Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 8 January 1897 — Page 11

By Captain RALPH DAVIS.

[.Copyright, 1896, by the Author. It WHS Miss White who reported what was going on, and I was sent to investigate, found that the spar was covcred by two loopholes. Iu one of these I arranged a doublo barreled fowling piece, heavily charged with swan shot, and when Mary had practiced with an empty gun until she understood the mechanism of it a musket was loaded for her and she was placed at the other loophole. Mrs. Roberts was to discharge the fowling piece, and Miss White was to have a gun in reserve.

We were ready beforo tho mutineers were. It was nearly 4 o'clock when without shout or signal or warning of any kind they camo leaping over tho barricade, armed with tho same weapons as beforo. Ben Johnson and others of the more desperate convicts took tho lead, and almost beforo we knew it they were chopping and smashing at the cabin. Some of the men carried email bales and boxes to heavo on tho skylight, none of them knowing of the iron shield bolted underneath. The gnng felt how desperate its situation was, and though we began pouring in our lire at onco, it seemed as if all were pledged to die rather than retreat. Tlioso ou deck were also bargaining for time for thoso below to get to work at tho bulkhead, probably liguring that we were not prepared in that direction. I don't, like to tell you of the results. None of the mutineers below may havo been killed, but so many were peppered with tho shot that all ran away from tho spar, and it was ouly after a messenger came on deck to report tho failure below that a retreat was ordered. When tho fight was over, wo counted 16 dead men on tho decks, of whom 12 were convicts and of whom York was ono. Thero were no wounded, and I tell you plainly we meant thero should he none. Not ono of us in tho cabin had received the slightest injury.

But if thero was rejoicing over our victory something else occurred to givo us tho greatest pleasure. During the light and consequent confusion Roberts managed to escape from the cage where ho was confined and get on deck and leap overboard. As wo were shaking hands and congratulating each other wo heard his voice through the open windows anil round mm Hanging to tho rudder. As soon as ho had been drawn in ho told us that Dr. Ilaxton had been unablo to escape with him because of the maltreatment ho had received from Bon Johnson. The wretched villain, who owed moro to the doctor than any other convic., had demanded his life, and whon outvoted on that had struck him with an iron bar and broken his right arm. The doctor was ill and suffering, and the escapo cf his companion might make the situation still worse for him. In reasoning thus wo were not out of tho way. Just beforo sundown a whito flag was lifted over tho barricado and a minuto later Ben Johnson hailed us with: "I say, what's going to bo done with the dead men over there?" 'You can havo them if you want them," replied Captain Clark." "If yon won't firo on us, we'll lieavo 'em overboard." "Go ahead."

You feel a thrill of horror. Well, tho only way to get rid of thoso bodies was to heave them overboard.

"Well, captain, yon know that I'm In command now." If there had been one loyal man among them, we should have felt Eorry to see him handled like a dead dog, but never a man lay there who wouldn't have laughed as he cnt tho throat of one of tho childron. Johnson did not cross tho barricado himself, but sent four of his gang over to do the work. When the last body had gone over the rail, he stood up in full view, making a great display of the flag, and shouted: "Well, captain, you know that I'm in command now, and I want to ask what you propose to do?"

We propose to remain right here in possession of the bark," answered tho captain. "Wo can kill you off as fast as you come, and it's only a question of time when we shall havo help to capture every one of you." "We'll be shot down before we'll be taken," growled the villain. "HowBumever, perhaps we oan come to terms. Give us the gal, and the mate, and the boats, and we'll give up tho doctor and a "No, sir!" "Weil, give us the boats and we'll pass you over tho doctor." "You can't have the boats!" "Harkee, captain!" said Johnson, while the gang behind him growled and cursed and shifted about. 'We are BS ready to die as you are. If you won't make fair terms, then we'll all go to the bottom together. If yon won't take the doctor and give us the boats, then overboard he goes, and we'll set fire to the ship. Think it over for ten minutes and givo me an answer."

