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

craft if we have to fight you for 9
month, and sooner than be defeated II
our object we will set her on fire and
all perish together. / now renew you
the offer to let you 20 off in the boats
It is the last time. 1t is for you to say
whether you will save your people OF
let them stay to be killed. / will re-
turn in 15 minutes for your answer.
He had scarcely turned his back when
Smith, his wife, the two single women
and Mary's mother all cried out in
chorus that we should accept the offer.
I must admit that on the face it looked
reasonable enough, and at first thought
it appeared to be the easiest way to es,
cape our peril But those who had cried
out had given no thought as to what
might happen. After bit the captain
spoke to us. In the first place, he de-
clared, the mutineers were not sincere
in their offer. 1t was against common
sense to suppose they would let us ge,
away to fall in with some craft or reach
some coast, to put man-of.war on their
track. If they did not seek to overpowe,
us by sudden rush while we were
busy at the boats, they would afterward
run the boats down with the Hindu,
and that without risk to themselves. As
to setting the craft on fire, their lives
were as precious to them as ours were
to us, and the threat was simply blus'
ter. When he had finished, all saw the
sense of his remarks so plainly that nc
one had a protest or argument. I had
missed Mary while he was speaking.
Just as he had finished, she came into
the main cabin to say:
"The mutineers have made their way
aft to the bulkheads and will try tc
come at us from that direction. I have
been listening and can hear them quite
plainly"
That was proof enough of their
treachery in all things. Knowing that
we were all in the cabin to discuss the
offer of the boats, a number Of them had
begun work at the bulkheads in hopes
to make an opening. But the brave and
quick witted Mary, without hint from
any one, had given US warning in time.
Haskell and I hurried along to the
bulkheads, to find at least half dozen
men working on the other side with
axes and chisels We fired two shots
apiece through the loopholes. There
was fall and a scream, followed by d
rush of feet, and we felt sure they would
not try that trick again for some time
to come. We returned to the cabin just
as York appeared on deck for his all.
swer. In voice as cool and steady as
ever heard it before or afterward the
captain said:
go back to the murderous scoun'
drels and say to them that we will
neither take to the boats nor allow them
to do so! As for gale or fire or wreck,
we will take our chances with you.
Don't come aft with any more offers OF
messages. From this time on we will
shoe. a, every man who comes within
-saage -
York walked off without word and
dropped down the forebatch. A minute
later great roar Of yells and curses
reached our ears The news he carried
forward was not to their liking. Aside
from the shelter of bullet proof cabin
and liberal supply Of arms, we had
other advantages in our favor. One per.
son in the cabin and one at the bulk
heads could watch them. Our fire had q
clean sweep Of the decks. We were
united, while there was much quarrel.
ing among them.
From the time York disappeared up
to nightfall not one of the mutineers
appeared on deck, nor was there any
change in the general situation. except
that the breeze gradually died away and
was wholly gone at sunset. Long
enough before this the women and chill
dren in the cabin had got the better OF
their fright, though to be sure the wife
of Roberts and for that matter all the
rest Of us were terribly anxious as to
what fate might be in store for him and
the doctor. 1t was hard.t see how their
deaths would advance the interests OF
the mutineers, and yet the wounded and
the friends Of the dead would demand
vengeance and probably sacrifice the
two prisoners. What made the matter
worse was in our realizing that we ha6
nothing to offer in exchange for theil
liberty.
Night came down as quiet and peace
full as any night you ever saw. Nc
lights were placed in the rigging, no,
was there a man OH deck from end tc
end of the ship. There was cheepinf
and chlrping from blocks and yards
aloft as the Hindu rose and fell on the
heave of the sea, but never the sound Of
a human voice nor the echo of foot.
fall outside the cabin. Like a spectel
ship she went drifting slowly to the
north, and in the cabin we spoke il
whispers and wondered what the night
would bring forth. We had plenty tc
eat and drink, and the lamps gave out
a cheerful light, but no one could for
get for an instant that nearly hundred
mutinous sailors and hardened crimi'
nails were only few yards away anc
wickedly plotting the destruction Of
every one of US. When the sleepy chill
dren were put to bed, Mary Williams
old father said he would ask God to be
merciful to US in our distress, and
while we all knelt down he prayed with
tears falling down his wrinkled cheeks.
TO BE CONTINUED.
How to 'sFavor" Tired Feet.
For those who must stand on theu
feet to work during the hot days, when