Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 1 January 1897 — Page 11

Ey Captain EALPH DAYIS.

[Copyright-, 1S90. by tho Author.]

CHAPTER XI. THE MUTINY.

Tho captain's decision was curried forward to convicts and crow, and I looked for an outbreak withiu au hour. Perhaps tho reason it did not tako place was because they feared tho whaler might show up again. I felt that it would not long be delayed, however, and Captain Clark, Haskell, Williams „and Roberts agreed witli me. Saunders,

Smith and the two singlo women stuck •to tho doctor, and thus we woro divided -into two factions.

The ship was never more quiet than during the remainder ot' that day and all through the night. Tho sailors wero prompt to respond to every call, but moved quietly and spoke in Jow tones. This might have been attributed to their fears of the pestilence, but I realized that there was something back of that. I had the watch on deck from 8 to 13, and I noticed many little things which satisfied uie that if tho whaler nor other sail wan in sight when morning broke the climax would come

When I was rciieved by the second mato at midnight, I had a bit of a talk ••with him. His name, as I don't remember to have told you before, was Cortrite. He was a middle aged man, well -!np in lii.s duties, and I have said nothing of him simply because I had not taken him into my confidence. I don't mean that I mistrusted him, bnt that I thought it wise to confinomy suspicions to as few persons as possible as long as they were only suspicions. Tho meeting in tho cabin had of course brought him a knowledge of the situation, and there was no doubt that he could be thoroughly depended on. The bo'snn might or might not be with us. When I asked -Cortrite his opinion of tilings, ho replied: "Mr. Tompkins, if I hadn't known that yon were watching tiio run of things 1 should have posted you a bit.

It's my opinion that the. two women have been wou over and that they have also made a tool of the doctor. If there's .'nothing in sight when the sun comes up, then God help us!" "You think there'll be an outbreak— a mutiny?" "I'm as sure of it as that I stand here. I understand tLat we have arms aboard. If I might bo bold enough, I'd advise you to mako ready for what is to come."

When I went into the cabin, I found Captain Clark up and dressed und waiting for me. I told him what Mi. Cortrite had said, and ho replied: "We can't begin too soon. You quietly fasten on tho iron shutters while I ovorhaul the firearms."

It was a quiet night, with only enough wind to give the craft steerage way, and fortunately for us tho dolt of a man Hawley was at tho wheel from -midnight to 3 o'clock. The provisions for convicts and sailors were stowed forward of tho cages, as was also a number of tho water casks. Those for cabin use wero stowed in the lazaretto, and there wero other water casks ballasted between the bulkheads' of the passengers' cabins and the one hiding the after iron cugo from view. You will remember that this bulkhead or partition was pierced for musketry.

Wo could come at water and provisions without leaving the cabin or exposing ourselves, and when we had the shutters up and tho firearms ready for servico Captain Clark looked about and said: "Ralph, we cannot only make a good fight for it if attacked, but I think the advantage will bo on our side. Our greatest care now will be to guard against any sudden rush af t.''

Neither of us turned in that night, and both of us were on deck at dayflight. At sunrise a man was sent aloft with a glass, but he swept tho sea in vain for sight of sail. The fellow could not hide the exultant look in his eyes as ho came nt-wn and reported. an v.v felt that tiie hour of peril close at haml. Ttie demeanor oi me men as tney washed down the docks was defiant, an(f had the convict gangs come up as usual the outbreak would have cccurred with tho advent of the first. The captain ordered that they remain below until after tho doctor's morning inspection. In view of the supposed pestilence this order did not seem to excite any great surprise.

