File:Brave old salt - or, Life on the quarter deck; a story of the Great Rebellion (1871) (14577311217).jpg

Identifier: braveoldsaltorli1871opti (find matches)
Title: Brave old salt : or, Life on the quarter deck ; a story of the Great Rebellion
Year: 1871 (1870s)
Authors: Optic, Oliver, 1822-1897 Champney, W. L LeBlanc, Edward T. donor Lee and Shepard, publisher
Subjects: Youth Conduct of life Sailors Patriotism Naval battles Navies
Publisher: Boston : Lee and Shepard
Contributing Library: Brandeis University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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Text Appearing Before Image:
" I have examined her, and I declare that her papers
are all right. My decision is final. Return to the ship,
Mr. Somers, and there answer for your mutinous conduct."
" I shall board this vessel," replied Somers, as he
ordered the bowman to haul in towards the steamer.
" This is mutiny, and I shall treat it as such. I will
be obeyed !"
Mr. Pillgrim raised his pistol, and fired at the rebel-
lious officer ; but he was too much excited to take good
aim, if, indeed, he intended to do anything more than
intimidate his inferior officer. The ball whistled within
a few feet of Somers's head, and roused his belligerent
spirit. He raised his revolver on the instant, before the
second lieutenant was ready to repeat his experiment,
and fired.
The traitor sank down in the stern-sheets of the cutter.
The men seemed to be paralyzed by this sharp work,
and sat like statues on the thwarts.
" Haul in, bowman!" said Somers, in sharp and
earnest tones, breaking the solemn silence of that awful
moment.
The man obeyed mechanically, and the others did
the same when required to boat their oars ; but probably
there was not one of the crew of either cutter who did
Text Appearing After Image:

A Conflict of Authority. Page 148.

LIFE ON THE QUAE TEE DECK. 149

not believe that the fourth lieutenant would be hung at
the yard-arm for his mutinous, murderous conduct.
Somers directed the coxswain of the first cutter to
pull in to the accommodation ladder of the steamer.
He was obeyed, and Boatswain Longstone was ordered
to take charge of the boat. Eight men, armed with
cutlasses and revolvers, were sent on board the Ben
Nevis, and Somers followed them. The captain pro-
tested against the capture, but his papers were not what
they were represented to be by Pillgrim. The character
of the steamer was evident, and she was taken posses-
sion of by the fourth lieutenant, and the crews of both
cutters were ordered on board.
" How is Mr. Pillgrim?" asked Somers of the boat-
swain. " Is he dead?"
" No, sir;" the ball only glanced along the side of his
head. " He bleeds badly, but he is not severely wounded."
The second lieutenant was soon able to sit up, and was
assisted on board the Ben Nevis, where he was conducted
to a state-room, and two seamen placed as guards at the
door.

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