The Argosy, October 1906 — page 127: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

4 want to head norrards where it’s warm; we want some o’ the cabin grub, an’ we want them two murderers kep’ in chokee until we gets into some civilized port, an’ then we’ll ’and.’em over to justice, as the story-books say. <Ain’t that it, mates?” A chorus of assenting “ Ays’’ was the quick rejoinder, and I listened in aston- ishment. “Ts that all?’ I questioned. ‘‘ There’s to be no bloodshed—no fighting? ”’ “That’s all!” assented Harris, there’ll be a blame sight less sicidsbed on this hooker now them two devils is triced up!” The men’s plan was almost childlike in its simplicity, although full of endless difficulties, and proved that they were harmless enough at bottom. I began to see how to steer a fair course out of the rr) mess, but I had to feel my way care- fully. “Men and mates,” I began, “Tm free to say that the treatment in this ship has been shamefully and needlessly cruel,” and here I faced Milligan and Hogan; “but I’ll not disguise from you that I don’t believe in this way of right- ing wrongs at sea; no good ever came of it, nor ever will. You know how I be- came one of you, and I’ve done my bit like a man, watch and watch. Yet I was the mate of a bigger ship than this last voyage, and I hope to be again. Con- sequently, I don’t propose to let this mucking job ruin my chances of getting a vessel. Ill do as you wish, provided you’ll sign a statement in the log to the effect that I had no hand in the ‘mutiny, and that I was forced to take charge. Do you all agree?” = . I looked around and into the weather- beaten faces of . _the crew, their motley clad figures swaying to the heave of the ship in thesdim light of the cabin lamp. Although Milligan and Hogan gave no sign, I had no doubt they heard every word I said. Evc. the old beldame in the cabin was quiet, probably with her — ear to the keyhole trying to make out what was passing in thc cuddy. “That'll be all right, Mr. Bantock,” said Harris quickly, giving me the quar- -ter-deck handle to my name. ‘“ Any writin’ you draw up we'll sign—ceh, “mates? An’ now give us the course for Se -SHANGHAIED. ——- ‘an’ You can prostrate Hogan. the hequator, will ’ee? We're all tired 0’ bein’ frozen as well as starved.” _ ‘The course will be nor ’ by-east,” fe answered after a moment’s reflection. “* Get her head round, bos’n, and make all plain sail! You can go forward, men.’ Thus quickly I assumed my newly be- stowed authority. J motioned Harris and the seaman called Bones to stay behind, and as soon as the decks resounded with the cheery songs of the men making sail, I said: es What about the captain and mate? — can’t keep them this way, you know.” “ve thought 0’ that,” Harris re- sponded, seating himself with cool as- surance on a corner of the cabin-table. “We'll leg-iron ’ em an’ ’and-cuft ce an’ keep ’em in their cabins!” ‘You hear that, gentlemen?” I snick turning to the ‘helpless skipper and the “YT shall want you both to witness that I had no hand in this matter, and I assure you that in act- ing as 1 am doing I believe I am saving you both from a worse fate. Better get ‘it seen to at once,” I continued, turning to Harris. I went on deck, eee a hasty look around, and then returned to the cuddy to see that there was no wumnnecessary brutality in dealing with the captives. I found the carpenter and the bos’n already at work, and it was a compara- tively easy matter to get the bilboes on both, bound as they were. lashings were cut, the gags removed, and they hobbled to their respective cabins, speechless with rage and mortification, and Harris turned the keys. Of Mrs. Millige . we heard no more that night. On deck the watches went on as before, while I caught brief naps on the cabin locker. e- ITI. . Next morning found the ship under all plain sail, and doing a good twelve under a strong southerly breeze. Acting under the orders of the sailor Harris, the steward had broken out a plentiful sup- ply of the cabin stores for the cook, and the appetizing smell wafted aft from _ the galley of rashers of ham, preserved potatoes, newly baked loaves of bread, and the steaming aroma of coffee that _ oO SS Then the . Eomichboo 4 , - ‘4 < “i ? ~~ 4 {ia y Pe 2 e u é mM Sh PPR Tea > rel ogedy f f ‘ i O00 abot aed ry) ue ‘ si 2 aie: patty alee ; bet : bt rahe , : hy te 4g | Pere ay )) “ty ; as ti < ¥ of we ; 7) : 2 ‘ . , : t , { : 4 - 7 » , r . { iV Ven $ Lb ody A at} ¥ t ne Ww 3 ae, e+ { : " A 4 4 i f ¥ '* pe A Tike v a 4 . ee At OMe guy vie y, Lh Pere