Can you realize the position Captain Clark was placed in? That was no idle threat of Johnson's, at leant an far as

the doctor was concerned, and humanity demanded that his life be saved. But if they were permitted to ccrue aft to take tho boats, who could tell what trick they would play on us to get possession of the cabin? It would be like them to set fire to the ship as they shoved off in the boats. They might disappear in the darkness to return and attack us. And, above all, what would thf government say if wo turned loose a gang of convicts to capture the first ship they came across when we had all the advantages of the situation? After three or four minutes of discussion every man and woman saw matters in tho same light as the captain did. Re-enforced by Roberts, wo were better situated than before. Nothing was more certain than that we could hold that cabin. When Johnson showed himsolf again and demanded au answer, the captain replied: "You cannot have the boats. If you murder tho doctor, it will bo a hanging matter for every mother's son of you. If you want to lire tho ship, go ahead."

A scream of rage arose from the bow of tho ship, and Johnson shook his list at tho cabin beforo he jumped down from his perch. It is hard for mo to tell you that they carried out their threats against Dr. Haxton, but within ten minutes thev had him ou deck and flung him overboard. You would havo thought the" would have spared him. as they had seven or eight wounded men to be looked after, but in their desperatiou they eared for nothing. The poor man made 110 cry as tlicy scut him to his death, but wo who were intently listening plainly heard the splash when he struck the water. Ten minutes later there was a great flame forward and shouts and cries from tho mutineers, but wo judged that it was only a bluff, and so it turned out.

Had it come on to blow hard, onr position would have been many times worse and perhaps untenable. The bark would have needed looking after, and we coukl neither have done it ourselves with that gang ready to pounce down on us, nor allowed them on our side of the barricade for fear of results. It di.l seem as if tho hand of providence was in it as wo went drifting away beforo a breeze which hardly brought a whitecap to the sea. That night passed quietly away, and still we drifted. Not a movo was made on either side next day nor tho next. The mutineers slept, sang, danced, ato and drank, and all quarreling was at an end, and iu the cabin wo watched and waited and grew more hopeful as the timo passed on.

CHAPTER XIV*. \VK RKAC1I AX ISLAM).

"The Great Australian Bight," as it is called, is an indentation in the south coast of Australia off what is kuown as Nuyt's Laud, fifty miles off the coast is an island of about 250 acres in extent called Victoria island. The fact that wo had been spoken by only ono vessel since tho mutineers rook possession, and that uo others had even been sighted as far as we knew, satisfied us in tho cabin that the ship was drifting into tho bight. Thero was not a settlement on that coast at the time, while tho natives were extremely hostile, and little was known of them. Being, as wo figured, out of the track of all sailing craft and tho breeze still holding from the south, it seemed certain that the end of our drifting must bo a wreck on a reef or the beach.

At 10 o'clock ou tho morning of the fourth day after being sjokeu by tho Englishman wo heard the mutineers cheering and congratulating, and wo were satisfied that either tho coast or an island was iu sight. In tho courso of half an hour a whito flag was raised over tho barricade, and Ben Johnson appeared in sight to say: "Captain Clark, there is an island in sight to tho north. We can make out an opening in tho reef, but unless there is a hand at the wheel to steer her through tho bark must strike and be wrecked." "Well, what do yon want to do?" asked the captain. "There's a bay insido the reef. If you'll come out and take charge, we'll obey orders and bring her to anchor in the bay. Then we'll go ashore and give you full possession. It's either that or all hands will go to the devil when she strikes the reef, and wo are not ready to give up yet.''

Tho proposition was taken under advisement and discussed. There might be a trick in it, but wo had more confidence in ourselves than before. By leaving tho women to watch at the loopholes below there would be a respectable force of us together on deck in front of the cabin to meet any rush with a volley. If the bark struck tho jagged coral reef, even with that small sea on, she would grind to pieces in an hour, and there must be a frightful loss of life. It was decided to work the craft into the bay. The cabin doors were opened, and every man of us stepped out on deck prepared for what might happen. Then the captain said to Johnson: "If there is any trick in this, we aro prepared for you. Let a sailor come aft and take the wheel. Now put two or three others at work to overhaul the ground tackle."

