Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-03-09
NUMBER 10.

gang? We have clear ship now and
can afford to wait"
The women murmured somewhat,
but the men cheerfully acquiesced in
the conclusion, and when things were
once more shipshape aboard no one
could have suspected what we had pass
ed through. Not one Of the mutineers
had addressed word to us or given
anybody black look during the trans
fer, and ms fast rs they landed on the
beach they disappeared into the thick
forest, presumably to look for q site ON
which to make camp. The passengers
thought we had done with them for
good. but the rest Of US had u different
feeling As night was coming on Cap
tain Clark came To me ON the bows Of
the bark, where was oyerhauling thugs
q bit, and said:
Ralph, don't like the way John
son talked, nor don't like the soft.
silky way the mutineers acted as they
went ashore. The change was too great
and too sudden not TO have some trick
back Of il. What do you Think"
well, sir, l agree with you as TO
there being something back Of il. Those
fellows have not given up the fight yet
You don't hear them shouting and
laughing ashore, and if one Of US was
to creep through the woods I'm think
ing he'd find them gathered IN circle
about Johnson and new plans being dis
cussed. Rest assured, sir, they'll make
some move to get possession Of the bark,
and it won't be long delayed either. "
"Just my idea, and we must make
ready for themv'
The cabin vas left just as We had do.
Tended it, baA we battened down the
patches and scuttles so that there was
no getting below. When we came to in
spect the convict's cages, we found
nothing Of them left. They had been
completely torn away aud the material
flung overheard. Had we succeeded in
putting down tho mutiny we should
have had NO place in which TO safely
hold our prisoners
When night came down, a double
watch was set on board. Haskell and
Miss Foster took the bow aud Mary
and I the stern. and the men who lay
down in the cabin had their weapons
handy for "a sudden call. Ii was quiet,
starlight night. and the beach was so
near that had any Of the mutineers APP
peared we should have made them out
From s o'clock TO midnight l was
alone with Mary for the first time since
I came to know her name. There was
no doubt Of my love for her, and she
had a. good as told me that she returned
it, and yet must tell you that / was
more upset for tho first hour than when
tho mutineers rushed Us. As a matter
Of fact, we were no company for each
other. and il the dear girl hadn't cor
rectly judged my feelings and felt sorry
for me l doubt if should have opened
my mouth during the four hours watch.
I never yet heard Of man who was
content with simply knowing that a
woman loved him. BE wants to assure
her of his love and exact promise OF
marriage That's exactly what wanted
to do-to tell Mary that / thought she
was the dearest, incest girl in all this
world and ask her TO make me tho
proudes, happiest man by giving me
her hand in marriage. She could read
my mind, the witch, and she kept me
on the ragged edge for an hour or more
before she suddenly asked:
"Mr. Tompkins, do you think we
shall get safe awayT'
II am hopeful Of it now," l replied,
"but "a few days ago it was Ralph
instead Of Mr.. Tompkins. "
'And it's Ralph now" she said as
she gave me her hand TO hold. but
looked away in that coy, shy way which
we expect to find in girl, and which
We consider such charm.
"Ill speak to the father tomorrow.
said as soon as dared trust my voice
to say anything, and as she did not pull
her haud away knew that it was all
right between US, and | felt that joyful
that wanted to stand up and shout
As to how people make love on land
I have no knowledge. but I'm telling
you in my plain, sailorlike way how
we made love on shipboard in that bit OF
bay, with mayhap half hundred desper-
ate villains hidden in the bushes not
stones throw away. There was no VOW
ing that was ready to die for her, and
she didn't declare that | was the bravest
and noblest man Oh earth. l know l
loved her with all my heart, and had
she not loved me she would not have
placed her future in my keeping. We
Just quietly accepted each other for bet
ter or for worse, and if I can't weave
much OF romance into it you'll have
to accept it without.
We heard nothing whatever Of the
mutineers during my watch or up to
midnight. We had been relieved about
half an hour, and the ship was as quiet
as a graveyard, when the tide began to
come in. This swung the head Of the
bark TO the sea and her stern within
about 10 yards Of the bushes. II the
mutineers had plan for that night, it
would soon unfold itself. The idea was
that they would creep down through
the bushes to the edge OF the water and
quietly swim off TO US, hoping to find
our vigilance relaxed. A dozen strokes
would bring swimmer alongside.
There were four persons in the second
watch, rs there had been in the first,
and while they kept eyes and ears open
they suddenly discovered three monster
sharks moving lazily around the vessel.
They were Of the species known as the
hammer head, and there is no fiercer nor
more disgusting inhabitant Of the sea
unless it be the octopus. By and by
the sharks remained stationary, as il on
guard. l said the four people were
watching and listening, and yet but for
those sharks n terrible calamity might
have happened. Some 10 or 20 OF the
mutineers took to the water to board the
bark over her bows, and whatever noise
they might have made was drowned in
the grating Of her chain cable in the
iron hawse hole as she swung to the
tide. But none Of them reached her.
The first one had not yet laid hands on
her chains when one Of the sharks
seized him, and three seconds later the
other two had selected victims There
were three fearful shrieks, chorus OF
shouts and great splashing, and all
was over before any one from the cabin
could get on deck. The surviving mu-
kneers stood on the beach and cursed
md hurled showers Of stones aboard,
but shot or two fired abose their heads