Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-11-03
CHAPTER XIV.
I'M ish ~ y
I STRlkE TIE JOLLY EoGEI

STRIKE TIE JOLLY ROGER.
had scarce gained position on the
bowsprit, when the flying jib Mapped
aud filed upon the other tack, with a
report like a gun. The schooner trem-
bled Ia her keel under the reverse: but
next moment, the other snils still
drawing, the jib tapped back again.
aud hung idle.
This had nearly tossed me off Into
the sea: and now lost no time, cravlcd
back along the bowsprit, and tumtled
head foremost on the deck.
Twas on the lee side Of the forccastlc,
and the mainsail, which was still draw
ing. concealed from me n certain FOR
ton of the after-dcck. Not n soul VAS
20 be seen. The planks, which had rot
been swabbed since the mutiny, bore
the print of many feet; and an empty
bottle. broken by the neck. tumblcd 10
aud fro like live thing in the scupp6 rs
Suddenly the "IIispaniola" cane
right iato the wind. The iibs behind
me cracked aloud; the rudder slammed
to; the whole ship gave n slckering
heave and shudder. and at the same
moment the main-boom swung in
board. the sheet grooming in the blocks.
and showed me the Ice after-deck.
There were the two watchmen. sure
enough; red-cap on his back, as stiff as
n handspike, with his arms stretched
out like those of a cruciiix, and his
teeth showing through his open lips;
Israel Hands propped against the bull
warks, his chin on his chest, his hands
lying open before him on the deck. his
face rs white. under its tan. ms q tai.
low candle.
For awhile the ship kept bucking and
siding like n vicious horse, the sails
filling. now on one tack, now on an.
other. and the boom swinging to and
fro till the mast Groaned aloud under
the strain. Now and again, too, there
would come n cloud of light spray over
the hulwark. and heavy blow Of the
ships bows against the swell-so much
heavier weather wns made of Il by this
great rugged ship than by my home
made, lop-sided coracle, now gone TO
the bottom of the sea.
At every jump of the schooner. rcd
cap slipped TO and fro; but-what was
CHASTITY to beholl-neithcr his attitude
\ noe his a>Od t<zstk.l:seisSing grin as
any way disturbed by this rough usage.
At every jump, too, Hands appeared
still more to sink Into himself and set
tie down uron the deck. his feet sliding
ever the further out, and the whole
body canting toward the stern. so that
his face became, little by little. hid
from me; and at last | could see moth
ing beyond his ear and the frayed ring.
let of one whisker.
AT the same time, observed. around
both of them. splashes of dark blood
upon the plapks. and began to feel sure
that they had killed each other in their
drunken wrath.
While ] was thus looking and won.
dering, in a calm moment. when the
ship was still. Israel Hands turned part.
ly round, and. with low moan. writhcd
himself back TO the position in which
| had seen him fret. The moan. which
told of pain and deadly weakness. and
the way in which his jaw hung open,
went right TO my heart. But when !
remembered the talk I had overheard
from the apple barrel, all pity lett me
walked aft until reached the main.
mast.
Come aboard, Mr.. Hands," | said,
ironically.
He rolled his eyes round heavily; hut
he was too far gone to express surprise
All he could do was to utter one word:
brandy"
II occurred to me there was no time
to lose; and. lodging the boom as IL
once more lurched across the deck.
slipped aft, and down the companion.
stairs into the cabin.
II was such a scene Of confusion as
you can hardly fancy. All the lockfast
places had been broken open in quest Of
the chart. The floor was thik with
mud. where ruiIians had sat down &c
drink or consult after wading in the
marshes round their camp. The bulk.
heads, all painted in clear white. and
beaded round with gilt, bore a pattern
of dirty hands. Dozens Of empty bot.
ties clinked together in corners to the
rolling Of the ship. One of the doctors
medical books lay open on the table
half of the leaves Quilted out, ! suppose
for pipe-lights. In the midst of all thi,
the lamp still cast smoky glow, OBJ
scure and brown as TIMBER.
| went into the cellar; all the barrels
were gone, and of the bottles n most
surprising number had been drunk oui
and thrown away. Certainly. since thu
mutiny began, not a man of them could
ever have been sober.
tTo BE CoNrINUED.l