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About Dakota County herald. (Dakota City, Neb.) 1891-1965 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1921)
p-y DAKOTA COUNTY HERALD NO DEFENSE By GILBERT PARKER ttithor of "The Seats of the Mighty" "The Right of Way" C V, O Copyright by Sir Gilbert Tarkcr i lO ) C Q THE BATTLE. Synopsis. Dyclt Calhoun, gifted young Irish Gentleman of the tlmo of tho French and American revo lutions, moots Sheila Llyn, seventeen-year-old girl visiting In tho neghborhood. They uro mutually nttrncted. Sheila never know her dissipated father, Errls Boyne, her mother having divorced him. In Dublin Leonard Mallow and Dyck tight with swords and Dyck is vic tor. Errls Boyne, secretly In French employ, gets Dyck drunk and tries to persuade him to join In revolt against England. They quarrel. "While Dyck is overcome with drugged wine, Boyno's second wlfo entors the room and stabs her faithless husband to the heart. Dyck Is arrested on a charge of murder. Ho docs not know It ho killed Boyne or not. Sheila begs her mother to go to Dublin with her to help Dyck. Mrs. Llyn op poses tho Idea. A letter from Mrs. Llyn's wealthy brother In Amorlca decides them to go and llvo with him. Dyck refuses to enter any plea except "No Dofonso." Ho might have escaped by rovcallng Boyne's treachery but refuses on Sheila's account. He Is sent to prison for eight years. Sheila writes Dyck, assuring him of her belief In his Innocence Released after serving four years, Dyck finds himself destitute, his father dead. In London Dyck receives a letter from Sheila Inviting him to como to America and Bending money for the voyage. Ho feels ho cannot in honor go to hor. Dyck Joins tho British navy as an enlisted man. Bad conditions In tho licet result in mutiny. S iS CHAPTER XI. 6 To the West Indies. A fortnight Inter the mutiny at tho Nore shook and bewildered the British isles. Tho day after Richard Parker vis ited tho Ariadne the ileet had been put under the control of the seamen's Del egates, who were men of standing in tho sljps, and of personal popularity. Their first act was to declare that tho fleet should not leave port until the men's demnnds were satisfied. The government had armed the forts ut Shcerncss, had sent troops and guns to Grnvesend and Tilbury, and had de clared war upon the rebellious fleet. At the ltead of the Delegates, Rich ard Parker, with an officer's knowl edge, became a kind of bogus admiral, who, in Interview's with the real ad mirals and the representatives of the admiralty board, talked like one who, having power, meant to use It ruth lessly. Tho government had yielded to tho Spithead mutineers, giving pardon lo all except the ringleaders, and granting demands for Increased wages iind better food, with a promise to con sider the question of prize-money ; but the Nore mutineers refused to accept that agreement, and enlarged the Spithead demands. Tho Delegates demanded a deputa tion from tho admiralty, Parker de claring that no accommodation could occur without the appearance of tho lords of the ndmiralty nt tho Nore. Then followed threatening arrange ments, and the Delegates decided to blockade the Thames and the Med way. It was at this time that Dyck Cal houn who, by consent of Richard Parker, had taken control of tho Ariadne took action which was to al ter tho course of his own life and that of many others. Since tho beginning of the mutiny ho had acted with decision, judgment and strength. He had agreed to tho Ariadne joining the mutinous ships, and he had skillfully constructed peti tions .to the admiralty, tho house of commons and the king. Ills habit of thought, his knowledge of life, made him a power. lie believed that the main demands of the seamen were Just, and lie made a useful organiza tion to enforce them. It wns only when lie saw the mutineers would not Hccept the terms granted to the Splb head rebels that a new spirit influ enced him. He had determined to get control of tho Ariadne. His gift as a speaker had conquered ills fellow-sailors, and tho fact that he was an ex-convict gave them confidence that ho was no friend of the government. One of the first things lie did, after securing hlr. own pre-eminence on the xhip, was to get' the captain and olll rcrs safely ashore. This lie did with Bklll, and the crew of the ship even cheered them as they Iqft. None of the regular officers of the Ariadne were left upon her, except Jreenock, the muster of tho ship, whos-e rank was below that of lieuten ant, and whose duties were many and vailed under the order of the captain. Greenock chose to stay, though Dyck said ho could go If lie wished. Green ock's reply was that It was his duty to Htny, If the ship was going to remain at sea, for no one else could perform his duties or do his work. Then, by vote, Dyck became captain of the ship. He would not have ac cepted tho doubtful honor hud he not had long purposes In view. With