Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
CHAPTER XXIV.
A SMALL TRAGEDY

The scuttle butt had barely disappeared
and | was about to get back to the cabin to
see how had Jared its inmates, when my
ears were assailed 10y a violent hammering
forward, and | at once perceived that my
prisoners had assaulted the weakened panel
OF the forecastle door With my blood well
up, | got myself hand over hand along the
bulwark, and by a leap from the cathead
came to the hatch and boldly threw back the
slide. The three were jammed on the lad.
der at work together, but the suddenness
Of my move caused them such a surprise that
they tumbed from the perch as though
struck. The lamp was out, and from the
black hole came a hot and reeking smell that
was sulfocating.
whats amss thcre?' ! roared, hanging
on to the hatch with one hand and with the
other showing the barrel Of my pistol
They scrambled to their feet and looked
up, little but their white flesh ST. wing in
the wan light entering the half-open hatch.
The sailor With the pietail whom ] had
pitched below was trlic in advance Of the
others, and, stepping a pace forward, he
shouted back:
"Wot's amiss? Everything's amiss Wot
kind o treatment is this to give man:
Split me! but Id rather 90 overheard and
stille in jiify than smotlser BY inches
Wot's amss above, man! Who be you,
Where's the cap'n?
Never mind mel" | answered 'Ts
enough that ! am master here, oun.hury
being some two leagues back Pass up youi
armsl You are prisoners to the colonies
and the first finger that lifts in fight be
longs to a dead man. Pass up What you
have below there!"
Prisoners, is it?" said he Of the pgtail
turning to his fellows. Heard We a sign o
the gang that boarded us? Cuss me, mates
but they must ha' come on wings then, ion
the sea was as smooth as a pan O warm
grease two minutes atore was hurled on t
We, an not a speck in sight, bafin' the
Sprite! Prisoners, is il? Cuss me, list &c
that"
"Ay, prisoners it is, and to the colonies
so no more palaver. What have YOU be
low"
Il care not a damn for colonies or king
was the reply There be 70 arms here
Dye think three men were sent hither Il
beat off a boarding party an The :, hoonel
in consort? Dye take Us FOR soa-loalng ma
rinesz We be sailors, We bo-that's all
Here's wot have, IN III trade it for air.
Saying this, he pulled his knife frsu il
sheath, and, taking tie steel by its point
held it toward me.
will you swear to no cther arms, each u
you?" | cried,
"Ay, that's Gods truth" spoke up one Of
the others. ''Ye say We are of TIL, colonie.
well, SO be |. I'm New Bedford lad, SIR
avn I'll thank We to hold grip on me that
| may not be taken from ye
An that's Gods truth, too, yer honorn
broke in the first speaker. There wa,
naught vicious in the rumpus we was raisin
\ man has right to air, an twas all We
was cravn'. So be I'm prisoner I'm con
tent ii it means grub an water an chance
to breathe!"
Now | know little Of the nature Of The
black sailor save that his anger Is apt t.
show in treachery, but with the regular
white salt ann better acquainted, and have
found that the English seaman. be he Yam
kee or Briton, argues his point with square
fist and a~tlashing eve. Though there MAY
be wars and wars with the mother country
it will be open and without back -stabbng
by those Of the Saxon race, and, believing
this, | thought | saw way of scoring a
point, and that with little danger to myself
The truth OF the statement that they were
unarmed appealed to my reason For de
Tense three men armed or not would have
cut no figure, and, as the Spritc had in
tended to act as conSort, the necessity Of
force on the Phantom had not been con
sidered. Being satisfied that my prisoners
possessed no weapons other than the sailors
universal knife, and holding that bold face
will carry a man further than too open
show of caution, | flung batk the door and
grasping the slide, hung over the hatch
opening and dropped into the foreeastle
Now" said |, as | gathered myself and
chung to the woodwork, IF You mean fan
by me well soon come to terms; if foul, take
the last chance you'll have to settle! Who
comes first, or come you all!'
Look a here, mister said the spokes
man, who scarce shifted his position as
dropped near him, II spoke We fair, an had
| boarded We alongside | would be fast
enough in the fight, mind We, an 'twould be
along q the lettenant's eye on me But as il
be, care not for blood II fight, It's from
bein forced To it. | was shanghed into this
business, an that's the truth; am if | can
get out withoa. stakin' my neck as a de
sarter, I'm wilha' enough. 1e say we be
prisoners! Say no more. Do We drive us to
work for rations? Why so be- We knew
naught about bein' toolSep captive, an only