Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-31

| clapped down the hatch Then, as we we're
| made to come up, one at a time, we each
! got welt over the head an put in irons,
| down the fore peak. an We've been there
| ever since. So, ye see that's how We cant
| lodge no complaint. 1 managed to crawl
| through a hawse-pipe-ye see, am pretty
! thin
There was a moments silence. jackson
| broke it.
| Boys" he said again, should we stand
| for thiS?''
| He paused a moment, then swung around
| to me.
| "Quartermaster" he said you're the one
man we need You've got the night gang
! way. and you can make 1t all right with
! your mates. You can forget to have the
yawl hoisted. Unless you say SO, those six
poor suckers will have to stay there. Are
| you with uS?'
He held out his hand and 1 could not
| help the thrill of admiration that came over
me at the fine, young, strong face, lit up
| with fierce enthusiasm, and the manly
voice. protesting against form of njus-
| tice particularly detestable to the heart OF
a sailor
! grasped hands Then one by one the four
| citizen soldiers came up and we did the
| same. One of them was a justice of the
peace In far-away Pennsylvania.
We two auartermasters of the night watch
| stood lounging by the gangway. 1t was
near midnight. Every light aboard was eX
| tinguished-orders from the admiral. for
there were still two Spanish torpedo boats
! unframed up the Pasig. 1t was another
! beautiful night lighted only by the stars
| and an occasional flash of the searchlights
\ on the WarShipS. The chief officer had ma de
| his last round of inspection an hour before.
| and was now turned in. Only two of
the crew were on deck-our report had been,
| "Alls well sir'
| So 1t was, in our opinion. Dark figures
| passed US on deck, going aft, but did
| not challenge. From under the stern came
| faint splashing and rattle of oars. but we
| az Il oh,
hauled along the side to the gangway lad
der, making no noise save a faint splash
against its bow. but still we did not chal-
| lenge. l removed my uniform coat and
| slipped softly down the ladder. A hand
grasped mine. and then we showed Off A
moment later 1 heard our bell strike, and
my watch mates voice rolled out:
"AllS we'll"
| We pulled quietly away from the steam
erS side until she appeared mere vague
| shadow. Our oarlocks. muffied by wads of
englneroom waste. seemed only to breathe.
| There were eight Of US in the yawl, jack
| son and l in the bow, two privates and
three sailors. the latter pulling and the de-
| serter steering. He was the first to speak
| In a loud whisper.
| I'm headin' for the fore chains We can
jump there and be on deck before the bos'n
| sees u.s.
| We glided slowly over the almost invisible
| water until presently the big shadow of
! the sailing ship doomed above us bow on.
In oars" whispered Jackson, and we
| glided In under the barks bows. A mo-
ment later 1 hooked the fore rigging with
| the boat hook and We're fast.
Boat ahoy!' shouted voice from on
deck.
Jackson and leaped up the chain plates,
| into the shrouds and sprang down on deck.
| The rest swarmed up after us.
| who's there?" yelled voice in front Of
! US.
| Friends said Jackson, but the man we
| had between us must have thought other
wise, with two feVOlyerS thrust Under his
| nose.
| Now, you shut up" warned Jackson, cor
! We'll blow your top off,
| We led our prisoner amidships and he
| went quietly enough.
| Now give US the key to the fo'csle,"
| commanded Jackson.
| sulenly.
Come along and get it. Wen keep you
| company"
| All of US moved aft The cabin compan-
| ionway scuttle opened and man appeared
| whats wrong, boS'n?'' called voice.
There was flash and a report of re-
volver, and man beside me dropped. A
| second later the figure in the companion
way stretched its length before us on deck,
| unarmed.
We quickly crowded down into the ca bin.
We had just time to turn on a dark lantern,
| when the door to a state room leading off
| from the cabin opened and a big burly
man. partly undressed, leaped out among
| us. He, too, dropped on deck, senseless
| II Jill tllc U1oW VI d IeNOlNeT DuCl. Next,
| headed by the deserter, we quickly made
| prisoners Of the second mate cook and
| steward in their respective rooms, locking
| their doors and threatening to shoot at the
| least cutlery. Then, the skylight being COW
| cred by tarpaulin on the outside, we ven
tured to light the lamp hung from the CEN
! ter of the cabin.
| The bos'n, captain and mate we speedily
| bound to bench. The mate was bleeding
profusely. AS he came to he struggled
| fercely with the knotted cords. but an eff
| fective tap from revolver butt taught him
| discretion. The captain took things more
| calmly and made no resistance.
| Now, the key" said Jackson.
The boSn was loosened enough so that
he could go into his room and procure it.
| L took 1t from him. Jackson nodded that he
| and the soldiers would stand guard
Accompanied by the deserter and two
| sailors, I went ford to the forecastle door,
| from which we speedily removed the pad
| lock. Inside all was dark. but turned on
| the bull s-eye. The scuttle to the fore peak
| was in the middle of the floor. 1t, too, was
| padlocked. One of the merkfound fire ak,
! and with few heavy cuts removed the
lock. We pulled it off and with the lantern
| open, I descended, followed by the three
| sailors.
| I found myself in a crowd of gaping.
! blinking men, all manacled at the wrists
| some lying down. some standing, all staring
| in stupid establishment
| What's up, sir?" asked one at last Then
| they recognized their escaped Shipmate He
| explained the situation in few sentences.
| Such a starved-looking lot of men I had
| never seen; all were thin, dirty and hag-
| gard. But there was no time to lose; l
| climbed the ladder again, every man fol-
| lowing. We passed quickly through the
| forecastle, out .on deck and aft to the cabin
| I think shall never forget the tiendish
| look that came over the shippers pale face
| as those six manacled men crowded into the
| cabin. He had what might be termed a
| handsome face, refined, white, delicate, but
| for all that not pleasant to look upon. His
| mouth twitched nervously. 1 had seen just
| such a mouth before on notorious gam
| bier and desperate in the west on trial for
| his life.
| Now" said Jackson to the mate,
| where's the key to those handouts? Re-
member, these war times, and We came
| here to kill I'd blamed sight rather kill
| you than some poor, innocent Spaniard."
| The mate hesitated second, then
| growled:
| I'm my room-top of the wash basin.'
| The key was found and the men relieved
| of the irons. They had chafed raw bruises
| about their wrists. Meanwhile, the man
| whom the captain had shot was carried
I down from deck; he was one of our sailors.
| The bullet had gone through his ear, graz
l inc his skull Although he HE'D nrofuSelp