He then gave the necessary orders for making sail and wearing the bark around until her nose pointed at the opening in the reef. The island loomed up right beforo us, and had there been a delay of 15 minutes we should have been on tho reef. The mutineers obeyed all orders with alacrity, and such of them as parne aft of the barricado wore respectful in look and demeanor. Tho opening in the reef was not above 40 feet wide, and had we not been exactly opposite it we should never have got in. As it was, wo had to go it blind, as tho eaying is, no one knowing what depth of water we should find. What seemed to be a river, but what was really a long and narrow bay, ran into tho center of the island for a distanoo of half a mile.

Thero were two turns or elbows in the bay, but onco over the reef tho bark glided along until she was at length brought up in SO feet of prater near the

heatl of the bay. On tlio west of us were a steep shore and deep water. On the east thero was a clear strip of beach, with the water gradually deepening. When the anchor was down, the bark would swing to tho tido safely enough, but with.no more than 50 feet to spare. In other words, tho distance between

"And unci lo you want in return for 'la I/O it ti thai fine spccch'' her stern and tho shore was only a biscuit toss. When tho anchor was down and everything aloft made snug, Johnson mounted the barricade and said: "Captain, wo aro going ashore. Wo gave you tho best fight we could, but wero beaten. If you want to take the bark out. none of us will raise a hand in opposition. If you want to como ashore, no ono shall molest you. In tho end a man-of-war will como for us, but meanwhile wo shall enjoy ourselves." "And what do you want in return for that fine speech?" asked tho captain, feeling assured that it prefaced a roauest of some sort. "Weil, by your kind leave, we want a share, cf tho provisions, as we shall get tired of fruit after awhile. Wo also want two or threo old sails for tents, an ax or two, matches and some cooking utensils. We'll havo to have a boat vo set the fhrng.s and our wounded men ashore, but we'll return her."

Tho captain was so glad to have them out of tho ship, even if they were to remain in sight on land, that he readily granted the request. Four of them wero permitted to lower one of the quarter boats, and for the next three hours she was used to convey the rascals r.iul their dunnage across tho strip of water. They were allowed to help themselves with liberal hand, but it was stuff which was of no account to us without our prisoners.

It. was after 3 o'clock iu the afternoon before tho last man departed, and then the boat was given a push from tho beach and sent back to us. Among tho gang were eight wounded men, their injuries having been inflicted when the women fired through tho loopholes. Perhaps they had extracted some of the shot from their legs, but enough was left to cause them tocurso and groan as they limped about the decks. Tho barricade was almost disposed of in loading tho boat, and half an hour after tho last trip we. had a clear deck, and the women and children were out for an airing. The passengers wero for having the captain trip the anchor and sail at once, but ho gathered them around him and said: "Hero are but three sailors of us. Not ono of you men can go aloft or take a trick at tho wheel. I don't say that we might'not navigate the bark down to Adelaide but, wi*h the season just changing anil bad weather coming on, we'd be taking strong risks. The Englishman who spoko us thoroughly understood our peril and can bo depended on to report us. If we hang right here for a fortnight, we'll see a man-of-war in tho offing. We can:t recapture the convicts, but we can remain here as a guard and help hunt 'em down later on. Besides, if wo wero to sail away, who can toll but that some craft may be driven here by stress of weather or como in answer to a signal, and slie'u certainly fall into the hands of the gang? We have a clear ship now and can afford to wait."

The women murmured somewhat, but tho men cheerfully acquiesced in the conclusion, and when things were onco more shipshape aboard no one could have suspected what we had passed through. Not one of the mutineer* had addressed a word to us or given anybody a black look during the transfer, and as fast as they lauded on the beach they disappeared into tho thick forest, presumably to look for a site on which to make a camp. Tho passengers thought we had done with them for good, but tho rest of us had different feeling. As night was coming on Captain Clark came to mo on tho bows of the bark, where I was overhauling thiugs a bit, and said: "Ralph, I don't liko the way Johnsou talked, nor I don't like tho soft, silky way tho mutineers acted as they went ashore. The change was too great and too sudden not to have some trick back of it. What do you think?" "Well, sir, I agree with you as to thero being something back of it. Those fellows have not given up the fight yet You don't hear them shouting and laughing ashore, and if one of us wap. to creep through the woods I'm think­

ing he'd find them gathered in a circle about Johnson and new plans being discussed. Rest assured, sir, they'll make Eomo move to get possession of the bark, and it won't be long delayed either. "Just, m? idea, and we must make ready for them!"

