The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-06-15
tor The Term of His Natural Life
By MARCUS CLARKE
CHAPTER XIII.-(ContinuedD
BY MARCUS CLARKE

CHAPTER XIII.-(Continued.)
Sylvia flashed burning red at this in
dignity. Frightened! If there had been
anybody else here but women. you never
would have 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-
tinguishable. The indignant lieutenant
could but guess at the condition of af-
fairs. Suddenly, from out Of the dark
ness. voice hailed him.
Hold water! back water!" it cried,
owners throat.
The voice was tho property Of Mr..
Bates. Standing near the side, he had
observed Rex and Fair bring up 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 a
splintered plank. E-.-f.tE
"Villainsv' cried Frere, would you
swamp US? What do they mean to do
next?"
The answer came pat to the question.
From the dark hull of the brig broke
flash and a report, and a musket 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 it will be worse for ye!"
"They want to murder u.s." says Frere.
"Give way, men!
But the two soldiers, excha nging
glances one with the other, pulled the
boats head round and made for the yes
sell Its no use, Mr.. Frere," said the
man nearest him. I'VE can do no good
now, and they won't hurt US, dare
say"
you are in league with them" bursts
out Frere, purple with indignation. do
you mutiny?"
Come, come, sir" returned the SOL
der, 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 were
eleven personalities, with forehead
.gashed and hands bound; the stunned
Grimes, 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
q loaded musket across his knees. The
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 a twitch of the finger
would pay off old scores, and was silent.
"Step in here. sir, if you please" said
Rex, with polite irony. II 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 a woman's
quick instinct, saw this, and even amid
her own trouble found leisure to console.
THE wretchesw she said, under her
breath, as Frere was flung down beside
her, ITO subject you to such indignity!'
Sylvia said nothing and seemed to shrink
from the lieutenant.
'Now, my lads" says Rex, who seem
ed to have endued the cast-off author
ity Of Frere. I'VE give you your choice.
Stay at Helrs Gates or come with us!
I can't wait here all night. The wind
is freshening, and we must make the
bar Which is it to be?"
"We'll go with your says the man
who had pulled stroke in the wbaleboat.
Upon which utterance the convicts burst
into joyous cries, and the pair were re-
ceived with much hand shaking.
Then Rex, with Lyon and Riley as a
guard, got into the whaleboat, and hav.
ing loosed the two prisoners from their
bonds, ordered them to take the places
of Russen and Fair. The whaleboat
was manned by the seven mutineers
Rex steering, Fair, Russen and the two
recruits pulling, the other four standing
up, with their muskets leveled at the
folly boat. Their long slavery had be-
gotten such a dread of authority in these
men that they feared it even when il
was bound and menaced by four 1nus
kets. Keep your distance" shouted
Cheshire, as Frere and Bates, in ODE
dience to orders. began t. pull the jolly