Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-11-29

The stout ship Bristol Merchant. us
tons burden. Alexander Ireland, mas
ter. has dropped down the channel in
three tides. has taken her departure
from Lundy island and is now well
out of domestic navigation. Astern is
a thin black wavy line rising above
the waste of waters, the last we shall
see of the iron bound coast of Devon
for many a long day. Ahead. now
blocked out of sight by the straining
spritsall beneath the boltsprit. now
dazzling our eyes with its flashing
glory. is the burning yellow sun, just
diving over the edge Of the world,
Turing us on, as it were, with visions
of a land where everything is bright
and golden as himself. What n bea-
con for crew of eager gold hunters!
The worthy master. Peter Waltham,
had gladly availed himself Of our pre-
posal Fitting out began less than II
hours after the pagan had told his
tale and in fortnight we were ready
for sea. Ninety-thrce men We're lying
about the decks. drunk as lords. when
we first loosed our two topsalls to
drop down the river ana three sober
ones and five cs.icrrs. lOl all told. anc
n crew of whicI we were proud.
We made bad hunt TO begin with.
getting mp past the Lccward islands
and into the great g.lf which lies be
yond them before lie wcs; ward course
was given up T..rn. hei;!E convinced
that we had ovcr-hot orr mark and
that the river of our S.I.ch was br
hind us. Alec gave the WOfd 10 bout
ship. and we made our WAY slowly
back again in the face CT teas.nE SUI
eession of eastcrly winds.
The heat AT times was awf~l and
crowded as we were the atmosphere
tween decks was anything but restor-
ing to our unfortunately numerous sick
men. Scarcely three days passed with
out some poor scurvy rnttrd corpse be
ing thrown to tllr -. whose black
fins never stirrc our wake.
Matters got wu, and worse till the
grumbiing Of the crew came to a head
in open mutiny.
The sultry heat Of the day was al
most killing. Not breath Of air
tarnished the braZen sea, but over the
mangrove bushes which fringed the
low shore TO westward hung q sullen
white steam which shut out the coun-
try from our eyes One would have
thought that the weather vas too hot
for any exertlon that could possibly be
avoided, but discord, like the devil, can
1. fes irass
day the sound ones Of the crew made
their way aft in body.
4 little Irishman whom Alec had
taken in pity from the streets of Bris-
tol. where he was starving, was their
spokesman, and his election to that
post was not undeserved, as he had by
his vaporings stirred up the whole
mutiny
The brown faced crowd surged
against the break Of the poop on which
there were only us five officers and
the steersman standing beside his idly
swaying tiller.
stop, men. Far enough" cried Alec
in authoritative tones. What Is 1t
you want"
said the Irishman, with an insolent
laugh; everything a man can want
health, comfort and wealth. There's
scuryy marks on livery wan av us, an
no wondher, seein that the only green
food that has passed the lips av us
since leavin Bristol river is the sloime
off the wather butts. A dacint pig
~ fg uf r.
Tiers And as for threasure, yeZ might
as well seek II in the great bog av Bal
lyvore as here. SO, savin yer honor's
prisence. all hands forrad means to
take jaunt ashore on the oiland we
dropped ycstere'en an thin to cruise
for what we can git higher up on the
Spanish main. There's no call for
throubls or head brealsIn," he added,
turning to the rest OF us, though sure
1t would be plisant diversion. but
whin score av honest lads has died
like sheep wild the rot it's tonne for
the rest to spake. An so my mates
here has instructed me to say that av
they doesn't git their way given, why.
thin they'll jist take it,
All eyes turned on Alec, who mad
heard the fellow out with n patience
which surprised me. He went a step
or two farther aft, leaned on the rail
Of the little stairway which led to the
cabin below and then answered them,
speaking quietly and without allowing
n tinge Of annoyance to show itself In
his voice.
'fyou mako rnottara far worse than
they are" he said. "a few men have
died, and that grIeve for but scurvy
always boards n ship on n long voyage
like this, and not a man of you but
knew that when he pocketed his boun-
ty on Bristol quay. Now hear what /
have to say. We must be very near
the mouth of the river we seek, and
we shall find It. For six days the
Bristol Merchant will sail southwark.
If by that time the pagan has not
pointed out the rivers mouth to you |
shall steer north again and harry the
Spanish towns. Now back with you to
your own end Of the shipw
A sullcn murmur rose among the
crew, and several Of the bolder spirits
began to climb the poop ladders, head
ed by the spokesman. Without NOV
ing from the cabin stairs Alec held up
his hand for silence. The fools thought
he was going to give way and halted
TO listen.
Hear mew he cried In ringing tones.
"YOu think TO take possession OF the
ship by mere weight of numbers. Well,