into the posi-
tion should be held to account.
We had many days of fine weather
after the man-of-war left us, nnd 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
had taken q great fancy to the girl.
You may even call it case Of love on
my part, and ] Will not deny the ale
cation. ] was not so soft headed, how.
ever, as TO flatter myself that | could
win her in week. Her parents felt
grateful 10 me, and l knew that she
shared III the feeling. Why not? I had
helped 70 save her from lasting igno-
miuy. This feeling Of gratitude caused
her TO meet me in a friendly manner,
and | compelled myself TO be satisfied
with that. Whenever circumstances
would permit, ] smoothed my path, AS
you might expect, and as any other man
would, hut l 1atter myself that 1 used
more diplomacy than many another
sailor would in my position.
| must tell you the conclusion we
reaohod after % bit regarding the con-
,icts. when / say eve, " / mean Can.
t'in 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 the 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
iuatter. Two days after Captain Hodg-
ron left us we met d second cruiser, and
en- the fourth day we exchanged signals
with third. The cOnyicts would figure
that mutiny in the regular track Of gov
crnmeDt vessels was altogether too
risky. But after leaving the Cape the
bour Of pcril would come. Once 10 the
eastward II tho Mozambique channel,
with the island Of Madagascar far 10 tho
north, we should have entered upon the
broad expause Of the Indian ocean,
where craft might sail for days and
weeks without sighting q sail There
were sailors among the COuvicts and
there wcro others who knew the Aus
tralian coast and the coasts Of Java and
SuUatra and the Of lying islands Once
lst them get possession II the bark and
they lad ouly 70 keep her head north
cast o. ind 100 safe haveus. J should
lave boon Jess anxious IF Bon johnson
lad sulkad and exhibited more or less
defiance after Dis whipping ilo would
tnen Iare acted natural part Instead
ct that Ia became humble almost 60
rIugiDg and ] was sura Doe had au do.
j"ct in view i1 assuming this role One
tftHuoru while he was at work on
deck Doc askcd permission Of tine doctor
go speak 90 me- i had passed close Il