When tho passengers gnt-liered for breakfast, all were surprised to observo that the cabin had been put in a state of defense. I may add that Dr. Haxloti and those who sided with him were also cynical and inclined to joko about it. As the iron shutters were fitted inside, no one forward could know aLout them. Wo didn't want them to know, and I kept watch of tho two single women as they went on deck after breakfast. I

Wc saw Roberts knocked down privately told Mr. and Mrs. Williams and Mary to remain below, and the other women somehow got warning and gave up their usnal morning promenade,

though the weather was beautifully tine. As Dr. Ilaxton went forward to pay his morning call Roberts accompanied him. There wero three children on the poopdeck, and 1 sent them below justas Haskell came aft, bringing his musket with him and working away at the lock as if it was in need of repairs. He gave me a look which signified that the timo had come. Forward, there wero the sailors of the morning watch, tho guard relief, the doctor and Roberts. Aft, wo had the captain, second mate, Haskell, all other passengers and myself.

As Dr. Huston descended to tho cages Captain Clark ordered the two single women below, speaking so grufily that they obeyed at once. Then he turned to Saunders and Smith, who were smoking and lounging, and said: "Gentlemen, pleaso step below for a minute, and don't stop to ask questions. Go now—at, once!"

Something in his tones warned them of peril at hand, and they wero out of sight before you could count. 20. Ten seconds later a sound came aft which I can only compare to the confusion in a menagerie when the animals become excited. It was tho convicts making their rush from cage No. 1 as the doctor opened the door to pass in. Most of the sailors rushed forward to the hatch, tho guards called out and aimed their muskets, and then men in convicts'uniform began to appear on deck. We saw Roberts knocked down, heard cheers from the other cages, and then wo mado a dash fur the cabin just as sailors and convicts were preparing to rush al't. The. mutiny was on.

When sailors and convicts saw us disappear in tho cabin, they realized that wo were prepared for the revolt and could not be surprised and overpowered at a dash. They therefore returned forward to assist tho rest of the prisoners on deck and consult on what was best to be done. On our side we barred the cabin d~ors, put tho iron shutters over the skylight and informed thepu"zled men and frightom women ju«t what had occurred and what we proposed to do.

Thero were only seven men of us in the cabin—tho captain, both mates, Haskell, Williams, Saunders and Smith. Mr. Williams was an old man and counted for nothing. Botli cooks, the steward and the bo'sum joined with the mutineers. Not a single man among tl sailors came aft to cast his lot with us, though we hud looked upon some of them as steady, honest fellows.

You may think thero was great excitement among the women and children when they came to know tho worst, but I can tell you that they were very quiet over it. Helpless people are always that way in the face of great- peril. They were white faced and trembling, but there wero no wailing and wringing of hands. The cabin lamps were lighted, and tho women and children sat about on tho chairs and lockers, while the men made filial preparations for defense and spoke in hushed voices. C::

Tho exception was in the case of tho two single women. They had certainly been very foolish to strike up a romantic attachment with such villains, but it was plain that they had never contemplated a mutiny and the horrors that might follow. When they realized what had occurred and witnessed our grim preparations for defense, they became conscience stricken and hysterical. Miss Foster admitted that her sympathies had been worked on until she had come to regard Ben Johnson as a martyr and had filched the. bottle of crotonoil from the dispensary at his request. She did not know the uso he meant to make ot it, however. Miss Whito confessed that she thought the doctor had been unjustly treated, and she had encouraged him to stand on his dignity and at the same timo had fallen in love with the villain York and become carried away with his tales of romance. Now that revolt and mutiny had come they realized the evil they had done and the position of all of us.

Tho mutineers gave us about half an hour in which to prepare for tliem. During this interval they got their breakfasts, passed about bottles of rum, which must have been smuggled aboard at Mi'". Cape, and sailors and convicts fraternized in a way to prove that iii(y were, not strangers to each otiier. Roberts we could plainly see from the portholes in tho front of the cabin. He had been knocked down and bound hand and foot, and his protests and entreaties wero laughed to scorn. Tho half hour was nearly up before tho doctor was hoisted into view from below. As he was tho direot cause of tho mutiny and had been overly kind to the convicts, ho might have looked for decent treatment at least. To our surprise his hands wero bound behind his back, most of his clothing tern off, and the b.'ood on his face and neck proved that ho had been brutally used.

