Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-01-28
fI,rn In Is 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.
must admit that on the face it looked
reasonable enough, and at first thought
1t appeared to be the easiest way to es-
cape our peril. But those who had cried
out had given no thought as to what
might happen. After bit the captain
spoke to US. In the first place, he de-
clared, the mutineers were not sincere
in their offer. 1t was against common
sense to suppose they would let us get
away to fall in with some craft or reach
some coast, to put man Of war on their
track. II they did not seek to overpower
us by a sudden rush while we were
busy at 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 80 plainly that no
ono had a protest or argument. had
missed Mary while he was speaking.
Just as 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 Thorn quite
plainly"
That was proof enough of their
treaohery in all things Knowing that
we were all in the cabin to discuss the
offer of the boats, 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 in 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 fired two shots
apiece through the loopholes. There
was a fall and scream, followed by
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
rs York appeared on deck for his an
swor. In voice as cool and steady rs
ever heard it before or afterward the
captain said:
"Go back to tho murderous sooun-
drels and say to them that we will
neither take to the boats nor allow them
to do 20! AS for gallo or fire or wreck,
we will take our chances with You.
Don't come aft with any more offers or
shoot ut every man who comes within
range
York walked or without word and
dropped down the forehatch. A minute
later great roar Of yel)s and curses
reached our ears. Tho 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 ut the bulk
heads conld watch them. Our fire had
clean sweep of tho decks. We were
united, while there was much quarrel
ing among them.
From the time York disappeared up
to nightfall not one Of the mutineers
appeared on deck, nor was there any
change in the general situation, except
that the breeze gradually died away and
was wholly gone at sunset Long
enough before this the women and chill
dren in the cabin had got the better Of
their fright, though to be sure the wife
of Roberts and for that matter all the
rest Of us were terribly anxious Us to
what fate might be in store for him and
the doctor. 1t was hard to see how their
deaths would advance the interests Of
Tho mntineera. and vet the wounded and
the friends Of the dead would demand
vengeance and probably sacrifice the
two prisoners. What made the matter
worse was in our realizing that we had
nothing to offer in exchange for their
liberty.
Night came down as quiet and peace
full as any night you ever saw. No
lights were placed in the rigging. nor
was there man on deck from end to
end Of the ship There was cheeping
and chirping from blocks and yards
aloft as the Hindu rose and fell on the
heave of the sea, but never the sound Of
human voice nor the echo Of foot
fall outside the cabin. Like n spocter
ship she went drifting slowly to the
north, and in the cabin we spoke in
whispers and wondered what the night
would bring forth We had plenty to
eat and drink, and the lamps gave out
cheerful light, but no one could for
get for al instant that nearly hundred
mutinous sailors and hardened crimi
nails were only few yards away and
wickedly plotting the destruction Of
every ono Of US. When the sleepy chill
drcn were put to bed, Mary Williams
old father said he would ask God to be
merciful to us in our distress, and
while we all knelt down he prayed with
tears falling down his wrinklcd checks.
CHAPTER XIII.
THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS.
Whatever our position in tho cabin,