Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-09-24


it came into the cooks hands capable
Of being polished like mahogany. He
threatened the cook with punishment
if he found the meals ll-cooked.
OF the common sailors, on the whole.
Dyek had little doubt He had in
formed them that, whatever happened,
they should not be in danger; that the
ship should not join the West Indian
fleet unless every man except himself
received amnesty. If the amnesty was
not granted, then one of two things
should happen-the ship must make
for a South American port, or she must
fight. Fighting would not brighten
these men.
It was rather among the midship-
men that Dyek looked for trouble.
Sometimes, with only two years train
ing at Gosport, youngster became a
midshipman on first going to sea, and
he could begin as early as eleven years
of age. A second-rate ship like the
Ariadne carried eighteen midshipmen /;
and as six lieutenants we're appointed
from them, only twelve remained.
From these twelve, in the dingy after
cockpit, where the superficial area was
not more than twelve square feet !;
where the air was foul, and the bilgeS
reeked with a pestilential stencil ;
where the purser's storeroOm near
gave out the smell of rancid but
ter and poisonous cheese; where the
musty faint Of old ropes came to them,
there was a spirit Of danger
Dyck was right in thinking that in
the midshipmens dismal berth the first
flowers Of revolt TO his rule would
bloom.
Sailors, even as low as the pig-sty
men, had some idea Of fair play; and
as the weeks that had passed since
they left the Thames had given them
better food and drink. and lesseued
the severity of those above them, real
obedience had come
1t was not strange that the ship ran
we'll for all the officers under the new
conditions. except Dyck himself. had
had previous experience. The old lieu
tenants had gone, but midshipmen,
who in any case We're trained, had
taken their places. The rest Of the
ships staff were the same, except the
captain; and as Dyck had made a
friend Of Greenock the master, a man
Of guinness, the days were peaceful
enough during the voyage to the Garth
bean sea.
The majority saw that every act Of
Dyck had proved him just and capable.
He had rigidly insisted on gun prac-
tice; he had keyed up the marines to
a better spirit, and churHshness had
been promptly punished. He was. iii
effect, what the sailors called a
rogue" or a "taut one"--seIdom
smiling, gaunt of face but fearless Of
eye, and with a body free from fatigue
AS the weather grew warmer and
the days longer, and they drew near 10
the coast of Jamaica, a stir Of excite
ment was shown.
you'd like to know what I'm going
to do, Michael, l suppose" said Dyck
one morning, as he drank his coffee
and watched the sun creeping up the
sky. "Well, in three days we shall
know what's to become Of us, and
have no doubt or fear This ships a
rebel, but it's returning to duty. We've
shown them how a ship can be run
with good food and drink and fair deal
ing, and, please Cod wen have some
work to do now that belongs 70 a man
of-warv
"Sir, I know what you mean to DO"
replied Michael. You mean to get
all Of US off by giving yourself up"
wen, some one has to pay for what
we've done, Michael" A dark, ruth
less light came into Dyck's eyes.
Seine ones got to pay" A grim smile
crossed his face. We've done the for
hidden thing: we've mutlnled and taken
to the open sea. We were fired on by
the sbtber mutiny ships, and that will
help our sailors, but 1t won't help me.
I'm the leader. We ought, Of course,
to have taken refuge with the nearest
squadron Of the kings ships We'll, I've
run my luck. and TN have to pay
He scratched bis chin with a thumb
naiI-a permanent physical trait Yen
see, the government has pardoucd an
the sailors, and win hang only the
leaders. / expect Parker is hung all
ready, Wei. I'm the lender on the
Ariadne I'm taking this snip straight
to his matp~tys West Indian feet, in
thorough discipline. and III hand IT
over well found well manned well Of
fcered on condition Olaf an 20 free
except myself ] came aboard "a com
mon sailor a quota mau, a prison
bird. ppuu1le~s Well have I shown
that j can run a ship Have 7 learned
the game Of c9nuU7 During the
weeks we've been ST sea. bursting
along, have I proved mysalff'
Auchael smiled
what did ] say to you the first
night on board -,rf Didn't I sag
they'd make au officer of sou wHea
they found our vhat brains sou hads
Bg ST. Patrick you've made yourself
captain with tho goodwill If all. aad
your iron hand has Hai3 thing e.
-ether You've got q great head too
sirH