Tho first move aft was made by York and Ben Johnson, one representing the Bailors and guards and tho other the convicts. They could not have known how well prepared we wero in tho cabin, but York displayed a flag of truce as the pair broke away from tho crowd around tho fo'mast. When they had come up to within ten feet of tho cabin entrance, they halted, and tho Bailor hailed us with: "Hollo, in the cabin! Captain Clark, I have a few words to say to you!" "You infernal pair of scoundrels! But I'm a mind to shoot you down in your tracks!" shouted tho oaptain in reply. "Go easy, captain!" called York, while Ben Johnson lauehed his contempt for the threat. "You know what has happened for'ard, of course. Wo are in possession of the bark. An wo are not a crowd of lambs, we thought you might prefer to take tho boats and go voyaging on your own account." "That is, tho most of you," added the convict loader. "I've got an old score to settle with Tompkins and Mary Williams, and they needn't pack up to go along." "Yes, I know you have got possession of the craft," said Captain Clark as ho ohoked back his anger, "bnt if thorc is any taking to tho boats, you'll be the

one to go! it at. tJtie end or 15 niiuutes tho convicts aro not under lock and key and the sailors down on their knees a)»l riaying for my forgiveness, we'll open fire on you and sweep tho ••leeks of evory living man." "That's big talk, captain," sneered York, while the convict- shrugged his .shoulders and laughed loud and long.

They seemed to feel that it- was tho captain's ultimatum, liowover, and turned and walked forward. Fivo minutes later the doctor and Roberts were sent aft to talk to us. They had their hands tied behind their backs, and to prevent them from making a dash into the cabin each had a rope attached to him and the free end held by two mutineers. Rob erts was only a countryman of limited education, while you will be ready to believe that the doctor was a man in whom no one need look for the heroic. Thero was a surprise in storo for us as they came aft. The doctor had been made spokesman. Brief as tho timo had been, he fully realized the situation and knew that ho alone was to blamo for it. "Captain Clark," he said as tho pair halted within speaking distance, "tho sailors have mutinied, and the convicts have been turned loose. I havo been told to say to vou that if you will consent to go away in the boats the two of us can go with you. If you refuse, we are to be put to death, and they further declare that nut. one of you will be spared. "You see what you havo brought us to," replied the captain, though his voice was more kind than reproachful. "It is all my fault," continued tho doctor, "ana I am here to tell you to fight to the last, no matter what becomes of me." "And the samo with me!" shouted Roberts.

The doctor was about, to speak again when the ropes by which tho pair wero held were viciously jerked by tho mutineers, and thev wero pulled down and dragged forward. They would havo been killed at onet but for Johnson and York, who nad sense enough to realizo that, this was but the beginning and that they might be made useful later on. They received many a hearty kick and blow, however, before they wero bundled down the forehatcli to be "locked up in one of the iron cagcs. As I havo told you, there was but littlo wind which was a fortunate thing for everybody, as the: man at the wheel deserted his post when tho outbreak occurred and left- the craft to sail herself. As toon as they had disposed of their prisoners, the mutineers took in every sail and made all snug aloft, and tho wheel was then lashed so that tho Hindu would drift off with her head to the breeze. They had to do this for their own protection as well as ours, but we wero greatly relieved when wo saw them set about their work.

As was to be expected, York and Johnson lost all control of the men before the mutiny was an hour old. Thero were singing, shouting, laughing and dancing, and of course they must hoist up water and provisions with reckless hand. Everybody had a plan forgetting at us in the cabin, and everybody wanted to be boss, and long enough before uoon thero had been nard lighting among them and no little blood spilled.

CHAPTER XII.

THE INCIDENTS OF AN Al'TERNOON.

-At high noon some sort of a decision seemed to have been reached, as York came aft with a flag of truce and asked ftj speak to the captain. When told to go ahead, he said: "Captain, we Lave given you plenty of timo to consider our offer, and 1 have come for your answer. You can have the boats all fitted out, and the doctor and Roberts shall go with you. Wo aro bound to have this ship and carry her where we w?'l, and if you refuse our offer the results be upon your own head." "Harkee, you bloody traitor and villain!" shouted tho captain in reply. "Wo not only refuse your offer, but arc ready for what may cornel" "Then yon won't go?" "Not a step. Begin tho attack as soon as you please.''