Kerens, Michael Clones, and two others whom Kerens could trust, a plun wa8 arranged which Dyck ex plained to iln felloW'Soamuu on the Ut.t.Jl.t. "We've come to tho parting of the ways, brothers"," ho said. "We've all become liable to death for mutiny. The pardon offered by the king has been refused, and fresh demnnds are made. There, I think, a real wrong has been committed by our people. The Ariadne is well supplied with food nnd water. It Is the only ship with sulllclency. And why? Because at tho beginning wo got provisions from tho shore in time; also we got permission from Richard Parker to fill our holds from two stopped merchant ships. Well, the rest of the fleet know what our food nnd drink fitment Is. They know how safe we are, and today orders have come to yield our provisions to the rest of the fleet. That Is, we, who have taken tlmo by the forelock, must yield up our good gettlngs to bad re ceivers. I am not prepared to do It. "The fleet could not sail now If It wished ; but one ship can sail, and it is ours. The fleet hasn't tho fowl to sail. On Richard Parker's ship, the Sand wich, there Is food only for a week. The others are almost as bad. Wo are In danger of being attacked. Sir Eras mus Gower, of the Neptune, has a fleet of warships, gunboats, nnd nmatcur armed vessels getting ready to nttack us. Tho North sea fleot has como to help us, but that doesn't savo us. I'll say this we arc loyal men In this fleet, otherwise our ships would linve joined the enemy In the waters of France or Holland. They enn't go now, in any case. The men have lost heart "For the moment we have a ma jority In men nnd ships; but we can't renew our food or drink, or ammuni tion. The end Is sure against us. Our original agitation wns just; our pres ent obduracy Is madness. Thrhshlp Is suspected. It Is believed by tlio rest of the fleetby ships like the Invinci ble that we're weak-kneed, selfish and Incking in fidelity to the cause. That's not true ; but we are in this po sition wo have cither to flglit or to run, and perhaps to do both. "Make no mistake. The government are not cownrds; the admiralty are gentlemen of determination. If men like Admiral Howe support the admir alty Howe, one of the best friends the seaman ever had what -do you think the end will bo? live you heard what happened at Spithead? The sea men chivvied Admiral Alan Gardner nnd his colleagues aboard a ship. He caught hold of a seaman Delegate by the collar and shook him. They closed in on him. They handled him roughly. He sprang on tho hammock nettings, put the noose of the hanging-rope round his neck, and said to the men Who advanced menacingly: "'If you will return to your duty, you may hnng me nt the yard-arm 1' "That's the kind of stuff our nd mlrals arc made of. We have no quar rel with the majority of our olllcers. They're straight, they're honest, and they're true to their game. Our quar rel Is with parliament nnd the admir alty; our struggle Is with the people of tho kingdom, who have not seen to it that our wrongs are put right, that we have food to cat, water to drink nnd money to spend." He waved a hand, as though to sweep away tho criticisms lie felt must N rising against him. "Don't think because I've Bpent four years In priBon under tho sternest dis cipline the world offers, and have never been a seaman before, that I'm not fitted to espouse your cause. By Heaven, I am I am I ami I know the wrongs you've Buffered. I've smelled tho wnter you drink. I've tasted the rotten meat. Tve seen tho honest seaman who hns been for years upon the main I've seen thn scars upon his hack got from n brutal officer who gave him too big a Job to do, and flogged him for not doing It. I know of men who, fevered with bnd food, have fnllen, from tho main masthead, or have slipped overboard, glad to go, becnuso of the wrongs they've suffered. "I'll tell you what our fate will be, and then I'll put a question to you. We must either give up our stock of pro visions or run for it. Parker and the other Delegates proclaim their com radeship; yet they have hidden from us the king's proclamation and the friendly resolutions of the London mer chants. I say our only hope is to es cape from the Thnmes. I know that skill will be needed, but If we escape, what then? V say, If wo escape, bo cause, as we sail out, orders will he given for tho Qther mutiny ships to at tack us. We slinil bo ilred on; we shall risk our lives. You've done that before, however, and will do it again. "Pm not Inclined to surrender, or to stand by men who have botched our business for us. I'm for making for tho sea, nnd, when I get there, I'm" for striking for -the West Indies, where there's a British fleet fighting Britain's enemies, and for Joining in and light ing with them. I'm for getting out of this river and away from England. It's a bold plan, but It's a good one. I want to know If you're with me, Re member, there's danger getting out, and there's danger