Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-06-16
CHApTrR yITI.-fContinned.l

would nave taken the brig. frightened
Let me pass, prisoner
As Mrs Vickers descended the hatch
way. the boat with Frere and the sol
diers came within musket-range, and
Lesly, according to orders. fred his
musket over their heads, shouting to
them TO lay to. But Frere, boiling with
rage at the manner In which the tables
had been turned on him, had determined
not to resign his lost authority without
a struggle. Disregarding the summons,
he came straight on, with his eyes fixed
on the vessel. 1t was now nearly dark,
and the figures on the deck were indis-
tingushable. The indignant lieutenant
could but guess at the condition of af-
fairs. Suddenly, from out Of the dark
ness, a voice hailed him.
Hold water. back water" 1t cried,
and was then seemingly chol1ed In Its
owners throat.
The voice was the property of Mr..
Bates, Standing near the side, he had
observed Rex and Fair bring up a great
pig Of iron, erst used as part of the
ballast of the brig, and poise it on the
rail Their intention was but too evil
dent and honest Bates, like faithful
watchdog barked TO warn his master.
Bloodthirsty Cheshire caught him by the
throat, and Frere, unheeding, ran the
boat alongside, under the very nose of
the revengeful Rex. The mass of iron
fell half in-board upon the now stayed
boat and gave her sternway, with
splintered plank.
Villains" cried Frere, would you
swamp us? What do they mean to do
p
The answer came pat to the question
From the dark hull of the brig broke a
flash and n report, and a mus1et ball cut
the water beside them with a chirping
noise Between the black indistinct mass
which represented the brig and the glim-
mering water was visible a white speck,
which gradually neared them.
Come alongside with ye," hailed a
voice 'or 1t will be worse for yet"
They want to murder u.s." says Frere.
"Give way, men,
But the two soldiers, exchanging |
glances one with the other, pulled the |!
boats head round and made for the yes I,
sell Its no use, Mr.. Frere," said the |
man nearest him. 1--WE can do no good |
now, and they won't hurt US, l dare
say"
You are in league with them!' bursts
put Frere, purple with indignation. "Do
you mutinyT"
Come, come, SIR" returned the sol
1ier, sulkily; this amt the time to bully;
and as for mutiny, why, one mans
about as good as another just now"
When they reached the brig they
found that the jolly boat had been low
cred and laid alongside. In her We're
eleven personalities, with forehead
gashed and hands bound; the stunned
Crimes Russen and Fair pulling; Lyon,
Riley, Cheshire and Lesly with muskets,
and John Rex in the stern sheets, with
Bates pistols in his trousers belt and
a loaded musket across his knees. The
white object which had been seen by
the men in the whaleboat was a large
white shawl which wrapped Mrs. Wick
ers and Sylvia.
BY the direction of Rex, the whale
boat was brought alongside the jolly
boat and Cheshire and Lesly boarded
her Lesly then gave his musket to
Rex, and bound Frere's hands behind
him in the same manner as had been
done for Bates. Frere attempted to re-
sist this indignity; but Cheshire, clap
ping his musket to his ear, swore he
would blow out his brains if he uttered
another syllable; and Frere, catching
the malignant eye of John Rex, remem-
bered how easily twitch of the finger
would pay off old scores, and was silent.
"Step in here, sir, if you please" said
Rex, with polite irony. 81 am sorry to
be compelled to tie you, but I must
consult my own safety as well as your
convenience" Frere scowled. and, step /
ping awkwardly into the jolly boat, fell. |
Pinioned as he was, he could not rise |
without assistance, and Russen pulled |
him roughly to his feet, with a coarse
laugh. In his present frame of mind
that laugh CALLED him worse than his
bonds.
Poor Mrs. Vickers, with q woman's
quick instinct, saw this, and even amid
Ter ewn trouble found leisure to console.
The wretchesw she said, under her
lreath, as Frere was flung down beside
Ter, ito subject you to such indignityp'
sylvia said nothing and seemed to shrink
rom the lieutenant.
"Now, my lads" says Rex, who SEEM
to have endued the cast-off author
Y of Frere, 1--WE give you your choice
,tay at HelPs Gates or come with u.s.
can't wait here all night. The wind
freshening, and we must make the
ar Which is it to be?'
"Well go with you" says the man
no had pulled stroke in the whaleboat
pom which utterance the convicts hurst
to joyous cries, and the pair were re-
lived with much hand shaking.
Then Rex, with Lyon and Riley "a
lard. got into the whaleboat, and bov-
2 loosed the two prisoners from their
,nds. ordered them to take the places
Russen and Fair. The whaleboat
rs manned by the seven mutineprs
* steering, Fair, Russen and the two
cruits pulling, the other four standing
with their muskets leyeled at the
ly boat Their long slavery had be-
tten such a dread of authority In these
n that they feared 1t even when Il
bound and menaced by four anus
$. keep your distance" shouted
eshire as Frere and Bates, In ODE
nee TO orders. began to pull the joll!
It toward the shore; and In this fash
was the dismal little party eonyeyei
the mainland.
was nigbt whom fhav reached II