Year: 1871

long wished for turned up in my favor
Malcolm came towards the wheel, and l
beckoned him to approach me. He did
so, but he trembled when he came up.


"Can you read writing% 1 asked, in
pleasant, confidential way.


Yes, sir" he replied


Then wish you would come into the
cabin and help me transeribe part of the
ships log. want to write it all up in
my own book, and 1 have neglected it for
the few past days. You can read it of
wnile write 1t. Come, will satisfy you


He seemed totally disarmed of all fear
by my frank manner, and he followed me
without hesitation. When we reached
the cabin l lighted candle, and then
hand l drew a sharp carving-knife from
my bosom.


Beware 70 said I, in a very low tone
at the same time laying one hand upon
his shoulder; eff you speak, or make a
noise loud enough to be heard on deck, III
kill you on the instant p


l know that my face is one capable of
assuming rather an uninviting aspect, and
as the poor fellow looked up at me, and
then at the cleaning knife, he turned as
pale as death He now shook in every
limb. l saw that had not been mistaken
in his character


"Now," said /, still keeping my position,
Il am going to ask you some questions.
Life Is at stake, and ] would as lief plunge
this knife to your heart as to eat my sup
per. If you hesitate, or lie to me, you are
dead mani Is there not a plan formed
ship?"


The fellow was thunder-struck. He
crouched down as far from the point ofthe
knite as possible, and in any other situa-
ton l could have pitied him.


Answer my question: I uttered


Eyes! !" gasped the terrer-stricken man,
in an almost Tnaudible whisper.


care not all your Cape Town compani-
ons engaged in this plot2'
With all his fear the fellow hesitated.
saw that he had other things to fear be-
side my knife, so resolved that I would
touch him on the tender spot.


mark me-" said I, "I know the crime
you have planned, and if you will confess
to me the whole plot I will see that you
are saved from harm. You shall not suf-
fer with the rest, nor sLall you be harmed
IN the least, give you my pledge fer
your safety


This operated upon the fellow like magic.


"Now, answer me are not all your
companions in the plot ?'


"Yes," he whispered, with trembling
eye upon my knife.


"And is not Breton the leader2"


"Yes"


"You have the arms hidden in the long
boat ?"


ayes"


"And you have been fixing your pea
jackets to hold the weapons? ?"


Eyes" he said with a look of astonish-
ment.


you meant to take the gold tonight ?'


"Yes."


"And you meant to have murdered the
whole creW?"


The fellow hesitated again, but 1 soon
got an affirmative answer from him; and
at length by sharp questioning, got the
whole secret from him. 1thad been plan
ned that the villains should arm them
selves secretly as soon as they had eaten
their supper, and that at nine o'clock, as
soon as the bell struck, they we're part Of
them to fall suddenly upon the watch on
deck, and kill them all. Part were to
take charge of the forecastle companion
way, to kill the other watch as fast as
they should come up. and a few were de-
tailed to put those to death in the cabin.
l could not keep from shHddering at the
picture which was thus opened to me, but
kept my emotions to myself


After had gained all the details that
needed to guide me, | told Malcolm that
he might 60 on deck, for knew that he
would not dare to disclose what he had
done. By assuring him that would see
That he faI Ill
succeeded In getting him quoted down so
that his manner would not betray him on
deck, following, myself, Immediately after
he assembled.


As quickly as possible told the captain
all that knew, and my plans for action
were soon laid down It was now fairly
dusk, and the cook came up and called the
passengers to their supper. Theyall went
down but two, and those two remained
close by the long-boat. knew well their
mission there, bat I had the advantage Of
them


With quick. but cautious movements,
the captain, lieutenant and myself hasten
ed around among the crew and whispered
the danger that hung over them The
brave fellows startled with excitement,
but they spoke not loud word Souther
and myself took each an iron Delaying PIN
and went forward, and at a preconcerted
signal we knocked the two villain sentinels
down. The thing was done without 8
mishap. We gave them another blow
apiece, to make sure that they should give
no alarm, and then we sprang for the bag
| Of cutlasses, while some of cur men closed
the matches and secured them. We found
the arms. and they were quickly distri-
buted among the crew.


BY this time there was an uproar ia the
steerage, and dozen voices were shouting
| for admittance upon the deck Our meT
had now become fully acquainted with
what had taken place, and they were like
so many tigers. The matches were IN
fastened and the villains came rushing up
| but they only hastened to their death. 1
was now dark on deck, and as the scamRi
came up from the lighted steerage they
were unable to Immediately distinguish
objects about them were struck down be
fore they could see who opposed them
We had levelled a dozen of them, and thel
l bade the crew fa!l back and let the res
Of them come up for feared that if ",
kept on as we had begun, most Of then
would fall back into the steerage and pre-
pare to stand siege, ard this l knew
would be troublesome work.


As soon as our men fell back. matter
worked as 1 could have wished, for tn
whole pack of incarnate scoundrel0 cam
rushing wildly upon the deck. AS sool
as they were all up, We set upon them
They knew not what to do. They spranI
towards the long-boat, but they wer
knocked back, and then, as they fell back
they were met again. Most of them wer
brave fellows and strong, but we had then
unarmed-they were wild with disap
pointment and fear-and they saw no
how they had been taken


Such battle could not last long. i
fifteen minutes from the time that the tw
men had been struck down by the long
boat, everything was settled. Thirty-tw
of the villains were taken and bound, an
the rest were lying dead upon the decl
Breton had been one of the first to com
up from the steerage, and he was one {
the first killed


On the next morning the deck wa
cleared of its ghastlv load and then th
prisoners were examined None of ther
denied their crime, but they begged har
for mercy
At St. Jago we fell in with Britis
, frigate, and our prisoners were put 6