The cabin was left just as we had defended it, but wo battened down the hatches and scuttles so that thero was no getting below. When we came to inspect tho convict's cages, we found nothing of them left. They had been completely torn away and the material flung overboard. Had we succeeded iu putting down the mutiny we should have had no place in which to safely hold our prisoners. The fellows had made a fearful waste of such provisions and stuff as they could got at, and as wo looked about we wondejed that they

had not lired or scuttlcd tho ship in their desperation. Whon night came down, a doublo watch was set on board. Haskell and Miss Foster took tho bow and Mary and I tho stern, and tho men who lay down in tho cabin had their weapons haudyfor sudden call. It was a quiot, stlrlight night, and tho beach was so near that had any of tho mutineers appeared wo should havo mado them out.

From 8 o'clock to midnight I was alono with Mary for tho first timo since I came to know her name. Thero was no doubt of my lovo for her, and she had as good as told mo that sho returned it, and yet I must tell you that I was moro upset for tho first hoar than when tho mutineers rushed us. As a matter of fact, wo wero no company for cach other, and if tho dear girl hadn't correctly judged my feelings and felt sorry for mo I doubt if I should havo opened my mouth during tho four hours' watch.. I never yet heard of a man who was content with simply knowing that a woman loved him. Ho wants to assure her of his lovo and exact a promise of marriage. That's exactly what I wanted to do—to tell Mary that I thought sho was tho dearest, nicest girl in all this world and ask her to mako mo tho proudest, happiest man by giving 1110 her hand in xnarriage. Sho could read my mind, the witch, and sho kept mo on tho ragged edge for an hour or moro beforo sho suddenly asked: "Mr. Tompkins, do yon think wo shall get safe away?" "I am hopeful of it now," I replied, "but few days ago it was 'Ralph' instead of '-Mr. Tompkins.' "And it's 'Ralph' now," sho said as sho gave mo lier hand to hold, but looked away in that coy, shy way which wo expect to find in a girl, and which wo consider such a charm. "I'll speak to tho father tomorrow," I said as soon as I dared trust my voice to say anything, and as she did not pull her hand away I knew that it was all right between us, and I felt that joyful that I wanted to stand up and shout.

As to how people make lovo on land I have no knowledge, but I'm telling you in my plain, sailorliko way how wo mado lovo on shipboard in that bit of bay, with mayhap half a hundred desperate villains hiddeu in tho bushes not a stone's throw away. Thero was no vowing that I was ready to die for her, and sho didn't dcclaro that I was tho bravest and noblest man on earth. I know I loved her with all my heart, and had sho not loved me sho would not havo placed her future in my keeping. Wo just quietly accepted cach other for better or for worse, and if I can't weavo much of a romance into it you'll havo to accept it without.

Wo heard nothing whatever of tho mutineers daring my watch or up to midnight. We had been relieved about half an hour, and tho ship was as quiet as a graveyard, when tho tido began to come in. This swung tho head of tho bark to tho sea and her stern within about 15 yards of tho bushes. If the mutineers had plan for that night, it would soon unfold itself. Tho idea was that they would creep down through the bushes to tho edge of tho water and quietly swim off tous, hoping to lir 1 our vigilanco relaxed. A dozen strokes would bring a swimmer alongside.

