Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-03-02

I seized her arm and pulled her into the
cabin. 1t was high time, too, for con.
vict armed with musket had hoisted
himself out Of the forehatch and fired
at her. and the ball struck the casing Of
the door beside her head.
The position now was curious one.
We held the cabin and by means Of the
portholes cNuld sweep the decks clean
to the ey, Of the ship, and yet We were
prisoners. II we had been few men
stronger, we could have overcome them
while they were still in their panic, but
even to have stood guard over that
gang of villains running loose between
decks would have demanded the services
of a dozen men. 1t was no doubt the
wiser policy to be content with our ad-
vantage, though no man could predict
how the affair would terminate. For an
hour everything was quiet and not o mu-
tineer showed his head. Then white
flag was hoisted above the forehatch.
and York hesitatingly came aft to de-
liver message. We had hoped that
some Of our bullets had found him or
johnson or both, but it seemed that
they were untouched. II was noticeable
that York had lost his jaunty air and
looked very much worried as he ap-
preached us, and his voice had lost oil
its impudcnce rs he said:
Captain Clark. ! am sent to ask for
Q truce of half an hour, that we may
clear the decks Of the dead. At the end
Of that time We shall have something
further to say to you"
As we wanted the bodies disposed of
as badly as they did, no hesitation was
made in agreeing TO truce. Three sail
ors and seven convicts came up, and
with many foul word and bitter curse
they proceeded with their work. Per-
haps il would have been expecting too
much to suppose they would give the
bodies burial in the regular way, but
We were terribly shocked to behold
them lift up corpse after corpse and
heave them over the rail until the last
was gone. When this work was com.
| pleted. one Of them went aloft To search
the sea for sight Of sail, while the re-
mainder, with the exception OF York,
dived below. When the man came
down and reported and disappeared.
York came aft to say:
Captain Clark, the blood OF every
man killed here today is on your head.
II you figure that one defeat will turn
Us from our plans, you are mistaken.
We will have full possession OF this
craft il we have to fight you for n
month, and sooner than be defeated in
our object we will set her on fire and
all perish together. / now renew you
the offer 10 let you go of in the boats.
| 1t is the last time. 1t is for you TO say
whether you will save your people or
let them stay TO be killed. / will re-
turn in ID minutes for your answer.
He had scarcely turned his back when
Smith, his wife, the two single women
and Mary's mother all cried out in
chorus that we should accept the offer.
! I must admit that on the face il looked
reasonable enough, and at first thought
it appeared TO be- the easiest way to es-
cape our peril. But those who had cried
out had given no thought rs TO what
might happen. After bit the captain
spoke to u.s. In the first place, he de-
clared, the mutineers were not sincere
in their offer II was against common
sense to suppose they would let US get
away to fall in with some craft or reach
some coast, 10 put man-of war on their
| track. II they did not seek to overpower
us by sudden rush while we were
busy ut the boats, they would afterward
run the boats down with the Hindu,
and that without risk TO themselves. As
to setting the craft on fire, their lives
were as precious TO them as ours were
to us, and the threat was simply blus-
ter. When he had finished, all saw the
sense Of his remarks SO plainly that no
one had q protest or argument. had
missed Mary while he was speaking.
Just rs he had finished, she came into
the main cabin to say:
"The mutineers have made their way
aft TO the bulkheads and will try to
come at us from that direction. l have
been listening and can hear them quite
plainly"
That was proof enough Of their
treachery in all things. Knowing that
we were all in the cabin to discuss the
offer of the boats, a number Of them had
begun work at the bulkheads in hopes
TO make an opening. But the brave and
quick witted Mary, without hint from
any one, had given US warning III time.
Haskell and | hurried along to the
bulkheads, to find at least half dozen
men working on the other side with
axes and chisels, We fred two shots
| apiece through the loopholes. There
| was fall and q scream, followed by q
| rush Of feet, and we felt sure they would
not try that trick again for some time
| to come. We returned to the cabin just
as York appeared on deck for his an
swer. In a voice as cool and steady as
ever heard it before or afterward the
captain said:
"Go back to the murderous scoun-
/ OI6l5 duu say W thcui tiiao Wo wa
neither take to the boats nor allow them
to do SO! As for gale or fire or wreck,
we will take our chances with you.
Don't come aft with any more offers or
messages. From this time on we will
shoot at every man who comes within
range"
York walked of without word and
dropped down the forebatch. A minute
later great roar Of yells and curses
reached our ears. The news he carried
forward was not TO their liking. Aside
from the shelter Of bullet proof cabin
and liberal supply OF arms, we had
other advantages in our favor. One per.
son in the cabin and one at the bulk
heads could watch them. Our fire had a
clean sweep Of the decks We were
united, while there was much quarrel
ing among them.
From the time York disappeared up
| xo ,,ichffall ,,ot ono ~ tho mutiuppre