Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-08-25
CHAPTER XII.
The Admiral Has His Say.


at Dyck Calhoun, a steely hardness
came into it, and gave a cynical twist
to the lips He was a short man, and
spare, but his bearing had dignity and
every motion significance.
He had had his high moment with
the French admiral, had given his COM
| mandS to the fleet and had arranged
the disposition of the captured French
ships. He was in good spirits, and the
wreckage in the fleet seemed not to
shake his nerve, for he had lost in men
far less than the enemy, and had cap
| tured many ships-a good days work,
due finally to the man in sailors
| clothes standing there with Captain
| Ivy. The admiral took in the dress of
| Calhoun at a glance-the trousers of
blue cloth, the sheath-knife belt the
stockings of white silk the loose, I'M
starched collar, the fine black silk
handkerchief at the throat the waist
coat of red kerseymere the shoes like
| dancing pumps, and the short, round
blue jacket, with the fiat gold buttons
"a seaman complete. He smiled broad
| ly; he liked this mutineer and ex-con-
Wet.
captain Calhoun, eh !" he remarked
mockingly. "Wel you've played a
strong game, and you've plunged US
into great difficulty"
Dyck did not lose his opportunity.
Happily I've done what I planned to
do when we left the Thames, admiral"
he said. 1--WE came TO get the chance
of doing what, by favor of fate, we
have accomplished. Now, sir, as Tn
under arrest, and the ship which l
controlled has done good service, may
l beg that the Ariadne's personnel shall
have. amnesty, and that | alone be
made to pay-if that must be-for the
mutiny at the NOre?"
The admiral nodded owe know of
your breaking away from the mutinous
fleet, and of their firing on you as you
passed, and that is in your favor. |
can also say this: That bringing the
ship here was mastery work, for l
understand there were no officers on
the Ariadne. She always had the repu-
tation of being one of the best-trained
ships in the navy, and she has splen-
didly upheld that reputation. How did
you manage it, Mr. Calhoun"
Dyck briefly told how the lieu
tenants We're made, and how he him
self had been enormously indebted to
GreenOCk, the master of the ship.
The admiral smiled sourly. 81 have
little power until l get instructions
from the admiralty, and that will take
some time. Meanwhile, the Ariadne
shall go on as she is, and as if she
were-and had been from the first-a
member of my own squadron"
Dyck bowed, explained what re-
forms he had created in the food and
provisions of the Ariadne, and ex-
pressed hope that nothing should be
altered. He declared the ship had
proved herself, chiefly because of his
reforms.
Besides, she's been badly ham,
mered. She's got great numbers of
wounded and dead, and for many
day the men will be busy with repairs"
For a man without naval expert
ence, for a. mutineer, an ex-convict and
a usurper, you've done quite well, Mr..
Calhoun; but my instructions were, if
you fell into my hands, to try you and
hang you3'' =
At this point Captain Ivy INTERVIEWED
"Sir," he said, "the instructions you
received were general They could not
anticipate the special service which
the Ariadne has rendered to the kings
fleet. ! have known Mr. Calhoun; l
have visited at his fathers house; I
was with him on his journey to Dub
lin, which was the beginning of his bad
luck. ! would beg Of you, sir, to give
Mr.. Calhoun his parole on sea and land
until word comes from the admiralty
as to what, in the circumstances, his
fate shall be-"
ITO be kept on the Beatitude on pa
role!" exclaimed the admiral.
Land or sea, Captain Ivy said. I'm
as well born as any man in the kings
fleet" declared Dyck. 1--WE as clean
a record as any officer in his majesty's
navy, save for the dark fact that /
was put in prison for killing a man
and l will say here, in the secrecy of
an admirars cabin, that the man !
killed-or was supposed to kil--was a
traitor. If l did kill him. he deserved
, death by whatever hand it came.
care not what you do with me"-his
hands clenched, his shoulders drew up
his eyes blackened with the dark fire
of his soul-"whether you put me on
parole, or try me by courtmartial, or
hang me from the yard-arm. I've done
piece of work of which I'm not
ashamed I've brought mutinous shir
out of mutny, sailed her down the
; seas for many weeks, disciplined her
p drilled her. trained her, fought her
helped to give the admiral of the West
Indian squadron his victory. If Tn
put ashore at Jamaica, I'll keep my
parole; If / stay prisoner here, III