Mower County transcript., 1899-08-16

- -
In the Heart Of the Storm.
by the terms l offer. The schooner 10 IN
danger, and unless you turn out 'tis like
you'll find the forecastle coffin. If make
no mistake, we're in for watt that will
. come nigh to blowing US out of water if we
don't roll our spars out before. Get on deck
and work the schooner under my command
until we make Holmes Hole in the Vine
! yard. an when you set foot ashore you are
; free men. l have no rations and no water.
The scuttle butt has launched itself over
board, and l am afraid of the supply in the
! forehold. There's not shilling in it for any
of you. but tits fair way of escaping the
kings navy without deserting, for III put
you on parole. I tell you, lads, I'm bad
one to foul, but you'll find have an easy
helm and never miss stays if handled hon
estly. Now choose betwixt this hole and
the deck. and choose in hurry If you are
to save neck and freedom, throw down your
knives as a sign; I've no more time to
waste"
The two who had spoken looked askant
each at the other, and the knife of the
original spokesman fell to the deck As the
hand of the Yankee sought the sheath the
third man spoke, unfolding his arms and
scowling like thunder as he gave vent to his
words.
Eye two be domned fools to be trustin'
rebel an runnin' yez head into tn moose.
Be yez couple O babbys not to mark his
6rearm is useless wi tn wet? 'Ee's in our
'ands! Wot's to Under our takin' the craft
an gettin' tn price that lies on the 'ead of
this ere"
He got no further. I strobe up to him
and snapped my fingers in his face, then,
thrustlng my eyes close to his, thundered:
"On deck with ye. ye blatherskite I'll
see that ye sing tune with old iron in it
ere sunrise tomorrow! On deck, tell vel"
Notwithstanding the din already exist
ing IN the forecastle, my voice rose far above
it, its violence and the suddenness of my
move making the man shrink back as though
frightened. But he was not cowed. Gather
ing himself, be uttered a curse and sprang
past me, placing himself 'twixt me and the
ladder; then whipping out his knife, he
called aloud to his companions:
Take tn chance, lads, while yet we ave
i'm! Twill be tn maxim O. US, an it's
fifty puns to each! Stand by, bullies! we'll
make meat O. th' cussed spy!-Up, Larry,
an close the 'atch on i'm! III 'old the
gangway."
His action and outspoken hostility was
SO sudden as to take me by surprise, and,
had the others responded to his call, il
would surely have gone hard with me. But
! instead of springing to the succor Of their
mate, they remained standing as though the
quick shifting of the situation had for the
moment dazed them. The earnestness of
the fellows purpose showed in the rapid
change that came over his face. From a
sulky expression it had altered to one of
wide-awake ferocity. and the listless droop
of arms and shoulders given place to tense
muscles and rounded chest, through the
hairiness OF which the perspiration stood
! out in beads.
Even with this menace before me could
but think what simple fool the man was
Instead Of quietly following my lead and
getting me at disadvantage, he had chosen
to beard me against the odds of my cutlass
and the lukewarmness of his mates. At the
same time, it was no case for argument, nor
would it do to temporize an instant Ere
the promise of reward for my capture or the
easy chance to regain control of the schoon-
er could act upon the slowly moving minds
of the well-disposed seamen, had nipped
the mutiny (if it could be SO called), and had
the ringleader begging for mercy.
Without drawing my cutlass, advanced
upon the fellow as though to close with him.
mind me now that he was left t-handed, and,
as the fist holding the knife swayed aloft
and came down, l seized its wrist and with
a violent turn whipped his elbow out of
joint as one twists the leg from well-couked
fowl. As my hand stayed his he clutched
my throat with his right, but as his joint
parted he gave howl of agony, dropped the
knife and my collar at once, and sank to his
knees roaring like bull.
Physically the man had been no match
for me, and I might have hammered the
life from him and met with little opposition
or resistance. Holding him for a brief
space, that my power might impress his
companions as we'll as himself, l dropped
him, and he sank to the deck with moan
that made me almost regret my act.
But the demands of war, self-preserva-
tion, pride, and the safety of others leave
little latitude for the sentiment of pity in
time of action. Had in anger alone dis
jointed the groaning man my conscience
(which, thank God, has never been scared
into inactivity might have upbraided me,
but now felt no great pang of remorse as
sprang up the ladder, calling the two to
follow.
If the plucky resistance of the disabled
seaman had impressed the others, such i'm
preston seemed to have disappeared as they
came with me into the air above. Like owls
suddenly brought into sunshine, they
blinked in the now broadened light, and,
hanging ON to the ha1yards of the foremast,
gazed with plain interest at the tumult
about them. Sailors though, they were,
would have wagered that never had they
faced such sight from 90 small craft,
and this was made certain when the man
named Larry bawled at me, while for mo-
ment I gripped the same rope With him:
"Barrin' IN sase; o breath, W might a.
we'll b. left Vi below. The craft can't live
long this way here. Til matter o. wind Or
exx-lones. m. " had better whistle for