The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-04-26
for The Term of Ills Natural Life
BY r CLARKE
CHAPTER xIII.-tContinued.)

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, fired his
musket over their heads, shouting TO
them to lay TO. But Frere. boiling with
age at the manner in which the tables
had been turned on him, had determined
not to resign his lost authority without
a struggle. D~isregarding 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 at
fairs Suddenly. from out of the dark
ness. a voice hailed him.
Hold water, back water," il cried,
and was then seemingly choked 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
C4l III DalC>f ~
watchdog. barked to warn his master.
BIoodthirsty 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.
Villains cried Frere, would you
swamp US? What do they mean to do
nextf"
The answer came pat to the question.
From the dark hull of the brig broke a
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 ii will be worse for ye"
"They want to murder u.s." says Frere.
"Give way, mem"
But the two soldiers, exchanging
glances one with the other, pulled the
boats read round and made for the yes
sci. Its no use, Mr.. Frere," said the
man nearest him. I'VE can do no good
now, and they won't hurt Us, I dare
say"
"You are in league with them" bursts
oct Frere, purple with Indignation. do
you mutiny?" ~
Come, come, sir" returned the sol
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 n laid alongside In her were
eleven persons-Bates, 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
white objert which had been s@eu by
the men in the whaleboat was q 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 manne 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 maiign ant eye of John Rex. remem-
bered how easily u twitch of the finger
would pay off old scores. and was silent.
'Step in here, sir. if you please" said
Rex, with polite irony. Il am sorry to
be compelled TO tie you, but / mast
consult my own safety as wen 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
her own trouble found leisure to console.
"The w~retches." she said, under her
breath, as Frere was flung down beside
her, Ito subject you to such indig lityr
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.
1 can't wait here all night. The vino
is freshening, and we must make the
bar. Which is it to beT"
ssWell 90 with your says the mar
who had pulled stroke in the whaleboat
Upon which utterance the convicts bursI
into joyous cries, and the pair were re-
ceived with much hand shaking.
Then Rex, with Lyon and Riley as q
guard, got into the w~haleboat, and hav
ing loosed the two prisoners from theil
bonds, ordered them TO axe the place.
of Russen and Fair. The whaleboa,
was manned by the seven mutineers
Rex steering. Fair, Russen and the two
recruits pulling. the other four standinf
up, with their musket leveled at tht
Jolly boat. Their long slavery had be
gotten such a dread Of authority in thes.
men that they feared 1t even when i
was bound and menaced by four mus
kets. Keep your distancel" shouted
Cheshire, as Frere and Bates, ir ODE
dience to orders. began to pull the joll,
boat toward the shore; and In this fash
ion was the dismal little party conveyed
to the mainland.
Il was night when the,' reached it
but the clear sky began 20 thrill will
q late moon as yet unarisen. and tn.
waves, breaking gently upon the beach
glimmered with a radiance born of thei
own motion. Frere and Bates jumpin,
ashore, helped out Mrs. Vickers, Syl
via and the wounded Grimes. This be
ing done under the muzzles of the mus
kets, Rex commanded that Bates ant
Frere should push the jolly boat as fal
as they could from the shore, and Riley
catching her b. a boat hook as she cam,
toward them, sae was taken in tow.
"Now, boys" says Cheshire. with
savage delight, three cheers for oil
England and libertyi'
Upon which a great shout went up
echoed by the grim hills which had wit
messed so~inany miseries.
CHAPTER XIV.
There is no need to dwell upon tn
mental agonies of that miserable night