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

lacking IN courage. The right sort OF q
man would have called for guards and
irons and had Johnsons back barred Il
the lash in no time. DR.. Haxton dat.
tered himself that he had overawed thu
convict. but caught smile ON John.
sons face. which plainly exhibited hi
contempt for the mans want Of nerve.
Il was thereafter settled in his mind
and in the minds Of all the other oonvicts
that nothing was 10 be feared from the
doctor. The affair had to be passed over.
but there was note Of warning in it.
II was begun and ended in a minute,
and only three or four Of the passengers
happened to be on deck at the time.
One Of these was Haskell, though / had
not noticed him. Half an hour later he
found opportunity to say to me:
II suppose you could depend ON the
guards in case Of trouble with the pris.
oners?'
II was wondering bit," he said a.
he looked around in stupid way.
"Did you notice anything peculiarf"
at might be peculiar and il might
not. happened to be looking at Hooper,
and saw him wink ut johnson as you
started to come forward. What's the
good Of the muskets without caps ON the
nipples?"
"What do you mean?"
IL mean that / took notice Of four
muskets which could not have been fired
II there was need of it.
The seven guards did not have watch
and watch with the sailors. During the
day all were on duty, and at night two
of them were posted below as ssntinels
and relieved by others every two hours.
As soon as could get word with the
doctor | told him about the muskets.
He went forward in careless way and
looked around and returned to report
that every musket was properly capped.
This did not lead me TO argue that Has
kell had been mistaken. On the con-
trary, was satisfied that the caps had
been slyly replaced when there was no
longer any danger. They could not have
been removed by accident. There was
evidently an understanding between q
portion Of the guards that they would
not fire upon the prisoners in case Of an
outbreak. carried the matter 10 the
captain, as was my duty. and he was
for raising q row at once. argued with
him that as We had no positive proofs
the trap would be sprung too soon. and
he finally gave in and agreed TO play q
waiting game.
Now for the first time l began to size
up each one Of the guards. | had hired
them all, aud at the time they had
struck me as being "a very decent lot Of
men. As looked them over now won
dered at my lack Of perception. Aside
from Larkins, who had the cut Of
cunning rascal, there were three men
who had the hangdog look Of villains.
l couldn't bring myself to admit that I
had ever engaged them, and after lit
tie reflection / solved the puzzle. Three
Of the men had engaged had been re.
placed by these three, probably being
paid to make the exchange. had en-
gagged q one eyed man, for instance. |
remembered that another had q long
scar on his cheek A third bad fiery red
hair and yellow front teeth. Not one OF
those men was on board, and yet others
had assumed their names
Twas now perfectly satisfied that o
plot had been Matched ashore for the re-
lease Of the convicts, and that at least
four Of the guards were in il, but l said
nothing 70 the captain. ! did take Has,
kell into my confidence, however. and
from that hour very little took place ON
deck or below that escaped our atten-
tion.
have said nothing thus far about
Mary Williams and her parents. As q
matter Of fact, the girl herself was so
upset the day she came aboard that she
kept her cabin for week. II was hard
lines in flying from disgrace TO find her.
self penned up with the villainous cause
thereof, and when she finally came on
deck she was so pale and thin that did
not at first recognize her. Fortunately
for the family no one On board connect
ed them with the unfortunate affair at
Dudley, and that was certainly matter
for congratulation. Upon my first meet
ing with Mary she made a strong effort
to repress her emotion as she gave me-
her hand and said:
"While we are both sufferers from
the same cause wish to ask your for
giveness that IA friend Of mine should
hav brought the trouble upon you"
was much embarrassed-more 90
than she was-over the situation, but I
managed 70 tell her that she had no
need Of excuses and that I was sorry
for her troubles and had already forgot
ten mine We could congratulate our.
selves on having come out Of the affair
with flying colors, and yet could not
fail to see that she had taken the matter
deeply to heart. Through no fault Of
hers she had brought sorrow to her par
ents and smirch upon her own repu-
tation. The fact of her loving and being
betrothed 10 such villain at all, and
especially in opposition to her parents,
had given the public gossips chance
to deal her some hard blows
told you l was i'm love with Mary
Williams, but as to her having any feel.
ing for me beyond what the situation
might be expected to bring out l make
no claim. After being dealt such blow
no sane man could expect her thoughts
to turn to love. Change Of scene and
lapse Of time might work in my favor,
and I must b. satisfied to wait. What
bothered me just then, however, was to
know Just how she felt toward Ben
Johnson. AS proud and honest girl
her affection for him must have been
dealt a terrible blow, but we all know
that girl will sometimes cling to an
unworthy man in manner to I'LL every
body with amazement. My desire to
learn her feelings was soon gratified.
She asked after him-how he was con-
Quoting himself and what sort OF record
had followed him on board from the
prison, and when answered her she
continued:
lam appalled, when I look back and
realize how blind / was, though the
villainy in his nature never revealed
itself to any one until that terrible
night. / believe it was pity gave him
more than love. cannot help but pity
him now. even though the sight Of him
fills me with horror.
Whenever Johnson's gang was on
deck. the fellow always had his eye out
for sight Of Mary, but as soon as she
understood the routine she remained
below and out of sight. From the hour