I stood behind tho captain whilo ho spoke. As lie. finished, 1 feit a soft lui.-d on arm, and I turned to find Mary Williams at my side. She was very pale, as was the case with all the other women and perhaps some of the men, but I could not fail to notice that she was also calm and collected. "Mr. Tompkins," she said, pulling me a step or two aside, "there aro but few of us and many of them. Will you show mo how to load one of these weapons, that I may bo of some assistance when the attack comes?" "Lor bless you for your brave heart!" says I in reply. "But maybe it will bo better if yo-i look after the women a i-.l children a bit. I see you aro the only woman who a spark of courage left, though this is only the beginning of it." "And what do you think of the situation "It's a bad one, Miss Williams, as I'm nonor bound to say, but we are not at such a disadvantage as you may suppose. Those fellows know nothing of these iron shutters or of the number of guns at hand." "You—you heard Ben Johnson say that you and I were not to go in the boats with the others?" she queried, with a break or two in her voice. "Aye, that I did, bat there will be no taking to tho boats by any of ns. Tho man means murder for both of us, but we won't let that bother us yet awhile." "I want you to promise me something," she persisted, drawing mo still farther from the porthole. "If you are still alive when tlicy break into the cabin, I want you to shoot me." "Lor save you, missl" I whispered, taken all aback by her look of appeal and strange words. "It will surely never come to that." "But if it docs." "Mary," says I, never knowing that I had Bpoken her given name and never knowing till long aftorward that I took both her hands in miuo, "if I had a

dozen Jives, a give mem an to savo yours, and so I don't like to think of taking the only lifo dear to 1110 in all this world. I'd rather see you lying dead, however, than in the power of that villain, and if worst, comes to w.orst, I may give you my last bullet." "Remember, Ralph. I shall depend upon it."

I had called her Mary, and she had called me Ralph. It was a declaration of love, made under such circumstances as were never known before. You smilo ut me, but as I told you iu tho beginning, I was but a plain sailor man and hardly knew the meaning of the word "romance. We wero standing in the face of death, as it were, and yet I could havo lifted mi mv voice and shouted for joy.

The numbers of tho mutineers gavo them confidence. They perhaps argued that a rush aft of all hands would carry our position, with little or no damage to their sid\ They gathered up whatever could bo made to answer for weapons, and the cool and lawless way in which they made ready for the attack mado us wild with anger and impatience. Wo could havo poured a volley into them at any moment during tho forenoon, but Captain Clark did not wish to bo tho first to shed blood, though he would havo been fully justified in sweeping tho decks. I believe ho hoped, as I did, that something might occur to stop the trouble before any ono was laid low. When it becamo evident that they meant to rush, ho turned to us and said: "I waut every ouo of you to shoot to kill. Do not bo satisfied with killing ono man, but kill two or three, if you can. If wo givo them a good doso at tho start, it will tako tho fight out of them. Every ono to his post.:'

Thirty seconds later tho full gang of villains, York and Johnson leadin -, came rushing at us, and tho yells the uttered woukl have done crcdit to a

wt

party of savages. Eight of them carric 1 a spare yard to be used as a battering ram, while the others had axes, capstan bars, iron belaying pins and what not. A few had muskets, but no spare ammunition. As the first of tho mob pass. 1 the mainmast, wo opened on it and quickly exchanged our guns to again. I bclievo that some of our bullets hit two men, which was not at all unlikely in such a crowd. Snmo of them reached the cabin, and ono burly, big ruffian lived long enough to strike one blow with his ax, but the rapid fire so astonished them and tho slaught'• among them was so appalling that tli^y broke back liko a flock of frightened sheep. Wo kept peppering them unt:i tho last living man had disappeared be-

She was back in a minute ivith yuiis anil axes. low decks, and had wo rushed out then we could have pulled tho hatches on and made them prisonors. I was fcr doing so, but Captain Clerk, who had perhaps considered the possibility before we fired a shot, pushed me back and said: "Don't loso your senses, Ralph. If we had them all prisoners, wo aro not strong handed enough tosail the bark."