There were four persons in tho second watch, as thero had been in tho first, and whilo they kept eyes and cars open they suddenly discovered threo monster sharks moving lazily around the vessel. They wero of the species known as tho hammerhead, and there is no fiercer nor more disgusting inhabitant of tho sea unless it bo tho octopus. By and by the sharks remained stationary, as if on guard. I said the four people were watching and listening, and yet but for those sharks a terrible calamity might have happened. Homo 15 or 20 of tho mutineers took to the water to board tho bark over her bows, and whatever noiso they might have mado was drowned in tho grating of her chain cable in tha iron hawso hole as sho swung to tho tide. But none of t.hom reached her. Tho first one had not yet laid hands on her chains whon ono of the sharks seized him, and three seconds later the other two had selected victims. There wero threo fearful shrieks, a chorus of shouts and a great splashing, and a? I was over before any ono from tho cab'u sould get on deck. Tho surviving mutineers stood on the beach and cursed and hurled showers of stones aboard, but a shot or two fired above their heads dispersed them. Threo of them hftd met an awful fate, but no one hud any pi to waste on them. On the contrary, earnestly ^ed that one of them migh*turn out to havo been Ben Johnson, f'O leader and the most desperate man of alL

CHAPTER XV. A DEATH ON" HOARD.

At an early hour next morning after the tragedy recorded in the previous chapter a number of tiie mutineers appeared on tho beach, where their provisions yet lay in a heap, and began to carry off various articles. Our hope that Johnson might havo been ono of tho trio seized by the sharks was soon dissipated, as ho was the fourth or fifth man to appear. Without so much as a look at tha ship ho began shouting orders, and for au honr was constantly in sight. At the ond of that time everything had been carried out of sight among the bushes. When ready to go, Johnson turned to faco us, drew himself Tip, and, fastening his gaze on Captain Clark, ho said: "Captain, I was playing you soft yesterday when I told yon that we'd be content with the provisions. Wo want the bark, and we'll keep trying for her as long as there's a man left alive. You've shown us no morcy and noed expect none from us.'' "Well, what's your point?" asked the captain as tho fellow paused. "It's just this: Givo us the bark, and we'll go away in her and leave you in comfortable shape on tho island. Refuse us, and we'll find away to dostroy ship and all of you, even if we perish at tho same time. It shouldn't rest with

you and your bloody mates to say no to this, for the men with wives and children ought to havo a word. Look here, Saunders, Smith, Williams, you women who want to see hor.yi ag:..n, aro you going to"—

Captain Clark had a rifle in his hands, lie raised it to his shoulder u:d covered tho eouviet and said to him: "I'll count fivo and then drop you dead in your tracks!"

Ho counted one, two, three, and then Johnson turned and walked away. It It was not a bluff on tho captain's part. His finger was pressing tho trigger, and ho would surely have sent a bullet into tho fellow's head. Ho would havo been justified iu doing it, but thus far wo had shed blood only in defense. Kouio of tho people wero disposed to bolievo that if tho mutineers meditated any further movo Johnson would havo been too politic to utter, threats, but two or threo of us took a different view of tin) matter. Ho was not a diplomat, lie was a man utterly without! fear, and when there was a chanco for a fight ho novcr thought of using strategy to soouro au advantage. Defeat had worked him up to that pitch whero ho must freo his mind, end ho would need watching none the less for announcing his determination.

If tho wind had not shifted directly into tho south, making it an utterly impossible thing to sail tho bark out of (ho bay, no matter how largo a crew sho might havo had aboard, I think our captain would have carried lier out and mado shift, to at least reach another anchorage. Tho norvous strain had begun to tell on us and some of (ho women wero right (Town ill, and tho knowledge that wo worn still in peril and might havo to fight for our lives at any minuto had no consolation in it. "I don't know what plans they have," said Captain Clark as wo counseled together, "but wo must bo wide awako for them day and night. If tbiy had ono single musket and 50 rounds of ammunition wo might have to make terms with them. Thank tho Lord that they havcu'tl They'll cook up somo devilish scheme, however, and, as I said, wo must bo watchful. Let them onco got possession and they'd show mercy to neither man, woman nor child."

What I secretly dreaded was that (hoy would firo tho forest, which was just then very dry. Tho thought caino to them, no doubt, but tho Hindu would have also been consumed, and their plan was to possess lier. However, by noon of the day I havo been speaking about it came on to rain in grand style, and the storm continued until noxt morning without a break. Everything being thoroughly drenched, with a certainty of more rain at brief intervals, thero was no longer the fear that the forest might be fired by accident or design.

