Year: 1871

and prepare their Internal smoke-pot


darted forward over the top of the
casks to the forecastle bulkhead. The
four men who were imprisoned there
were all up and dressed, bd. had no
light burning, preferring to wait in the
dark for the expected attack of the
mutineers. They had been reused by
the pistol shot in the other part of the
ship, to find themselves imprisoned.
A part of the partition between them
and me was in the form of a light
wooden grating of lattice, to admit a
free circulation of air. This had al
ready been silently removed, and at a
whisper from me, we all went aft
together. No firearms could be got
until we could open communication
with the officers in the cabin. This
we dared not yet attempt, as the par
tition was solid, and some noise must
be made in wrenching plank off.


The brig had been whaling on pre-
vious voyage, and a bunch of lances,
tied together, were still on board.
These were found ia rack under the
deck-carlines. Though little rusty,
they were still sharp enough to be ter
rible weapons in the hands Of despe-
rate men, if brought to bay. We had
hardly secured these, when there was
rally at the hatQhway, and the pot OF
fire and sulphur was lowered down.
The hatch was instantly clapped on,
and the tarpaulin drawn ali over. Had
we been taken unawares, a minute or
two would have been sufficient to
smother us to death. But We were
prepared to meet it, several tin cups
having been brought from the forecas-
tie and filled with water from the
cask. Before the tarpaulin covering
was fully secured over the matches,
the fire was all out, and l had given
the word to the officers in the cabin to
open communication by forcing off a
plank.


The planks run up and down, and a
few blows of an AK at the foot, given
from the after side, would start the
spikes. AT the first blow, we heard
the sound of dancing feet overhead,
and then the drunken shout of Dark
Bill A.: cay! knock away, my hearties!
| thought the birthstone would starve
ye! Keep a good watch on the fore
scuttle, you darkey! Go there with
him, Paine! We shall have break
out soon, either forward or aft, but
they'll be blinded with smoke, and
we'll have the advantage of 'em." A
few more blows of the ax-the plank
is starting But how those three spikes
seemed to cling to the tough wood.
The enemy became suspicious and
lifted off the hatch. "Hallo. The fire
out ~ The voice was that of Ugly
Barney. Here? Bill Paine rally
here, after hatch Quick, before they
break the bulkhead" !"


Barney jumped down to seize the
pot. An opening was already made,
and we were through it, one at time.
He caught sight of US, but before he
could retreat, Joe Bonner let iriye his
trusty lance, which passed through
the ruflian's body, pinning him to the
stanchiOn. His cry of mortal agony
brought his comrades TO aid him. We
were beyond their reach. Our whole
force was collected in the cabin. But
We had friend in the enemy's camp.
My chum, Dave Kent, was at tie
wheel, and Bill, at the pistols mouth,
had kept him there, for he could not
spare one of his tTusty men to relieve
him He intended no doubt, to kill
him, as well as myself, after he got full
possession OF the brig. had heard
them hunting for me, and Bill decided
that | must be either under deck or
aloft. elf he is aloft, said he, "we'll
attend to his case when We get day.
light. If he's crawled below, LET him
smell hrimStone with the rAat ~


/ knew all along that Dave Kent
wouldn't To-, chance of helping US,
il he saw one. But he was powerless
until the moment when the mutineers
rallied TO the hatchway, at the pierre
ing cry from Barney, leaving only the
steward at the cabin door. Quick as
thought, Dave seized this fellow from
behind with his powerful grip. The
pistol and cutlass were both useless to
him, for the movement had been 50
sudden and well timed, that before he
could raise an alarm, he was jeIked
over the low tafIrail into the sea, the
cabin doors were open, and up we
poured, with every advantage of posi-
ton, holding the quarter deck in pos
session.


1t was given and taken for a minute.
But there were only four of the mutt
neers left, and We were the stronger
party. The second mate got his arm
broken by shot from Bill, and got
cut on the arm from a cutlass
thrown at my head by the parsee.
But he and Paine were both shot
dead; and Dark Bill, the chief despe-
radO, crazy with rum and rage, bleed
ing from two or three wounds, knock
cd my chum senseIess with his last
empty pistol and jumped overheard,
with defiant oath on his lips. You
may well suppose we did not stop to
pick him up. The last man fell on his
knees; and his life was spared till we
arrived at Sydney, where he was tried
and hung.


Our voyage was broken up by this
! scrape, for we were too short-handed
to venture among the savages. But
we made q good cruise for the short
time we were absent, for we brought
our gold home safe, and spent it with
out troubling ourselves much about
where it came from.