West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-04-15

c0pmcrT 1890 3, nae AuInoR.


, ers.
1t was after 3 o'clock in the afternoon
before the hast man departed, and then
the boat was given push from the
beach aud sent back TO US. Among the
gang were eight wounded men, their
injuries having been inflicted when the
women fred through the loopholos
Perhaps they had extracted some Of the
shot from their legs, but enough was
left to cause them to curse and grOau as
they limpod about tho decks. The bar
ricade was almost disposed of in loading
the boat and half AN hour after the
last trip we had clear deck, and the
women and children were out for an
airing. The passengers were for having
the captain trip the anchor and sail at
once, but he gathered them around him
and said:
Here are but three sailors of us. Not
one Of you men can go aloft or take a
trick at the wheel. l don't say that we
might not navigate tho bark down to
Adelaide; but, with the season Just
changing and bad weather coming on,
we'd lie taking strong risks. The Eng
lishman who spoke us thoroughly I'M
derstood our peril and can be depended
on to report us If we hang right here
for fortnight vel see man-of-war
in tho ofiing. We can't recapture the
oonvicts. but we can remain here as q
guard and help hunt 'em down later on.
Besides, IL we wero to sail away, who
can tell but that some craft may be
driven here by stress Of weather or
come in answer to u signal, and she'd
certainly fall into tho hands of the
gang? We havo IL clear ship now and
can afford TO wait
The women murmured somewhat,
bat the men choerfully 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, ana as fast as they landed on the
beach they disappeared into the thick
Forest, presumably to look for site on
which 10 make camp. The passengers
thought we had done with them for
good, but the rest of us Lad different
feeling. AS night was Ginning on Cap
tain Clark came to mo on the bows of
the bark, where was overhauling things
bit, and said:
''Rglpb, 1 don't like tho way John
son talked, nor L 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 it. What DO you think?"
We'll, sir, agree with you as to
there being something back OF it. Those
fellows have not given up the fight vet.
laughing ashore, and if enc 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
oussed. 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
-eady for themv'
The cabin was left just as we had de-
Tended il, but we battened down the
matches and scuttles so that there was
no getting below. When VIC 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 the mutiny we should
have had no place in which TO safely
hold our prisoners. The fellows had
made % fearful waste Of such provisions
and stuff as they could get at, and az
we looked about we wondered that they
had not fired or GcUttled the ship in
their desperation.
When night camo down, q double
watch was set on board. HASKELL and
Miss Foster took tho bow aud Mary
and L the stern, and tho men who Law
down in tho cabin had their weapons
handy for sudden call. 1t was a quiet
starlight night, and the beach was so
near that had any OF tho mutineeTs ap-
pcared wo should have made thom out
From 8 o'clock to midnight 1 was
alone with Mary for the FIRST time since
came TO know her name. There was
no doubt OF my love for her, and she
had as good ga told mo hat she returned
IT, and yet / must tell you tbat L was
more upset for the frsC hour than when
the mutiDcors rushed IA. Az q matter
Of fact, wo were no company fox each
other, and If the dear girl hadn't cor
rectly judged my feelings and felt sorry
for me / doubt if ] should nave opened
ny mouth during the four hours watch.
never yet heard Of 81 man who wa4
content with simply knowing that q
woman loved him. Flo wants to assure
her Of his love and exact promise Of
marriage. That's exactly what wanted
70 do--to tell Mary that I thought she
was the dearest incest girl in oil this
world and ask her to mako me the
prordcst, happicft man by giving mo
her hand in marriage. She could read
my mind, tho witch, and sho kept mo
on the ragged edge for an hour or moro
before sEo suddenly asked.
Mr.. TorupkiDs DO you think wo
shall yet safe awayT"
I am hcDoful If 10 now. " I REPLIED