Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-02-23

Mr.. Williams was an old man and
counted for nothing. Both cooks, the
steward and the bo'sum joined with the
mutineers. Not single man among the
sailors came aft to cast his lot with as
though We had looked upon some OF
them as steady, honest fellows.
You may think there was great ex-
citement among the women and children
when they came to know the worst, but
! can tell you that they were very quiet
over II. Helpless people are always that
way in the face Of great peril They
were white faced and trembling, but
there were no wailing and wringiDg Of
hands. The cabin lamps were lighted,
and the women and children sat about
ON the chairs and lockers, while the men
made final preparations for defense and
spoke in hushed voices.
The exception was in the case Of the
two single women. They had certainly
been very foolish to strike up romantic
attachment with such villains, but it
was plain that they had never contem-
plated a mutiny and the horrors that
might follow. When they realized what
had occurred and witnessed our grim
preparations for defense, they became
conscience stricken and hysterical. Miss
Foster admitted that her sympathies
had been worked on until she had come
to regard Ben johnson ~ martyr and
had filched the bottle Of croton oil from
the dispensary at his request. She did
not know the use he meant to make Of
il, however. Miss White confessed that
she thought the doctor had been unjust
ly treated, and she had encouraged him
to stand on his dignity and at the same
time had fallen in love with the villain
York and become Carried away with his
tales Of romance. Now that revolt and
mutiny had come they realized the evil
they had done and the position Of all Of
Us.
The mutineers gave us about half an
hour in which to prepare for them.
During this interval they got their
breakfasts, passed about bottles Of rum,
which must have been smuggled aboard
at the Cape, and sailors and convicts
fratrrnized in way to prove that they
We're not strangers to each other. Rob-
erts we could plainly see from the port
holes in the front Of the cabin. He had
been knocked down and bound hand and
foot, and his protests and entreaties
layt.h.a Tho half hnnr
was nearly mp before the doctor was
hoisted into view from below. As he
was the direct cause Of the mutiny and
had been overly kind to the convicts, he
might have looked for decent treatment
at least TO our surprise his hands were
bound behind his back. most Of his
clothing torn off, and the blood on his
face and neck proved that he had been
brutally used.
The first move aft was made by York
and Ben Johnson, one representing the
sailors and guards and the other the
convicts They could not have known
how well prepared We We're in the
cabin, but York displayed flag Of
truce rs the pair broke away from tho
crowd around the fo'mast. When they
had come up to within ten feet OF the
cabin entrance. they halted, and the
sailor hailed Us with:
Hello, in the cabin! Captain Clark,
have few words to say to youp'
You internal pair of scoundrels! But
I'm mind TO shoot you down in your
tracksr' shouted the captain in reply.
''Go easy, captainl" called York,
while Ben Johnson laughed his con-
tempt for the threat. You know what
has happened for ard, Of course. We are
in possession of the bark. As we are not
a crowd Of lambs, we thought you might
prefer to take the boats and 60 voyaging
on your own account.
''That is. the most Of you," added
the convict leader. "I've got an old
score to settle with Tompkins and Mary
Williams, and they needn't pack up TO
60 along"
"Yes, know you have got possession
Of the craft" said Captain Clark as he
choked back his anger, ''but il there is
any taking to the boats, you'll be the
one to go! II at the end OF 10 min
utes the convicts are not under lock
and key and the sailors down on their
knees and praying for my forgiveness,
we'll open fire on you and sweep the
decks of every living man"
That's big talk. captain" sneered
York, while tho convict shrugged his
shoulders and laughed loud and long.
They seemed to feel that it was the
captains ultimatum, however, and turn
ed and walked forward. Five minutes
later the doctor and Roberts were sent
aft to talk TO US They had their hands
tied behind their backs. and to prevent
them from making dash into the cabin
each had rope attached to him and the
free end held by two mutineers. Rob
erts was only countryman of limited
education, while you will be ready TO
believe that the doctor was man in
whom no one need look for the heroic.
There was a surprise in store for us as
they came aft. The doctor had been
made spokesman. Brief as the time had
been, he fully realized the situation and
knew that he alone was to blame for il.
Captain Clark" he said az the pair
halted withip speaking distance, "the
sailors have mutinied, and the convicts
have been turned loose. have been
told to say to you that if You will con-
sent to go away in the boats the two OF
us can 60 with you. If you refuse, We
are to be put TO death. and they further
declare that not one Of you will be
spared. p"
"You see what you have brought US
to-" replied the captain, though his
voice was more kind than reproachful.
1T is all my fault" continued the
doctor. "and / am here TO tell you to
fight to the last. no matter what be-
comes OF me.
"And the same with mep' shouted
Roberts.
The doctor was about to speak again
when the ropes by which the pair were
held were viciously jerked by the mu-
tineers, and they were pulled down and
dragged forward. They would have
been killed at once but for Johnson and
York. who had sense enough to realize
that this was but the beginning and
that they might be made useful later
ON. They received MANY hearty kick
and blow. however. before they were
bundled down the forehatch to be locked
up in one Of the iron cages As / have
told you. there was but little wind,
which was fortunate thing for every
bo(iy. as the man at the wheel deserted