Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-08-24
Mutiny and
Piracy
By CLARA TAYLOR
Copyright, ioo5, bp n. c. Mcclure


mate and second mate. She could mend
sail, steer her trick, make or take In
sail and use a quadrant as we'll as any
one. or at least as well as any mate
that ever sailed with the Hannah Snow,
as the brig was named Captain Snow
ran between Boston and the West In
dia islands, and the shippers Of Bos-
ton came to know his wife and the way
she could discipline crew and han
die the craft
On certain date the brig was load
ing In Boston for quick market Ex-
ira help was put on TO get the cargo
aboard, and Captain Jabez signed
bond TO get that cargo 10 its destina-
ton within certain number of days,
barring hurricanes, waterspouts and
other acts of Providence The bond had
not been signed more than an hour
when he broke his leg. Nothing was
surer than that he could not carry out
his agreement and a great financial
loss as we'll as many weeks of yexa-
tious delay stared the couple IN tho
face. They must either find captain
10 take charge of the brig or forfeit
the charter and pay good round sum,
and Captain Jabez was wondering if
a man could be found when his wife
broke in on him.
''Jabez, you have broke your leg, and
don't want to be cross with you, but
you seem TO forgit that I am still on
earth"
mo, don't" he replied, but don't
zee what you can do IN this case ex-
cept TO git me back home and nurse
me-"
Well. l see where | can DO some
I'm goin' to take the Hannah to the
West Indies and back and save our
charter"
Have you lost your sensesT
Not bit of II. If couldn't make
that voyage / wouldn't be worth my
salt know all the crew. and I'll have !
Bill Henderson for mate. Wen slip |
down there and be back ag'ln before |
your leg has begun to knit There
needn't be any more talk about finding |
a captain"
When Captain Jabez thought the
matter over he was inclined TO think
that his wife could do all she said but
the consignees had to be consulted.
When Aunt Hannah went to them and
stated the case they did not raise a sin
gle objection, and II was settled that
she was to be Captain Hannah Snow
for the voyage. Ii was only after the
brig had left port that the mates
meanness came TO the surface He
had sailed with the craft on several
voyages and was a neighbor of the
Shows at home. When the accident
happened to Captain Jabez the mate
naturally hoped to get command for
the voyage. He would have been dis
tTessed IL any other captain had come
aboard. but to be walked over by
woman, even though she was the cap
tain's wife and neighbor. was too
much.
Aunt Hannah saw that he was In the
sulks. Look here. Bill Henderson,"
abe said, 1T won't DO you the least
mite of good 10 go on biting your
tongue over this. can captain this
brig as well as Jabez, and Pm going to
take her out and back"
You'll have her at the bottom be-
fore we strike the gulf stream" he re-
piled.
You never mind where I'll have her,
but tend to your knitting. We are to
crack on and make the best time we
can"
A day later she found the mate carry
ing too little sail, and an argument
ensued. Later on she came on deck
from her watch below to find him
with the men. Two or
three other things happened TO put her
out of temper, and she exercised the
privilege Of a captain by breaking"
the mate and sending him to the To-
castle. When She would replace nIm
with the next best man, the sailor re-
fused TO take the place. The crew was
with the mate. Aunt Hannah express
ed her mind freely, and as a conse-
luence the crew refused to obey. The
brig was brought to the wind, sail TAX
IN on, and the woman was laughed at {
She was told that not a man would do !
iuty until the mae was reinstated. ;
Then it's mutiny, is it?'' she replied.
Very well. I'll let you know that
TOu've got the wrong pig by the ear :
II lose brig. cargo and everything else
q the world before I'll give in"
For day and night the brig made
70 progress, and as the weather was
air she incurred no danger I
The crew saw that the woman did
sot intend TO give in, and II angered
hem. There was one among them 1
VhO had read dozens Of pirate books c
md always longed TO sail under the n
black flag Things had never come [
light for him before, but now be took =
'dvantage of tho temper of the others g
o broach the subject He was a good b
aiker. and he held out such an alluring q
'icture that even the mate who was =
bove the average man IN intelligence n
greed TO go into the pirate business 2
vith the others. This decision was A
to Captain Hannah, who
Vas wandering about unconcernedly .
WAL. Bill, that's all right" she re- ,
| II
d bark comm our way, and you 7
night begin on her. I've got a black +,
hAwl which III give you for a flag. .
nd you Just lay to, board that bark :
nd give 'em Ats"
"I'll either turn pirate or command
hiA brig" stoutIy asserted the er- d
nate.
Then II is pirate you'll become, Il
or you'll never git command here" Y
80 signal Of distress was set on the 4
rig, and when the bark came up and II
vas hove TO she was boarded by all /,
be crew OF the Snow IN their own a
awl They might have committed d
Ome foolish act and had to smart for q
but for tho woman left aboard. RI