The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-10-23
what. and I dared not attemnt TO

arouse the Skipper tHCn. rs ! Knew
ne would ma Ike Il terrible racket
about it, so | went to my bunk.
didn't sleep much, but the night
passed without further incident.
Morning found us becalmed at
the mouth Of a large river The
sun came up red and scorching,
making the water simmer like bur-
nished silver. Not breath of air
rippled the surface of the sea or
futtered the canvas we spread. By
9 o'clock sort of blush gray haze
crept over the sky, but the heat was
none the less oppressive.
'"Ihe captain walked the deck and
raved. DO you know where we are ?
he snarled at Corello. The natives
who inhabit this country are canni-
balls What if they should take a
fancy to attack us now? We'd all
be served in soup and roasts.'
''The skipper seemed to blame the
mate, and in less than three minutes
another row had begun. This time
the master did order Corello to be
seized and ironed, but the order was
not obeyed. Not man moved to
carry out the command. Instead
the sailors stood scowling at. their
captain.
What's this?' he roared, his
face growing black. DO you refuse
to obey me? This is mutinyp
"'We are seek of you,' calmly
said Corello. we serve you re way
re crew of re Ella Noble was serve.
Grab him, ladsY
''The skipper snatched out pis-
tol and retreated few steps, swear
ing to blow out the brains of the
first man who tried to touch him. |
saw Portuguese creeping catlike
up behind the man, and | knew the
brig would soon be in the possession
of the mutineers unless some un-
foreseen occurrence prevented.
cat this very instant >Bildad
Downes, a cockeyed old tar, shout
ed:
"FCanoes putin off from shore
loaded with blackskins! There's
piles of 'em, an they're all armed!
We're in for fght!'
''In one instant the mutiny was
over. Every man realized our peril,
and they jumped to the rail to get
a look at the approaching canoes.
Downes had told the truth. A reg
ular war party of the cannibals was
coming off to attack the brig.
Muskets and cutlasses, men,
Numbered the captain. Train the
gun on 'em and blow 'em out Of the
waterp
''Our only chance was to fight,
and that chance was really a slim
one, as we were badly prepared for
such an encounter. Our heavy gun
was a rusty old thing, and it was
doubtful if it would do much exc
cution. But we were not destined
to fire shot.
''Suddenly great cry went up
from the Threats of the natives,
and the canoes sat motionless on
the CLASSY water, while the black
faces of their inmates were turned
upward.
"'Great God! Look therep
"The sailor who uttered the cry
pointed almost directly overhead,
and there we saw most astounding
spectacle. A two masted schooner
turned bottom upward seemed to
hang suspended in the air amid the
blush haze that overspread the SIX
Every sail was set, but they hung
idle like our own, as if she was also
becalmed. We could look directly
upon the deck, but not living
thing seemed stirring about her.
She was deserted.
"But the most singular part of it
all is that [ could read her name,
and [ swear she was the lost schoon-
er Ella Noble.
''In a few moments she began to
fade from view. DINNER and dim
mer grew her outlines, and she was
finally swallowed up and lost in the
haze. When we looked at the can
nibals, every canoe was scooting for
the shore as fast as paddles could
send them. Those natives were the
worst scared lot you ever saw, and
we had no more trouble with them.
II suppose it is easy enough to
account for the vision of the vessel
in the sky by calling it mirage,
but sailors are mighty superstitious,
and there were some sober men on
the Swallow after that. No further
offer at mutiny was made, and ev-
erything moved smoothly to the end
Of the voyage.
"But we didn't find the Ella No
BILE, and she has never been heard of
since"