Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-08-02

In the Heart Of the Storm.
by the terms l offer. The schooner is 10
danger, and unless You turn out It's like
you'll find the forecastle a coffin. If l 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 decl;
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. have no rations and no water.
The scuttle butt has launched itself over
board, and am afraid of the supply in the
forehold. There's not shilling in it for an.
of you, but tits fair way of escaping the
kings navy without deserving, for I'll put
you on parole. l tell you, lads, Pm 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 youare
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.
aye two be domned fools to be trustin'
rebel an runnin' yez head into tn noose
Be yez couple O. babbys not to mark his
frearm 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 cad of
this ERE"
| He got no further. / strobe up to him
| l,
| thrusting my eyes close to his, / thundered:
see that We 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, it's violence and the suddenness of my
move making the man shrink back as though
frightened. But he was not cowed. Gather.
ing himself, he uttered curse and sprang
past me, placing himself 'twixt me and the
ladder; then whipping out his knife, he
called aloud to his companions:
"rake tn, chance, lads, while yet we ave
i'm! Twill be tn maxim O. us, an tits
make meat O. til cussed spy!-Up, Larry
an close the 'atch on i'm! I'll 'oll the
gangway."
| Lib dCIlOA uuu OulSpuhGu uOSllllLy was
SO sudden as to take me by surprise, and,
had the others responded to his call, ii
would surely have gone hard with ME. But
instead of springing to the succor of their
mate, they renamed 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 q
sullsy expression it had altered to one Of
wide-awake ferocity, and the listless drooI
of arms and shoulders given place to tense
muscles and rounded chest, through thu
hairiness of which the perspiration stood
out in beads.
Even with this menace before me l coulC
but think what simple fool the man was
Instead Of quietly following my lead ant
getting me at a disadvantage, he had chosen
to beard me against the odds of my cutlas
and the lukewarmness of his mates. AT tn,
same time, it was no case for argument, no.
II would it do to temporize an instant. Err
the promise of reward for my capture or tn,
easy chance to regain control of the schoon
er could act upon the slowly moving mind
of the well-disposed seamen, had nippet
the mutiny (if it could be SO called), and hat
the rngleader begging for mercy.
Without drawing my cutlass, advance
upon the fellow as though to close with him
mind me now that he was lcft-handed, and
as the fist holding the knife swayed alof
and came down, l seized its wrist and witt
violent turn whipped his elbow out o
joint as one twists the leg from wel-coolte'
fowl. As my hand stayed his he clutche'
my throat with his right, but as his join
parted he gave howl of agony, dropped tn
knife and my collar at once, and sank to hi
knees roaring like a bull
Physically the man had been no mate
for me, and might have hammered tn
life from him and met with little opposition
or resistance. Holding him for bre
space, that my power might impress hi
companions as well as himself, droppe
him, and he sank to the deck with moal
that made me almost regret my act.
But the demands of war, self-prcserva
ton, pride, and the safety of Others leav
little latitude for the sentiment of pity il
time of action. Had l in anger alone dis
Jonted the groaning man my conscienc
(Which, thank God, has never been scare
into inactivity might have upbraided me
but now l felt no great pang of remorse a
l sprang up the ladder, calling the two t
follow.
], If the plucky resistance of the disable
seaman had impressed the Others such in
preston seemed to have disappeared as the
came with me into the air above. Like owl
suddenly brought into sunshine, the
! blinked in the now broadened light, ant
hanging on to the halyards of the foremas
| gazed with plain interest at the tumul
about them. Sailors though they were,
, would have wagcred that never had the
/ faced such sight from so small Graf
and this was made certain when the ma
, named Larry bawled at me, while for a mt
ment gripped the same rope with him:
: "Barrin' an ease O. breath, we might a
, we'll ha' left us below. The craft can't liv
long this way here. 'Tis matter O. wind q
Davy Jones, an We had better whistle fe
the first, let it come high or low. Delay al
, an stand by!"
. His exclamation was caused by sudde
jerk Of the schooner, followed by a sidelon
dip, and whole green sea came aboard owe
the starboard bow The full force of
was broken by the house ON the forecastl
hatch, but the bulk swept over all obstacle
like cascade, and, rising to our hips, drov
us clear of the deck in a twinkling. In
bunch we hung on to the halyards until tn
. rush subsidized and let our feet come to til
, planking once more. saw the foo
; sweep aft and foam over the break of tn
} poop, while torrents poured down the ga
!. ley and into the forecastle. 1t was tn
worst drenching the craft had yet expt
! rienccd, and few more such visitors woul
send enough water into the hold to max
her loggy, and that would have been tn
. last straw, as l guessed the pumps to b
useless for want of care. Had l had a flu
crew, nothing could have been done to cas-
our state or renAer our position less peri