All the men, tho single women and Mary Williams wero counted off and divided into threo watches. Awnings wero placed foro and aft to protcct the watch on deck from tho weather, and during tho day, unless too wet, ono man in the watch was to bo stationed in tho crosstrees with a glass and a rifle. As I came on duty on (lio second morning, having Mary and Haskell in my watch, I was tho first ono to tako a trick aloft. I left my rifio at tho crosstrees and went up until I had a clear view of tlio island over tho trees. I judged it to be about two miles square, and it was thickly covcred with trees and bushes except in occasional spots. Tho mutineers had mado a camp about half a mile duo north of tho ship. Tho sail had been stretched on stakes, and two or three fires wero smoldering, but it was 9 o'clock before I got sight of any of the men. Then they came crawling out, one by ono, and Isoouhad proof that all had not gono merry with them. With tho glass I could bring each man so close that it seemed as if I could lay a hand on his shoulder.

Thero seemed to bo a dispute about who should act as cook, and from words the gang soon camo to blows. Thero wero half a dozen fights going on at onco, and I saw Ben Johnson using hands, feet, and a club to restore order. When the fighting ceased, ten of tho men seized a part of the provisions and went off through tho forest toward the western shore. The}' defied Johnson and had selected a new leader.

Whether the movo would turn out good or ill for us was to be determined. Tho moro they fought among themselves tho less likely they wero to attack us, and yet we should now havo two different gangs, each working independently of the other, to look out for.

Tho day and tho night passed away without an alarm, but at an early hour on the following morning tho entire force of tho smaller party appeared on the beach and hailed the bark. They wero pretty ovenly divided between convicts and sailors, and they put forward as their speechmaker tho sailor who had served as bos'n of the bark. As everybody camo on deck in responso to tho alarm, the party ou (ho beach uncovered their heads in a respectful way, and tho bos'n began: "Captain Clark and good friends all, this is the truth, and may tho whole pang of us perish on the spot if it isn't. •J were dragged into this business. Wo had to join 'em to save our lives. Every one of us hero would havo fought for the ship if we could have got aft among you, but (hey watched us too close. Mates, I calls upon you, one and all, to tell the captain if I'm speaking the (rutli or no." "Aye, ho is that!" shouted three or four in chorus. "And what do you want to got at?" asked the captain in reply. "Well, sir, it's just this way, sir. Thoso of us you see hero havo broko away from tho others. Wo havo no heart it, you see. Wo wants to como aboard, sir. Wo don't ask to bo trusted, but aro willing to bo put in irons and carried to Australia for trial. We may bo hung for what we've done, sir, but we shall certainly bo murdered if you don't take us aboard."

The sympathies of tho women, and of some of tho men as well, were at onco aroused, and they entreated the captain

to grant (tie request. He silenced them, with a gesture and said to the mutineers: "Harkee, Diek Taylor and the rest of you! Your words aro fair, but your liearts are black enough. I know your game, and I say to you that- if there's UK man of yon left in sight when the minute is up I'll put a bullet through his head."

Away went, tho rascals, heltor skelter, and they were only well concealed I in the bushes when they sent up a groat

hissing and groaning and shouting, and when that ceased they indulged in threats to make tho blood run cold. They well knew that the iron cages had beet? destroyed and that wo hadn't, a pair of shackles or handcuffs aboard. No matter how we secured them, if foolish enough to take them aboard, somo ono of them would have found away to liberate himself and all others, and then it would have been slaughter. I do not think there was collusion between thotwo parties, and therefore mention it as a singular coincidence that directly after noon tho other and larger party camo down and stnod on the identical spot and made I lie same identical offer. Tho spokesman in this case was also ono of tin: sailors, and ho stated that they had driven Ben Johnson out. of the camp and would have no more to do with him. Captain Claik returned about tho same answer, and the words and actions of the mutineers left no room for doubt. that they had planned our destruction.