Of that gang of men !3 lay dead on tho decks, and in addition there, were three wounded men whom wo let drag themselvc-s away. Two of the dead had axes, and two more had carried muskets. Wo wanted to get these, and so we removed the barricade from the door, and I was about to slip out, when Mary Williams dodged past mo aud was back in a minute with guns and axes. She would have r: tamed fo." somo of the wicked looking knives which had dropped from tho hands ol' the sailors as they fell, but I seized her arm and pulled her into the cabin. It was high time, too, for a convict armed with a musket had lioisttd himself out of the forehatcli and fiicd at her, and the ball struck the casing of tho door beside her head.

The position now was a curious one. We held the cabin aud by means of tho portholes could

sweep

the decks clean

to the eyes of tho ship, aud yet- we were prisoners, if wo had been a fow men stronger, wis could have overcome them while I hey were still in their panic, but even to have stood guard over that gang of villains running loose between decks would have demanded the services of a dozen men. It was no doubt- the Wiser policy to bo content with our advantage, though no man could predict how the affair would terminate.. For an hour everything was quiet and not a mutineer showed his head. Then a white flag was hoisted above tho forehatoh, and York hesitatingly came aft to deliver a message. Wo had hoped that somo of our bullets had found him or Johnson or both, but it seemed that they wero untouched. It was noticeable that York had lost his jaunty air and looked very much worried as ho approached us, and his voico had lost all its impudence as ho said: "Captain Clark, I am sont to ask for a truce of half an hour, that wo may clear the docks of the dead. At tho end of that timo wo shall have something further to say to you."

As we wanted the bodies disposed of, as badly as thoy did, no hesitation waB made in agreeing to a truce. Three sailors and seven convicts came up, and with many afoul word and bitter curse they proceeded with their work. Perhaps it would havo been expecting too much to suppose they would givo tho bodies burial in the regular way, but we wero teri-'iLir shocked to behold

tnem Jift up corpso alter corpso and heave them over tho rail until the last was gone, When this work was completed, one of them went aloft to search tho sea for sight of sail, whilo tho remainder, with tho oxcoTitiou of York, dived below. When tho man came down and reported and disappeared, York came aft to say: "Captain Clark, the blood of every man killed hero today is on your head. If you figure that one defeat, will turn us from our plans, you aro mistaken. Wo will havo full possession of this craft if wo havo to fight you for a mouth, and sooner than bo defeated in our object wc will set her on fire and all perish together. I now renew you tho offer to let you go off in the boats. It is tho last timo. It is for you to say wbother you will savo your people or let them stay to bo killed. I will roturn in 15 minutes for your answer."

Ho had scarcely turned his back when Smith, his wife, tho two singlo women and Mary's mother all cried out in chorus that wo should accept tho offer. I must admit that on the face it looked reasonable enough, and at first thought it appeared to bo tho easiest way to escapo our peril. But. those who had cried out had given no thought as to whatmight happen. After a bit tho captain spoko to us. In tho lirst placo, ho declared, tho mutineers were not siueere in their offer. It was against common senso to suppose they would let us get away to fall in with somo craft or reach somo coast, to put a man-of-war on their track. If they did not seek to overpower us by a sudden rush whilo wo wore busy at tho boats, they would afterward run tho boats down with tho Hindu, aud that without risk to themselves. As to setting the craft on fire, tlieir lives were as precious to tliem as ours wore to us, and tho threat was simply bluster. When ho had finished, all saw the senso of his remarks so plainly that no one had a protest or argument. I had missed Mary whilo ho was speaking. Just as ho had finished, sho camo into tho main cabin to say: "The mutineers havo mado their way aft to tho bulkheads and will try to fome at us l'rom that direction. I havo been listening and can hear them quite plainly."

