Page 382 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

first unwilling, thinking that loss of life might ensue; but
Cheshire and the others, knowing that I was acquainted
with navigation—having in happier days lived much on the
sea—threatened me if I refused to join. A song was started
in the folksle, and one of the soldiers, coming to listen to it,
was seized, and Lyon and Riley then made prisoner of the
sentry. Forced thus into a project with which I had at first
but little sympathy, I felt my heart leap at the prospect of
freedom, and would have sacrificed all to obtain it. Mad-
dened by the desperate hopes that inspired me, I from that
moment assumed the command of my wretched compan-
ions; and honestly think that, however culpable I may have
been in the eyes of the law, I prevented them from the dis-
play of a violence to which their savage life had unhappily
made them but too accustomed.’
* * * * * *
‘Poor fellow,’ said Sylvia, beguiled by Master Rex’s spe-
cious paragraphs, ‘I think he was not to blame.’
* * * * * *
‘Mr. Bates was below in the cabin, and on being sum-
moned by Cheshire to surrender, with great courage
attempted a defence. Barker fired at him through the sky-
light, but fearful of the lives of the Commandant’s wife and
child, I struck up his musket, and the ball passed through
the mouldings of the stern windows. At the same time, the
soldiers whom we had bound in the folksle forced up the
hatch and came on deck. Cheshire shot the first one, and
struck the other with his clubbed musket. The wounded
man lost his footing, and the brig lurching with the rising

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