The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-09


Dutchmen. and there was not more drink
The steward drank what was left of il.
And in the morning all the remainder of
the crew met on the poop. AT frs. they had
a certain natural reluctance to use that por-
ton of the ship, but if they did not meet
there the steersman could not take his
share in the talk. Joe did most of the
talking.
81 reckon the nearest port is Buenos
Ayres,'' he said. This mornn' took the
liberty of lookin' at the chart, and there
amt nothin' 'andier, as is common talk
with sailormen. II we stand north we'll
about it it Off Or anyways we'll 1T on
the track of steamers maxim for it, and we
might get the lend of hofficer to take us
in. What do you say, mates?'
Some nodded, some shrugged their shout
ders and some said: "Buenos Ayres; oh,
yes, that will do as we'll as another"
And I've took the liberty" said Joe
solemnly, 'of borrowing the log book from
down below, and I've wrote out a plain &C
count of all this ere, as / said last night.
For it's best put down, and it's ships law
as everythin' serious should be wrote out
in the log book and nowhere else. Shall
read it?''
And he read out what he had written.
''Three days back. as is told in the log.
Mr.. Case, the second mate, fell from the
foreyard as we was goin' to take in the
foresail and was killed. He was buried
according the next day, while we was 'ove
to. And last night, in the middle watch.
as all 'ands was maxim SAIL the wind
'avin' fallen light sudden and the sea bein'
very 'eavy, we shipped an eavy sea over
the port rail as washed Mr.. Gamjy over
board with Jack Marchmont, A. b., An
drew Anderson, A. B., and Thomas Griggs,
boy. And the captain bein' ill, as the log
says, died sudden on 'earin' it, and is now
lynn dead in lis cabin. Whereas, there
bein' no officer in the ,ship, all 'ands as
sembled as aforesaid declares this is the
truth and nothin' but the truth. And we
intend maxim for Bonus Airs, or Monty
Vfdyo."
And one by one the crew signed this
simple statement, it was held down on
the top Of the signal locker by its author.
Those who could not write, and there were
three who could not, made their marks
when Joe signed for them.
Whatever 'appens to this old 'ooker we
must keep sure of this log" said Joe. For
supposin' any hother disaster befalls us,
seems likely enough, ar | we took to the
boats, it would look very bad for us with
out a single officer"
1t was a cold and unhappy day for them
as they drove to the northeast, still under
short canvas. But the weather broke a
little and they set the topgallant sails at
last.
$50 long as we don't pile her up on the
Falklands, we should do" said the one
other man on board beside Joe who seemed
capable of taking responsibility. He was
from Newcastle, and was, of course, known
as Geordie. Naturally enough he and Joe
divided the watches between them and the
remainder of the crowd sheltered their un-
easy minds under their strength.
II suppose if we bring her in we might
get something extra?" said Geordie the day
they buried the captain.
But Joe took him by the arm and led him
for ard from the wheel, at which a patient
Swede stood.
"Geordie, old man, do you want to bring
her in?" he asked.
''Why, yes, L suppose So" said Geordie.
He stared at Joe. What do you mean?"
Joe broke out strangely and struck his
fist upon the rail.
81 want to see 'er sink" he said savagely.
ST want to see 'er go where she's put so
many good men. What right as we to save
'er to do more arm? 1t amt alone as she's
drowned my chum or the others, but she as
black record that amt finished unless we
finish it. She's strong and will go on KILN
for twenty years, Geordie. She'll make
money for them as doesn't care, but what
of the likes Of us?'
He was greatly moved.
"She's caulked with mems lives, and
painted with their BLOOD" he cried, pas
sionately. ''Id rather she sunk with me
than sailed the seas any more
And Geordie fidgeted uneasily.
That's true, mate, but
aye" said Joe, II know. If we scuttled
'er 'twould look bad, and it's bad enough
as 1t is. But tits a good deed If we done
it, and it should be done. And I'll tell you
'ow to do it,
He leant upon the rail and spoke earnest
ly in low voice.
1T won't do, own, to scuttle 'er at sea,
not even if we let on she leaked and logged
it day by day. But if we sunk 'er in the
Plate or In the Bay at Monte N1deO
'twould do right enough, and I've a plan
for that I made it out in the morning
watch. 'Tis as easy eatin' and easier a
deal than eatin' ships biscuit. Down
below in the lazareet I'll bore 'oIes in 'er
three or four, and plug 'em on the inside
about a foot below the water line And
I'll over the side and plug 'em outside
then I'll draw the inside plugs Dye see?"
And Geordie saw.
"You needn't know II. / can do il my
lone,' said Joe. 'And do it I will. If we
gets off 'er safe, she shan't kill no more.
When we're off her, and none of us will
stay as you know, she'll lie at anchor wait
ing for a new crowd, and I'll come out to
'er in a boat and sink the murderin' old
'ooker right there"
"There'n be a ship-keeper on her." said
Geordie.
GAS like as not 'ee'll on'y be Spanard."
replied Joe, simply; land even If not"
Even If not one more was but one.
The next day the weather moderated
and the Pandora being then as they reck-
oned we'll clear Of the Falklands, stood
due north for Cape Corrientes, with the
wind almost on the port beam. That night
Joe went down into the lazarette with an
anger and bored three holes in her
weather side