Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-02-02
THEMATE0FTHEH hindu
By Captain RALPH DAvR
Copyright. 1905. by the Aushor.l
CHAPTER vi.

CHAPTER VI
PASSENGERS AND aUARDA
Al the passengers and guards were
oil brought into the great trouble which
ultimately fell upon the Hindu, the
reader should at least be introduced 70
them. The one single man was named
Haskell. He was about 90 years Of age,
and farmer by occupation. ! at first
took him for stupid lout, and all 9th.
ers were inclined to make him butt Of
ridicule. but you will see that his looks
belied him. There were four married
Williams, Roberts. Saunders
and Smith. Williams, AZ you know.
was Mary's father. The others knew
nothing about, except they were fair TO
do people who were going out to the
Colony in hopes to better themselves
The two single women had been serv.
ants in England and were Miss Foster
and Miss White. There were thus IL
adults, while Roberts had two children,
Smith three and Saunders one, making
up more, or l8 passengers in all.
The names Of the seven guards were
Hooper. Larkins. Green. Tobias. Rich
Very little occurs ON board ship, no
matter how large she is or how many
passengers she carries, which does not
become common talk within few
hours. The Doctors incompetency leak.
ed ont after two or three days, as also
did the fact Of Captain Clark taking
charge Of the convicts The punishment
Of the two prisoners was public affair
and witnessed by all except the women
and children. These things, AZ You may
suspect. created no little anxiety among
the passengers. and we had only been
five days out when they drew up and
signed paper requesting the captain
to return TO port, declaring their belief
that their lives would be imperiled by
an outbreak before the bark had been Q
fortnight at sea.
"What we shall do, replied Captain
Clark, twill be TO continue the voyage
II we meet an inward bound ship and
any Of you want to return, Twill refund
your passage money. While acknowl.
edge that the doctor Is not the right
man in the right place, he is doing bet
ter every day and will soon work into
the harness. BY the time We reach the
Cape we shall have no fault to find with
him. As for the convicts, they have got
o taste of what l am made Of, and few
days hence will see them as mild as
lambs. Aside from the perils Of the SEQ,
I guarantee to land every soul Of you
on Australian soil.
There was some muttering and COM
planning, but the people soon came TO
think better of il, and thus the affair
ended. From his being in charge Of the
guard, Hooper had privileges not nc.
corded to the Others. The fact that he
was strongly against the protest was
brought to my attention. He had q
dozen arguments ut his tongues end to
the captains one. Indeed Others be-
sides myself remarked ON his overzeal.
ousness One might argue from this
that he had no fear Of the situation and
was anxious that the voyage should not
be interrupted, but l could not help
ask myself il he had not some other OBJ.
ject in view. II he was the traitor re.
ferred to in the note, then to turn back
would upset all his plans. The affair
was soon over, however, and for three
or four days everything ran smoothly.
On the afternoon Of the third day we
sighted an inward bound craft, and
Captain Clark went among the passen-
gers to ask il any desired TO be trans
shipped. No one wanted TO 60, and We
dipped our flag in salute, asked to be
reported and drove ON.
Up to this time only two Of the gangs
had got TO work. The 10 men Of the
second gang had claimed to be painters,
blacksmiths and the like, and we could
give them no work on deck until fairly
at sea and everything was shipshape for
the long voyage. Ben Johnson was in this
gang, and have no doubt that the men
acted under his instructions in giving
in their occupations 1t was plan to
bring them all on deck. you see, and so
make it the worse for US. Work they
must, however, and in due time they
were brought up and assigned to differ
ent tasks. The rule was that no two
should work together, and that there
should be no conversation In the
course of fortnight DR.. Haxton pulled
himself together in wonderful shape to
save his reputation, but one who studied
him closely could not fail to make out
that he was lacking in nerve. II this
lack was apparent to the captain and
myself, il most have also been 10 the
shrewder of the convicts, and to at least
the officer Of the guard. We were look.
ing to see them test him. and after Cap
tain Clark had somewhat retired him
self the test was applied Ben johnson
was the man to make it, We had been
at sea about three weeks, and No. Q
gang was ON deck from to 4 O'Clock in
the afternoon. johnson was acting a.
an assistant to the ships carpenter, and,
although his demeanor was sulky and
sullen, no fault could be found with
him. II was 8 o'clock, and the captain
was asleep, and / had charge Of the
deck. The guards were scattered about
among the convicts, while one watch
Of the crew was below. All Of sudden
Johnson laid down the tool he was
working with, folded his arms and de-
clared to the doctor, who was oversee
ing ali, tnaL ne wUuIu nUI w unutnef
stroke Of work on the voyage. The doc
tor walked straight mp to him and
bravely said:
~ give you one minute to make up
your mind whether you will return to
your work or take doggingP'
"I'll not do another stroke Of work,
and you can fog and be hanged to you?'
ahouted the convict.
The two men stood looking into each
others eyes for half minute. Then
Dr.. Haxton began to grow white around
the lips and presently said in ooaxing
way:
"Come, now, but want no trouble
with you. Return 20 your WORK or
shall have to call the captain. F"
By this time I had been made aware
Of the situation and at once advanced
upon the pair. Two Of the sailors had
seized muskets from the rack at the
mainmast and also advanced.
whats wrong hefeT' demanded a.
I came to stop at the workbench.
''He refuses to 60 on with bis work, "
replied the doctor.
''Is It sos'' / asked Of johnson.
"No," replied the man after few