when and If we get out. Tho other ships mny pursue us. The Portsmouth fleet may nab us. We mny be caught, and, If wo are, we must take the dojo prepared for us; but I'm for making a strong rush, go- I Ing" without fear, and asking no !yot. I won't surrender hero; It's too cow ardly. I want to know, will you come to tho open sen with me? "Wo mny hnvo to fight when we get out; but I'm for taking tho Ariadne Into tho great world battle when we can find It. This I want to usk Isn't It worth while making n great light In our own way, and showing that British seamen can at once bo mutineers and patriots? We hnvo a pilot who knows the river. Wo can go to the West In dian islands, to tho British fleet there. It's doom nnd denth to stny here ; nnd It mny bo doom nnd denth to go. If wo try to break free, and are fired on, the ndmiralty may approve of us, be cause we've broken away from the rest Sec now, Isn't that tho thing to do? I'm for getting out. Who's com ing with me?" Suddenly n burly sailor pushed for; ward. Ho hnd tho head of a viking. Ills eyes were strong with enterprise. He had n hand like a ham, with long, hairy fingers. VCaptaln," said he, "you've put tho thing so there can bo only one answer to It. As for me, I'm sick of the way this mutiny has been bungled from first to Inst. There's been one good thing nbout It only we've got order without cruelty, we've rebelled without ravagement; but we've missed tho way, nnd we didn't denl with the nd miralty commissioners as we ought. So Sailed Bravely Through the Leaden Storm. I'm for Joining up with tho captain here" lie waved a hnnd toward Dyck "and making for open sea. As sure as God's above they'll try to hammer us; but It's the only way." Ho held a handkerchief n dirty, red silk thing. "See," ho continued, "tho wind Is right to take us out. r The other ships won't know what we're going to do un til we start. I'm for getting off. I'm a pressed man. I haven't seen my girl for five years, and they won't let me free In port to go and see her. Nothing can bo worse than what we have to suffer now, so let's make a break for It. That's what I say. Come, now, lads, three cheers for Captain Cal houn 1" A half-hour later, on the captain's deck, Dyck gave the order to pass east ward. It was sunset when they start ed, and they had not gone a thousand yards before some of tho mutineerlng ships opened lire on the Ariadne. The breeze wns good, howover, and she sailed bravely through the leaden storm. Once twice thrice bhe was hit, but she sped on. By daylight the Ariadne was well away from the land. The first thing Dyck had done, after escaping from the river, was to study tho wnats of the Aiindno and make an estimate-for the future with Gieonnck, the Minbter. He calculated they had food and water enough to Inst for three months, oven with liberal pro visioning. Going among the crow, ho realized there was no depression among them; that they seemed, to care little where they were going. It was, however, quite clear they wished to light to fight the enemies of England. Perhaps no mutineer In the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, In holding control over fellow-mutineers on the Journey from tho English chnnnel to the Caribbean sea. As a boy Dyck had been an ex pert sailor, had studied the machinery of a mun-of-wnr, anil his love of the sea was Innate nnd deep-seateil; but his present success was based upon more than experience. Quito npnrt from the honor of hla nature, prison had deepened In him the hatred of In justice. In soul he wus bitter; in body ho was healthy, powerful and sane. Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, ho hnd broken down the many custoins of sllp life Injurious to the welfare of tho men. Under his system the sailors had good coffee for breakfust, Instead of a horrible mixture mode of burnt biscuits cooked In foul water, lie gave J tho men pea soup and rice Instead of i burgoo and the wretched oatmeal moss I unlet .vuh tho atupl thing far break " i y : III vv wW fast. iTo saw to it that the meat was no longer a hateful, repulsive mass, two-thirds bono nnd gristle, nnd before It cnino Into tho cook's hands capnble of being polished like mahogany. He threatened tho cook with punishment If he found the meals Ill-cooked. Of the common sailors, on the whole, Dyck hnd little doubt Ho hnd In formed them that, whatever happened, they should not be In danger; that the ship should not Join: tho West Indian licet unless every man except himself received nmncsty. If the amnesty was not granted, then one of two things should happen the ship must make for a South American port, or she must fight. Fighting would not frighten these men. It was rather among the midship men that Dyck looked for trouble. Sometimes, with only two years' train ing at Gosport, n youngster became n midshipman on first going to sea, and he could begin ns early ns eleven years of age. A second-rate Bhlp like the Ariadne