Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-01-16

netic. Men who didn't like him at all
are his best friends now. I am the only
one of the guards he hasn't made
friends with"
"Does he talk much?" I queried.
Every little, as far as have observed.
and yet believe he does a great deal OF
it. Some Of the men are talking about
the goldfelds and others Of life OH all
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?'
SIS 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 a great admi-
ration for him, even if it is not some.
thing stronger. I think we had best
keep an eye on them as well as the peo-
pie forward, Mr.. Tompkins.
thought SO, too, and determined
that Mary Williams should assist us.
A few hours later, when found oppor-
tunity to speak to her, I told her Of
Haskell's observations and suspicious,
and she replied:
81 think it at least very queer, Mr..
Tompkins. Up to the hour we left the
Cape both young women seemed to
make every effort to win my friendship.
Since then they have almost avoided
me, and I have been troubled for fear
unwittingly gave offense. So far as I
know and can Judge both are intelli.
gent, respectable girls, and why they
should pursue this singular course is
more than I can understand.
further learned from her that Miss
Foster had been quite "thick' with DR..
Haxton and spent more or less time in
the dispensary, and though Mary had
no opinion to offer it was plain to me
that she was anxious and uneasy.
"Mr. Tompkins, she said as was
about to turn away, "every precaution
has been taken against revolt, and the
discipline SC far as I can judge has been
increased rather than abated, but of
course it is possible that trouble may
come. If the convicts were plotting re-
volt, how would they bring it aboutf"
"That is what worries me," I re-
piled, land why I sought your assist
ance. While everything seems to be 60
ing right there is no telling what influ-
ences are at work. If we had the right
sort of doctor aboard, and if hadn't
shipped that man York, should feel a
great deal easier about things. Should
there be q revolt it is hard to say Just
how it will come. It may be at night,
when most of US are asleep and totally
unprepared, or it may come when one
of the gangs is on deck for exercise or
work" ="
"And suppose the convicts overpower
guards and crew and get possession OF
the bark?'
"Then God help us. Ben johnson as
the leader, would have his say about
things. The captain, Haskell, myself
and others would not live an hour after
he took command, and as for you and"-
She stopped me with gesture and
quietly said:
II will assist you in any way 1 can.
None of the other people seems to be
worried, but for the last two days l
have been almost convinced that there
was something wrong. I will watch the
two young women and the doctor and
report to you. 4"
If you are posted as to the sailing OF
a ship, you will understand that while
I was acting as captain the second mate
should have stood my watch. This l
did not permit, but stood watch and
watch with him. I had my interview
with Mary between and 8 o'clock in
the evening. At 8 went below and
turned in for four hours. When / came
on deck at midnight, I took Haskell
and the third mate and went below to
examine the cages. This was the first
midnight visit ever paid to the convicts
and produced great surprise. had led
the way as quietly as possible, and
though all the convicts appeared to be
sound asleep when I looked into the
cages the positions of some of them
were so unnatural that I suspected they
had thrown themselves down only a
moment before. The man York was the
guard on duty between cages Nos. l
and 2, and though he had face of
brass I did not fail to detect signs OF
perturbation. I found the cages all
right, but was perfectly satisfied that q
minute before my descent York had
been holding conversation with some of
the convicts Had it been i'll his power
to let them on deck I should not have
found them snoring away and mutter-
ing in their dreams.
The midnight visit made no change
in our affairs, but gave me thought
to be acted OH next day. Among the
crew was man named Hawley. ] had
no fault to find with him as a sailor,
but had sized him up as the most SIM
pie minded man of the lot. If l could
90 at him right, could learn from
him the subject of talk in the forecastle.
Before noon next day, the man being
in my watch and the off watch below,
I got him aft under pretense Of examin-
ing the cabin stores in the lazarette. l
had placed q bottle of rum where he