Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-19


He took US so suddenly by surprise
that. although we had been waiting
and watching for him since dawn, mis-
resolute aspect and the arms he WELD
ed controlled MS all. and We stared al
each other with irresolutiOn in ouT
purpose and in our faces. No man
apparently. cared TO act as our leader
Presto" roared the Cubano: obey
and keep quiet, or. demonio, as there
are SO many. have a great mind to
shoot one-naf. that | may control the
rest Cast loose those tOp-Sails. and
up with the royals again-set the fly
ing glib and main trysail-quick. per
res or Ill make sharks meat OF some
more of you"
The crew seemed to lack either res
olutiOn or the power of combination.
and no man appeared anxious 10 in
eur the sure penalty of instant death
by acting in opposition 10 his peremp-
tory orders in setting an example 70
the rest So. sullenly and silently the
sail trimmers stood by the tacks and
willing hands of Ned Carlton, who was
compelled TO obey. for the cold muZzle
Of a six barreled revolver. capped and
cooked. was held close 20 his left tenn
pie.
The head Of the Eugene paved Of
in obedience TO her helm. the yards
swung round and were braced sharp
up, and with the starbUard tackS Oh
board. in three minutes We were steer
ing as due westward as her head would
lie for the coast of South America.
The alteration of our course fur
nished the crew with a new source of
speculation 1t was evidently the N
tention of Antonio, if he could reach
the coast OF SECURE. or that of Bahia,
To escape with all his yaluables and
his vengeance: and TO this end. if
ships passed without succoring or
overhauing us. and If we did not de-
stToy him. he might certainly destroy
Us. by scutting the brig. or setting her
on fire.
The noon passed over without an
observation. for there was no one TO
work it, TO estimate the latitude or
longitude. TO keep a reckoning or take
note OF our variation and leeway; and
lest we should signal any passing ship
Antonio. who was "A most thoughtful
scoundrel, threw every color over
board He did not come ON deck again
bod rN10 of
spirits and provisions below. and the
tell-tale compass in the skvlight af-
forded him constant information as to
whether the brig was Steered IN the
direction he wished
He was constantly drinking but
never became so intoxicated as to be
unWary.
And so the fated brig glided over the
hot sea, under the blazing sun. The
albatrosSes came round us again. with
tripping feet, Tapping wings and open
bills: but no one molested them now
We had other things to think Of:
and as | sat on the anchor stock in the
weather bow, watching them floating
with their vast wings outspread,
thought of the Ancient Mariner and
all that he had suffered for killing the
bird of good omen"
felt strange dread creeping over
NE while these verses seemed ON my
tongue-they were SO descriptive of
the atmosphere and of the situation:
All in hot and copper sky,
The bloody sun at noon,
Right up above the mast did stand,
No. bigger than the moon.
u closed my lids. and kept them close
And the balls like pulses beat,
For the sea and sky. and the sea and
sky,
Lay like load on my weary eye,
And the dead were at my feet"