Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-01-23
CHAPTER XII

At high noon some sort Of a decision
seemed to have been reached, as York
came aft with flag Of truce and asked
to speak to the captain. When told to
90 ahead, he said:
Captain, we have given you plenty
Of time to consider our offer, and have
come for your answer. You can have
the boats all fitted out, and the doctor
and Roberts shall 60 with you. We are
bound to have this ship and carry her
where we will, and if you refuse our
offer the results be upon your own
head"
"Harkee, you bloody traitor and vii
lainl" shouted the captain in reply,
"We not only refuse your offer, but are
ready for what may comeP'
"Tben you won't go?"
"Not step. Begin the attack as
soon as you please"
I stood behind the captain while he
spoke. As be finished, felt soft hand
on my arm, and I turned to find Mary
Williams at my side. She was very
pale, as was the case with all the other
women and perhaps some Of the men,
but could not fail to notice that she
was also calm and collected.
"Mr. Tompkins," she sail, pulling
me a step or two aside, "there are but
few of us and many of them. Will you
show me how to load one of these weap-
ons, that I may be of some assistance
when the attack comes"
"Lor bless you for your brave hearth
says I in reply. "But maybe it will be
better if you look after the women and
children bit. I see you are the only
woman who a spark of courage left,
though this is only the beginning of it. "
"And what do You think of the sltua-
tion?''
Its a bad one, Miss Williams, as
I'm in honor bound to say, but we are
not at such disadvantage as you may
suppose. Those fellows know nothing
of these iron shutters or of the number
Of guns at hand"
"You-you heard Ben johnson say
that you and / were not to 60 in the
boats with the others?" she queried,
with break or two in her voice.
"Aye, that I did, but there will be
no taking to the boats by any of us.
The man means murder for both OF us,
but we won't let that bother us yet
awhile"
"I want you to promise me some
thing" she persisted, drawing me still
farther from the portfolio. If you are
still alive when they break into the
cabin, want you to shoot me. "
"Lor save you, miss!" I whispered,
taken all aback by her look Of appea
and strange words. ut will surely
never come to that.
"But if it does"
"Mary," says I, never knowing thai
I had spoken her given name and never
knowing till long afterward that l tool
both her hands in mine, "lf l had
dozen lives, I'd give them all to save
yours, and so I don't like to think O
taking the only life dear to me in al
this world. I'D rather see you lyln&
dead, however, than in the power O
that villain, and if worst comes tt
worst, may give you my last bullet .
Remember, Ralph. I shall depend
upon it"
had called her Mary, and she hat
called me Ralph. 1t was declaration o
love, made under such circumstances a
were never known before. You smile a
me, but as I told you in the beginning
Twas but plain sailor man and hardl.
knew the meaning of the word "ro
nance" We've standing in the face
death, as it were, and yet l could hav
lifted up my voice and shouted for JOY.
The numbers of the mutineers CAV
them confidence. They perhaps argue
that a rush aft Of all hands would carr
our position, with little or no damag
to their side. They gathered up what
ever could be made to answer for weaI
ons. and the cool and lawless way