The Washington herald., 1915-09-26
Edited by MARY MARSHALL
The Bafled Mutineers
BY ALEC. G. PEARSON.


ing through the port of TIE half-deck,
and by it looked at my watch.
Exactly o'clock" said.
Two hours more for Sleep" remarked
Tom Milligan. But instead Of attempt
ing to continue his disturbed slumbers he
remained sitting up in his bunk with his
| head bent forward in a listening atti-
tude
Tom Milligan and were fellow-ap-
prentices in the same watch on board
the old merchant ship Cleopatra, hne
wooden frigate-built ship of a thousand
tons register. There were four Of US
| altogether in the half-deck, the other
two apprentices. Jerry Winfield and
Podge Barrett, being in the second
mates watch.
The Cleopatra was bound from the
small and little-known port Of Yinadong,
Western Australia, to the well-known
port Of Adelaide. South Australia. and
was four days out from the former place
With the exception Of matter Of twelve
cases containing gold in nuggets and in
gots valued at little over $4,000, that
were slowed away in the after-hold. the
ship was in ballast
Look here, Tom" said after a min
ute's silence. 'I don't somehow feel like
going to sleep again just yet. SO shall
60 out on deck and see what the weather
is like"
Jumping out Of my bunk. I slipped on
my trousers, and, crossing over to the
berth door, I turned the handle. The
door was locked.
We are fastened in, Tom cried.
Tom Milligan was out Of his bunk in
a second, shaking at the door fercely.
The key is on the outside" he ex-
claimed. 1T has been moved"
There was the sound OF q heavy foot
step on the deck. and Tom ratified the
door again.
who is outside there" he shouted.
Unlock this door. will you?'
The door will be unlocked presently"
replied a gruff voice. Don't make such
a hullabaloo.''
rs that you Prout?" I asked.
Yes" answered the man.
why are We locked in our berths?"
TO keep you out Of mischief But the
boss is coming along presently to talk
to you. and you'll larn all that's good
for you to know.
The boss?''
Yes: Jim Hurst. He's in charge Of
this ere locker now
Tom and I exchanged glances.
What does it mean" I whispered
"Mutiny." he replied in a hard voice.
Where are the captain and ohicers?"
he demanded of Prout.
Safe under lock and key. the same as
you are" replied the fellow. But here
comes Jim Hurst
The door was flung open and Hurst. a
hulking ruffian. appeared with three
others of the mutineers We noticed that !
they all carried revolvers.
If you promise, said Hurst, never to
say a word Of what you see and hear
aboard this ship for the next few days.
why, you shall have full liberty and may
be nugget of gold apiece at the end Of
the trip
With a parting injunction from Hurst
if We valued our lives. the door was
locked upon us and we were left to our
own reflections.
1t may be guessed that they were far
from pleasant ones. particularly when
we had one Of the mates account Of what
had taken place. From him We learned
that the crew. most Of them armed with
revolvers. had crept aft. overpowered
the second mate and afterward the cap
tain and chief mate. who were sleeping
below. and seized the ship
"As far as I could gather from the
the scoundrels let fall" he went
on. they intend to run the ship ashore
On Rowley Island, stow the gold in the
boats, and then steer for the mainland"
Well. what is to be done?' said.
We have to decide by breakfast time.
For my part would sooner be marooned
than become an associate Of mUtineers."
The same here" exclaimed Podge
Barrett, another mate.
The after-hatch Of the Cleopatra was
in the space between the break
Of the poop and the deck-house occupied
- 80 AoeA opP2CuIICSe. AuS uOOE "a |
our berth opened aft, SO that when we
stepped out on deck we were within a
few feet Of the coamings Of the hatch
way
1t was down in this afterhold that
the cases Of gold were slowed, and. Of
course, the matches were barred and
padlocked. The mutineers, however. had
secured the keys, which were always ,
kept in the chief mates cabin, and short
ly after o'clock In the morning we ]
heard them unlocking the bars and re-
the matches.
Jerry, watching the operation through ,
the keyhole Of the door, whispered ex- I
citedly, They are going down below
to break open the cases and share OUT |
che gold.'' |,
Already said Tom with q quiet I
smile. Can you see how many OF the 6
fellows are going below. jerry"
The whole lot Of them. except the I
man at the wheel and one fellow that I
hey have eft to keep q lookout on /
ieck." said Jerry. I
Who is the lookout man. Ia
"Prout"
Now. you fellows listen to me-" ex.
claimed Tom. 'ff luck hasn't deserteot