Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-02-04
CHAPTER XVI.
A CHAPTER OF ADVENTURES.

itudes, you will understand, and before
we had been in the bay week we were
saving up some of the planks from be-
tween decks to keep our fires going. The
day we buried poor Mrs Saunders we
procured small supply of fuel from the
shore, but there was little to be had
without going into the brush farther
than we cared to venture.
On the sixteenth day Of our stay, as
near as I can come at it, and while it
was my watch aloft, Captain Clark
called out to know if any of the mutt
neers were in sight. could make out
three or four of them Oh a bare hill
mile or so away, but none nearer, and
I so reported. The captain then ordered
quarter boat down, and he and Haskell
and Roberts went ashore after supply
of fuel. Viewer that pinched Oh board
that we had already resorted to barrels
and boxes which properly belonged to
the cargo The plan was for the captain
to stand guard while the other two used
the axes and carried the fuel to the
boat. and those of us left aboard were
armed and vigilant.
The two men had worked for an hour,
when Captain Clark changed off with
Roberts. l kept my glass Oh the woods
around them, but l did not once get
sight of mutincer. Winter though it
was, the dead leaves and branches and
vines were so thick that I only caught
occasional glimpses of our own men. BY
and by the boat was well loaded, and
Haskell and Roberts came down to her
and stood waiting for the captain. The
sounds of his AK could be heard at that
moment, and when they ceased we ex-
pectcd to see him appear in sight within
half a minute. About five minutes slip
ped by and then l called down to the
two men to 90 back into the bush and
see what had happened. They advanced
and were out of sight when l got a
fleeing glimpse of Ben Johnson and an
other convict hurrying the captain across
an open space. The pair had crept up
through the bushes and surprised and
overpowered him.
called to the men and ordered them
aboard at once, and whom it had become
known that the men all We're depending
on so much was q prisoner to our despcr-
ate enemies / had all could do to pre-
vent the people from taking to the boats
and pulling away out TO sea. 1t was
regular panic for time, and had hard
work to make them understand that the
bark had not yet gone out OF our pos
session. The capture occurred ut about
10 o'clock in the morning, and from
that hour on to in the afternoon the
weather was pretty fair. l spent most
Of the time aloft with the glass. At 2
O'Clock the entire gang of mutinoers as
sembled for council The meeting
was in front of their tents, and though
/ could not see the captain, had no
doubt that he was q prisoner i'll one OF
the tents or huts. The council lasted for
two hours, and, Judging from the ges-
lures Of the men, there was much excite
ment.
Most of our people believed that Cap
tain Clark would be put to death that
day, but flatte,ed myself / understood
the plans of the conyicts better than
that. He would be a powerful weapon
in their hands, and they would use him
for all he was worth before taking his
life. l predicted that we would hear
from them before night and was not at
all surprised when Ben Johnson appear
ed just at dusk and hailed the ship. l
knew what he was after and had also
made up my mind as to the course to be
pursued.
"Ahoy, thcre!" called johnson as he
stepped clear Ct the trees and stood in
an attitude expressive of defiance
"Well, what is it," l asked.
"You know, Of course, we've got the
captain"
Eyes,
"Wcll, what do you propose to do
about it,"
"What can we do?'
"You can save his life and all others
if you have got proper sense Come
ashore bring whatever you want, and
We'll give you up the captain and go
away in the bark. We've talked it over
with the captain, and the word he sends
By me is for you to do it.
land if we refuse?' I asked.
'Then you'll find his head lying right
where my feet stand when daylight
comes tomorrow"
told him that the proposition had
come so suddenly that we were not pre-
pared to give an oifhand answer; that,
while we were willing to make great
sacrifice to save the captains life, l
could not speak for the passengers. l
talked very civilly, as you may guess,
and the point / gained was the enc l
had in sight from the first. johnson
agreed to wait until the next morning
for our decision and gave me his word
of "honor" that the captain should be
we'll treated i'll the meantime. AS to
our giving up the bark and going
ashore, the matter could not be Consid-
cred for moment. Had knife been
held at Captain Clark s throat he would
NaYe advised against it. Not one of us
would have been permitted to live to
tell the story. Once we were out Of the
way the fellows would have had little
to fear from pursuit.
had plan, to work under cover of
darkness, which hoped might turn out
successfully, but for obvious reasons l
kept it secret as long as possible. | had
been aloft SO often that | believed |
could final my way to the mutineers'
camp on the darkest night, and ! pro-
posed going there alone and making an
attemnt 10 free the captain and bring