That was proof enough of their treachery in all things. Knowing that wo were all in tho cabin to discuss tho offer of tho boats, a number of tliem had begun work at tho bulkheads in hopes to make an opening. But tho bravo and quick wit ted Mary, without hint from any one, had given us warning in time. Haskell and I harried along to tho bulkheads, to find at least half a dozen men working on tho other side with axes and chisels. Wo fired two shots apieco through tho loopholes. Thero was a fall and a scream, followed by a rush of feet, and wo felt sure they would not try that trick again for some timo to como. Wo returned to tho cabin just as York appeared on deck for his answer. In a voico as cool and steady as I ever heard it before or afterward the captain said: "Go back to tho murderous scoundrels aud say to them that wo will neither tako to the boats nor allow them to do so I As for gale or fire or wreck, we will take our chances with you. Don't conic aft with any more offers or messages. From this timo on we will shoot at every man who comes within range."

York walked off without a word and dropped down tho forehatcli. A minute later a great roar of yells aud curses reached our cars. The news ho carried forward was not to their liking. Asido from tho shelter of a bullet proof cabin and a liberal supply of arms, we had other advantages in our favor. One. person in tho cabin and one at tho bulkheads could watch them. Our firo had a clean sweep ol the decks. Wo were united, while thero was much quarreling among them.

From tho timo York disappeared tip to nightfall not one of the mutineers appeared on deck, nor was thero any change in tlie. general situation, except that the breeze gradually died away and was wholly gone at suniiet. Long euough before this the womou and children in the cabin ha-' got the better of their fright, though to Le sure I ho wife of Roberts ami for that matter all the rest of us were terribly anxious as to what fate might be in store for him aud the doctor. It was hard to see. how their deaths would advance the interests of the mutineers, and yet tho wounded and tho friends of the dead would doiuanc vengeanco and probably sacrifice the two prisoners. What mado tho matter worso was in our realizing that we had nothing to offer in exchange for their liberty.

Night camo down as qniet and peaceful as any night you ever saw. No lights were placed in tho rigging, nor was there a man on deck from end to end of the ship. Thero was a cheeping and chirping from blocks and yards aloft as tho Hindu rose and fell on the heave of tlio sea, but never tho sound of a human voico nor tho echo of a footfall outside tho cabin. Liko a specter ship she went drifting slowly to tho north, and in the cabin we spoko in whispers and wondered what tho night would bring forth. We had plenty to eat and drink, and the lamps gave out a cheerful light, but. no ono could forget for an instant that nearly a hundred mutinous sailors and hardened criminals wero only a few yards away and wickedly plotting tho destruction of every ono of us. When tho sleepy children wero put to bed, Mary Williams' old father said ho would ask God to be merciful to us in our distress, and whilo wo all knelt down he prayed with tears falling down his wrinkled cheeks.

UH CHAPTER XIII. 111 THKEK DAYS AND NIGHTS. Whatever our position in tho cabin, that of tho mutineers was infinitely worse. They had captured the ship and mado us prisoners, and yet wo actually controlled tho craft and they wero prisoners to us. No man could take tho wheel or touch a ropo without being a

fuir

fgrrrofc -fn** rv** uroaru-vnc

fellows realized tho situation was evident. from the quarreling among them. Wo looked for them to mako soma movo during tho night, and about midnight we discovered that they wern erecting a barricade across the deck hotwecn the. lore and tho main mast. They wero using casks and bales to do this, and, though we could have opened fire and driven them off. Captain Clark decided that a barricade would bo no menace to us. They had no ammunition for the muskets and were probably erecting it to cover themselves whilo getting a breath of fresh air on deck. "I'll tell you what, Ralph," said tho captain to mo as wo stood alone on watch after midnight whilo tho others' 6lept, "I've, got hopes of not only getting the Hindu hack into our own hands, but 1 believe we shall carry our cargo to Botany Bay. They can't sail tho ship nor tako to the boats, and what aro they to do?"' "But if it comes on to blow a gale?" I queried. "Let us hope it won't. In that event, wo may all go down together."

