Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-06-15
CHAPTER xIII.-CContinued.l


As Mrs. Vickers descended the hatch
way, the boat with Frere and the sol
oilers 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
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 waterw It 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 1t on the
rail. Their intention was but too evil
dent; and honest Bates, like a 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 tn-boaFd upon the now stayed
boat and gave her sternway, with a
sDlintered plank.
"Villainsw cried Frero, would you
swamp us2 What do they mean to do
nextT'
The answer came pat to the question
From the dark hull Of the brig broke a
fash and report, and a musket ball cut
the water beside them with a chirping
noise. Between the black lndistinct mass
which represented the brig and the glim-
mering water was visible a white speck,
which gradually neared them.
Come alongside with ye," hailed
voice. Tor it will be worse for vel"
''They want to murder u.s." says Frere
"Give way, menu
But the two soldiers, exchanging
glances one with the other, pulled the
boats head round and made for the yes
sci. "It's 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
out Frere, purple with indignation. ''Do
you mutinyT'
Come, come, sir" returned the sol
der, sulkily; this amt the time to bully;
and as for mutiny, why, one mans 4
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
a loaded musket across his knees. The
white object which had been seen by
the men in the whaleboat was 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 eve of John Rex, remem-
bered how easily a twitch Of the finger
would pay OF 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
Frere scowled. and, step
nj oadI inf h. tn
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.
'Ths 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, 1--WE give you your choice.
Stay at HelPs Gates or come with us!
can't wait here all night. The wind
Is freshening, and we must make the
bar Which is it to be7"
Wen 90 with youl" says the man
who had pulled stroke In the whaleboat.
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 hay-
ing loosed the two prisoners from their
bonds, ordered them to take the places
of Russen and Fair. The whaIeboat
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
jolly boat. Their long slavery had be-
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