carried eighteen midshipmen; and as six lieutenants were appointed from them, only twelve remained. From these twelve, in the dingy after cockpit, where tho superficial area was not more than twelve squnro feet; where the air was foul, and the bilges reeked with a pestilential stench; where the purser's .storeroom near gave out the smell of rancid but ter and poisonous cheese; where the musty tnint of old ropes enme to them, tliero wns n spirit of danger. Dyck was right In thinking that In the midshipmen's dlsmnl berth the first flowers of revolt to his rule would b'loom. Sailors, even as low as tho pig-sty men, had some Idcn of fair play; and as the weeks that had passed since they left the Thnmes hnd given them better food and drink, and lessened the severity of those above them, real obedience had come. It wns not strange that tho ship ran well, for all the officers under tho new conditions, except Dyck himself, had had previous experience. The old lieu tennnts had gone, but midshipmen, who in any case were trained, luul taken their pluc.es. Tho rest of tho ship's staff were the same, except tho captain; and as Dyck had made a friend of Greenock the mnster, a man of glumncss, fho days were peaceful enough during the voyage to tho Carib bean sea. t Tho majority saw thnt every net of Dyck hnd proved him Just nnd capable. He had rigidly Insisted on gun prac tice; ho hnd keyed up the marines to a better spirit, and churlishness had been promptly punished. Ho was, In effect, what the sailors called a "rogue," or a "taut ono" seldom smiling, gaunt of face but fearless of eye, and with a body free from fatigue. As the weather grew warmer and the days longer, and they drew near to the coast of Jamaica, a stir of excite ment was shown. "You'd like to know what I'm going to do, Michael, I suppose?" said Dyck one morning, ns ho drank his coffee and wntched the sun creeping up tho sky. "Well, In three days wo shall know what's to become of us, and I have no doubt or fear. This ship's a rebel, but it's returning to duty. We've, shown them how a ship can bo run with good food" and drink and fair deal ing, and, please God, we'll have some work to do now that belongs to a man-of-war!" "Sir, I know what you mean to do," replied Michael. "You mean to get all of us off by giving yourself up." "Well, some one has to pay for what we've done, Michael." A dark, ruth less light came Into Dyck's eyes. "Some one's got to pny." A grim smile crossed his fnce. "We've done tho for bidden thing; we've mutinied nnd taken to the open sen. We were fired on by the other mutiny ships, and that will help our Millars, but It won't help me. I'm tho leader. We ought, of course, to have taken refuge with tho nearest squadron of the king's ships. Well, 1'vo run my luck, nnd I'll hnvo to pny." lie scratched his chin with a thumb nail n permanent physical trait. "You see, the government luis pardoned all the sailors,, and wHl hang only tho lenders. I expect Parker In hung al ready. Well, I'm the lender on tho Arlndne. I'm taking this ship straight to his majesty's West Indian fleet, in thorough discipline, and I'll baud it over well found, well manned, well of fleered, on condition that all g fi''' except myself. I came aboard n com mon sailor, it quota inur-. a prison bird, penniless. Well, Imv I Hhown that I can run a ship? Have I learned the game of control? During tho weeks wa'vo been at sen, bursting along, have I proved myself?" Michael smiled. "What did I say to you the first night on board, sir? Didn't I wiy they'd make an officer of you when they found out what brains you hnd? By St. Pntrlck, you've made yourself captain with tho good-will of all, and your Iron hand has held the thing to gether. You've got a great head, too, sir!" Dyck looked at him with n face In which the far futuro showed. "Michael, I've been lucky. I've heou well served. It was a. great thlnu, mnVIrir hp new llputt-nnnu 'roi tin midshipmen. There never was a bet ter lot on bonrd a ship." Before tho day was over tho whole ship was alive with anticipation, for, In tho far distance, could bo seen tho dark blue and purplish shndows which told of land; and this brought tho minds of nil to tho end of their Jour ney, with thoughts of tho crisis near. Word had been passed that till on hoard wero considered safe all ex cept tho captain who had maneuvered them to the entrance of tho Caribbean sea. Had ho been of their own origin, they would not have placed so much credence In tho rumor; but coming ns ho did of an ancient Irish family, al though ho hud been In Jail for killing", the traditionnl respect for tho word" of a gentleman Influenced them. When a man like Kerens, on tho ono hand, and a mutineer whoso lingers had been mutilated by Dyck In tho chnn nel, on tho other when these agreed to bend themselves to tho rulo of n usurper, some Idea of Calhoun's pow er mny bo got. On this day, with tho gllmmor of land In tho far distance, tho charges