At 2 o'clock in tho morning a breeze sprang up. but it was nothing to cause anxiety. The mutineers were pretty quiet during tho last hours of tho night, but when day fairly broke tho whole gang of tliem woro suddenly astir and betraying great excitement. After puzzling over it for a bit, wo decided that a sail must bo in sight to tho eastward. How far off or how near sho would pass us wo had no means of knowing, as tlio bark's head was to tho south. Ovor tho top of tho barricade wo could soo tho heads of the mutineers and mako out that tho object of interest, was on tlio port bow. It wasn't ten minutes before tlicro was furious quarrel among thorn, and from such words us we couldi catch wo knew they werodividod on tho courso of action to be taken. Q'hey had., no signal of distress to set, even though,: they wanted to bring tho strango vessel down to us, but it was more than probable that sho would aiter her courso to ascertain why wo wero drifting away' with all sail carefully stowed instead of having everything spread to tho breeze. In tho courso of half an hour a flag of truco was displayed abovo tho barrioado, and a fow seconds later York rovealed himself and shouted: "Captain Clark, will you give, us tho boats aud allow us to leave tlio bark?" "Aye, that I won't!" replied the captain, whoso quick wit divined what was in tho wind. "Tho first one of you on this side of that barricade gets a bullet into him."

It was likely a merchantman bearing down on us, aud tho fellows wantod tho boats to go off and capture hor. In another half hour wo hoard thorn shouting to somebody to keep off, as wo had pestilence aboard. That was iu rovonge, you know. Wo know, however, that tho sight of tho barricade and of so many men crowded together on tho fo'oastle, oven if thoy got no sight of tho convict uniforms, would hold tlio stranger by us until sno naa solved tlio mystery. Whilo tho mutineers were still shouting, she passed astern of us, aud wo signaled her from tho cabin windows. She proved to bo tho English brig Vixen, London, bound from Port Darwin. Tho two men in her rigging figured out the situation pretty promptly, and tho brig was thrown into tho wind and her boat lowered, and presently hor captain was pulled under the stern of tho Hindu. Whilo the rest of us kopt watch on the mutineers aud prepared for any movo on their part, Captain Clark slated our situation, but did not ask for help. Ho found that wo had drifted more to tho north tliau what wo lind figured on and that wind and current wero setting us in toward tho west coast of Australia, but thero' was nothing to worry over as yet.

Tho English captain had a crew of 12 men, but not so much as a pistol aboard. He, however, offered to bring all his men aboard to help in an attack and was not littlo put out that Captain Clark did not think it tho wisect plan. He Wiis simply asked to report our situation to tho first man-of-war ho met, as also to tho first Australian bound craft he should sight. In fact, a brie# report, was prepared by our captain to bo handed to tho proper ollleers. When ho was ready to return to Ins vessel, tlio captain pulled arpuml to tho bow of tho Hindu aud gave the mutineers a piece of his mind. They tried to shout him down, but it was plainly evident that his declaration that every man would swing at tho eurt oi! a ropo detracted from their ••:nhusiasm.

Thero was no change up to noon, except that, two breezo freshened a littlo. For three hours after dinner tho mutineers were so quiet that wo became apprehensive «::d prepared for a rush. It Was well that wo did. I may tell you that, asido iVem Mrs. Roberts, Mary Williams and Miss White, we had no assistance from the women. Thoy were frightened and nervous and could hardly bo induced to move about. But for Mary's cooi, calm manner wo should have had no help at all. She went about cheering up tho children and speaking bravo words to the women, and seoiug that there wero only enough men of us to fitly guard tho cabin sho proposed to keep watch at the bulkhead. It was arranged that the three spoken of Bhould take turn and turn about at watching, and it was well thoy had their oars open. After dinner that day tho fellows rigged up abattoring ram botweon decks to burst open tho bulkhead. It was a heavy spar slung to tho deck beams, aud with 15 or 20 men to givo it impetus the planks must havo given way before it.

TO JIE CONTINUED.

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