Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-02-16
THEMATEOF THE hindu
By Captain RALPH DAVIS

By Captain RALPH DAVIR
Copyright. 1885, by tho Author.l
CHAPTER TX.
TIE CAPE AND BEYOND.
Our run to the Cape was made In
fairly good time, and when we came
to anchor everybody aboard was in good
health, and there was nothing to find
fault with. BY going before the proper
authorities aud making statements and
affidavits and delaying our voyage for
an investigation doubt not that we
could have had DR.. Haxton- removed and
secured competent man in his place.
The rub was, as I have heretofore ex-
planned, that such action would make
trouble for the bark. The authorities
had the power to cancel our charter and
transfer the prisoners with the voyage
half completed, and that meant heavy
loss and certain disgrace.
may tell you that before reaching
the Cape the captain had q very plain
talk with the doctor. That the man had
been trying to do his best no one could
doubt, but there was no hope that he
would prove himself the right man in
the right place. With the officers OF the
ship backing him and assuming autbori-
ty such as competent official would
not have permitted IL was hoped we
might get through. 1t was oil settled
before we sighted Table mountain that
no one ashore should get the slightest
inkling that everything with us was not
AZ we could wish for.
The man Thomas left us here, and
we felt il necessary to get man in his
place. This duty was left TO me, and /
set about it with the resolve TO make
no mistake There were 90 sailors in
Cape Town anxious TO ship, and after
looking them all over | selected man
about 80 years old named Samuel York.
He was an American and had been
third mate Of whaling ship. Owing
to Misunderstanding with his captain,
which he explained TO his own benefit,
he had quit the ship when she put in at
the Cape. / sized him up TO be high
spirited but very decent fellow. and my
Judgment was afterward confirmed by
Captain Clark.
York at first fatty and Indignantly
refused to take the place, as / rather ex-
pccted he would, the pay being small
and the occupation one which "a true sail
or considered degrading, but after CIV.
ing the subject days reflection he de-
cided TO accept. He put it on the
ground that he stood better chance OF
getting ship ut Sydney or Melbourne
than at Cape Town. In taking that man
aboard was making mistake which
/ should never cease 10 regret, but when
one acts according to his best judgment
you can expect no more. / may tell You
here that York deliberately lied TO me,
knowing that the chances Of exposure
We're very slim. he had been third
mate Of whaler, but had been broken
and set ashore for insubordination.
Soon after landing he had engaged in o
quarrel and had been out Of Jail only
day when l came across him. In accept
ing the position he had u plan In view.
Before leaving the Cape the iron
cages were carefully inspected and thor
oughly oyerhauled and close search
made OF the prisoners. Each convict
was interroga'ed and examined as to
his state Of health, and not one OF them
had complaint To make. A first class
I,,l, a sh m
er bill Of health. No convict ship ever
resumed her voyage under more favora-
BILE auspices, and for week was al
most care free. During this time had
kept q pretty close watch on the new
guard, York. as was in duty bound to
do. but ] had seen nothing to find fault
with. He was cheerful. obedient and
apparently vigilant, and no more could
be asked for. The first thing TO excite
my suspicion, or l may better say my
curiosity, was in his asking Haskell for
our latitude and longitude and after
ward consulting chart Of the Indian
ocean which he had brought aboard
with his dunnage. After the noon OBJ
no secret Of it among tine passengers,
several of whom had charts and were
keeping the run Of the ship. Had York
asked me for the position and told Se
he was pricking Off the run for his own
satisfaction should have thought moth
ing strange about it, for he was an in
telligent man, and had ali idea that
he understood navigation fairly well.
His sailor instinct as well rs desire to
post himself was excuse enough. He
had asked Haskell i'll confidential way
10 give him the figures, and he hal con-
suited his chart in u secret manner.
~ don't like the man." continued
Haskell after giving me the above in
formation.
"But why:" queried.
cts hard to say, but the feeling Is
here that he isn't dead right. He asks q
great many questions, but never an
swers any. He's got very sly way OF
pumping a man. He and / haven't
taken to each other at all, but he has
pumped the other guards and some OF
the sailors until he is posted on what
ever has happened since we left the
channel. He's done little else when of
duty and not asleep but to ask ques-
tions.
"What particular thing does he seem
most anxious to know abOut?"
"Well, now that you mention II,
think he's been quite concerned about
the firearms. Last night he was EARNING
to some of the sailors about the gold
diggings and wondering why they
didn't cut sticks and make their for.
tunes. When they asked why he didn't
fill his own pockets, he replied that he
should leave for the mines as soon as the
ship reached Sydney. don't want to
raise suspicious. sir. but it looks Q bit
queer all around. I'm never quite easy
in my mind when it's his turn below. "
Haskell had been made captain OF the
guard after the removal Of Hooper. and
his surmises and suspicious were enti-
tied to all consideration. 1t gave me Q
very unpleasant feeling to think I had
been deceived in York, but l did not act
on impulse If he was all right, 1t
would be bad thing to jump on him
and have to take it all back, and if he
wal engaged in plot the correct thing
to do was TO lie low and hope to expose
him. Thus il came about that while DR..
Haxton was congratulating himself on
the smooth way in which things were
going had never been more anxious.