The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

THE MUTINY ON THE FLYING CLOUD. 573 quarter deck occupants of which appeared to manifest not only admiration, but quite a surprising amount of curiosity as the two vessels closed. At length, as the Flying Cloud ranged up on the port quarter of the bark, an excited figure appeared to suddenly go demented altogether, for, rushing to the bark’s gangway, he threw himself over rather than descended the ves- sel’s side into a boat which was towing alongside, and with imperious gestures seemed to coniniand the boatmen to convey him to the approaching ship. They obeyed, and the distance between the two vessels being but short, in less than a minute a voice—well known, notwithstanding its excited, ex- ultant ring—hailed : ‘‘ Flying Cloud ahoy ! heave us a rope’s end, will ye, and let your captain come on board? ’’ With adelighted shout the o/d hands rushed to the gangway, Ned fore- most ; the rope’s end was thrown, the boat sheered alongside, and in another moment Captain Blake, alive, well, and as hearty as ever, stood once more on his own quarter deck, shaking hands convulsively with everybody who came near him, with the unheeded tears chasing each other down his cheeks as he huskily replied to the enthusiastic greetings of those who had long ago given him up for lost. His story was a long one, but it may be condensed into a few words. ‘The raft, contrary to all expectation, had held together and lived through the terrific hurricane, before which it was driven furiously to the southward, to be wrecked eventually upon a small islet, whencé, after many months of hardship and privation, the skipper had been rescued by a sandal wood trader aud conveyed to Singapore. He there joined the bark, homeward bound, the hospitable skipper gladly offering him a passage, and, by a singular coincidence, had arrived in New York harbor only an hour or two ahead of his own ship. The arrival home of the vessel so long overdue, and the publication of the adventures of those who went out and came home again in her, created a pro- found sensation almost throughout the length and breadth of America; but it was soon obliterated by the occurrence of events of greater importance to the community at large, and the chief personages of the story were allowed to sink back into a welcome obscurity, although the public interest in the subject was fitfully revived from time to time by accounts of proceedings in connection with the restoration, as far as possible, to its rightful owners of the booty brought home in the Flying Cloud’s hold. Like most seamen, Ned was generosity itself, and had he been allowed to have his way, the treasure found at Island Harbor would have been equally divided among all thos¢ who had participated with him in that adventurous voyage ; but to such a proposal, of course, not one of the interested parties would listen. Nicholls and Price, however, eventually consented to accept a moderate pension, and the doctor and the engineer point proudly to their trophies of ancient arms as they tell the story connected with them to their friends, | Captain Blake still commands the Flying Cloud, ship and captain alike being the most popular in the trade ; and Bob Manners was, at latest accounts, COMmicloOokSs:.€O