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Tho next event of importanco saddoned all hearts. Mrs. Saunders was not a robust woman, and with tho first signs of trouble aboard had been thrown into a nervous fever. Tho women had given her the best earo they could under the circumstances, but even the skill of. a good nbvsiciun niieht not havo availed. Tho excitement of the situation kept her fever going, and wo had beerr anchored ie the bay just a week, when one night she breathed her last ahnostf without, warning. It was a shock to all) of us and a hard blow to husband and' children. We made her a coffin out of tho best material at hand, and while/ two of us stood guard on the shoro with.-, our rifles tho others buried her in a. grave just above high water mark.

Tho almost immediate result of tins' sad event was a written communication, from all the passengers, which was a. protest and an appeal combined. They: wanted the captain to abandon tho bark, take to the boats and seek to reach Adelaide. He lswered it by calling us all. together in i.no cabin and pointing out, first, that owing to tho bad weather the voyage won'd bo one of such exposure and peril that ho would not undertake it except as a last resort second, to abandon the bark as sho stood simply meant to turn her over to the mutineers, who would pursue and destroy us .: third, if sho was scuttled or set on fire, ho and I lost every dollar we had in the* world, and, under tho circumstances, it was doubt lul if insuraiico or charter would hold good. Itconld not bo shownwo wero in sufficient peril to justify such proceedings, and ho should respectfully but firmly declino to accedc to tbw* wishes of tho passengers.

Thero was bitter disappointment and somo strong talk, but in tho course of' 24 hours a better feoling prevailed. In. talking it over among themselves they ij. had como to get a clearer view of tho ins and outs of tho situation. It would., have been a very bad move to abandon tho craft and take to the beats, not only as to what tho government and insurauco companies and owners of tho lmrn of cargo in tho lower hold might say, but there would not havo been O"o. chanco in fivo of bringing tho boats sate into harbor. There was a stoady westerly gale, with showers at intervals, and a single day of exposure would havo* douo for the women and children.

The mutineers kept wonderfully quiet after playing their cards as described* above. The fact of the matter, as you can plainly seo, was that they had no show whatever to get possession of the

bark. Except for about half an hour at low tide, the sharks patrolled the bay." as if they had an understanding witlt: us, and we took care to encourage thorn in this by feeding them at intervals' No ono could swim off to us, and, as for building a raft, the mutineers would have had to labor right, under tho muzrzles of our guns. They had no weapons to fire on us iiono of us ever wenfc: ashore. And so what could ihe.y do? We did not relax our vigilance, however. inlawing that wo had a desperate lot to deal with, wo took no chances. Every, hour of the day, rain or shino, a manwas aloft with a glass to survoy tho islaud,and in this way wo kept quite fairly posted as to tho movements of tho mu- ... tineers. Two or threo days after tho death of Mrs. Saunders it was discovered that tho two parties had reunited under the leadership of Ben Johnson, and that they had given more attention to the comforts of their camp. It was further discovered 'hat they had erected a tall signal staff Ciu the west side of tho island and were Hying flag from it. Their hope was to entice somo craft which might have strayed into these waters to sending a boat ashore in answer to that signal. If they could get possession of a. boat, they would try hard to get possession of tho ship which sent it ashore. That we might checkmate them in this we watched tho sea as well as tho land. If help came to us, it would be from the south, while their hope lay in tho arrival of some whaler or coaster making a course along the coast.

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"I- CO.NTl.NUr.I).

N«w Kouto to ImliHUHpnli* mid C'li vnlittxl,. The Motion Route has opened up a new through car route between Crawfordsville and Indianapolis and Cincinnati. A tlirougn coach Cincinnati ta Chicago via Indianapolis and Roachdale leaves Cincinnati daily at 8:30 a. m., passing Crawfordsville at 1:15 p.: m. The Indianapolis and Cincinnati through coach passes Crawfordsville atr 1:15 p. in., arriving at Indianapolis at 2:40 and Cincinnati at 0 m. Thia new through car route shortens the» time between Crawfordsville and Indianapolis. dAW-tf