of all tho guns wero renewed. Also word was passed that at any moment tho ship must bo cleared for action. Down In the cockpit tho tables wero got ready by the surgeon and tho lob lolly boys ; the magazines wero opened, nnd the gunrds were put on duty. To tho right of tho Arlndno was the coast of Cuba; to tho left wns tho const of Hultl, both lnvislblo to tho eye. Although the knowledge thnt they were neurlng land hall already given the olllcers nnd men a feeling of elation, tho feeling was greatly Inten sified as they cnino through tho Turk Islnnd passage, which Is a kind of gateway to tho Windward passage be tween Cuba and Haiti. Thb glory of tho sunny, tropical world was upon the ship and upon the sen; it crept Into the blood of every man, and tho sweet summer weather gave confidence to their minds. It was n day which only those who knew tropical and semi tropical seas can understand. It had tho sense of soaking luxury. In ids cabin, with the ship's chart on tho table before him, Dyck Calhoun studied the course of tho Arlndne. Tho wind was fair and good, tho sea-birds hovered overhead. From a distnnt jmrt of the ship came the sound of men's volcus in song. "Well, what Is It?" he asked of a marine who ap peared In his doorway. "The master of tho ship begs to see you, sir," was tho reply. A moment afterward Greenock en tered, lie asked Dyck soveral ques tions concerning the possible fighting', the disposition of ammunition and all that, nnd said at last: "1 think wo shall be of use, sir." Tho ship's all right now." "As right us anything human can bo. I've got faith In my star, master." A light came Into the other man's dour fnce. "I wish you'd got Into uniform, sir." "Uniform? No, Greenock! No, I use the borrowed power, but not tho borrowed clothes. I'm a common sail or, and I wear tho common sailor's clothes. You've earned your uniform, and It suits you. Stick to It; nnd when I've earned a cnptnln's uniform I'll wear It. I owo you tho success of this voyagjD so far, and my heart Is full of It, upto tho brim. Hark, what's that?" "By God, It's guns, sir! There's fighting on I" "Fighting!" Dyck stood for a minute with head thrust forward, eyes fixed upon tho distnnt mists ahead. The rumble of the guns came faintly through the ulr. An exultant look came into his face. "Master, the game's with us it Is fighting! I know tho difference be- Dyck Calhoun Could See the Struggle Going On. tweor the two sets of guns, English and Fbwieh. Listen that quick, spas modic tiring l French; the steudy-n-thunder b EiihIIsIi. Well, we've got all Mill oft. Now, make rend)- th rhifi tor fighting P "She's almost ready, sir." An hour later tho light mist hnd risen, nnd almost suddenly tho Ariadne seemed to come Into tho field of bat tle. Dyck Calhoun could sco tho strug gle going on. Tho two sets of enemy ships hnd como to close quarters, and In sonto cases wero locked In dcadls conflict. In other cases ships, still npnrt, Hrcd nt point-blank range, nnd nil the horrors of slaughter wero In full swing. From tho square blue flag at tho mlzzen topgnllnnt masthead of ono of tho British ships engaged, Dyck realized thnt tho admiral's own crnft was In some peril. Ho saw with satis faction that tho way lay open for the Arlndno to benr down upon the French ship, engaged with tho admiral's small ship, and help to end tho struggle suc cessfully for tho British cause. While still too far away for point blank range, tho Arladno'a guns be gan upon the French ships distinguish nblo by their shapo and their colors. Bcforo tho first shot was fired, how over, Dyck mado a tour of the decks nnd gave some word of cheer to the , men. Tho Ariadne lost no tlmo in get ting Into the thick of tho fight. Tho seamen wero stripped to tho waist, and black silk handkerchiefs went tightly bound round tholr heads nntl over their eors. What the French thought of tho' coming of tho Arladno was shown by tho reply they made presently to her firing. Tho number of French ships in action was greater than tho British by six, and the Arladno arrived just when she could be of greatest service. Tho boldness of her seamanship, and tho favor of tho wind, gavo her an nd- vantage which good fortune helped to Justify. As she drow in upon tho action, she gavo herself up to great dangor; sho was coming In upon the rear of tho French ships, and was subject! to fierce attack. To tho French she seemed like a fugltlvo warrior returning to camp Just when ho was most needed, ns was Indeed the ense. Two of her shots settled ono of tho enemy's ves sels; and before the others could con verge upon her, she had crawled slow ly up against the off sldo of the French admiral's ship, which was closely en gaged with tho Beatitude, tho British flagship, on tho oilier side. Tho canister, chain-shot and langrcl .of tho French foe had caused much In Jury to., tho Arlndne, and her canvas was In a sore plight. Fifty of her sea men had been killed, and a hundred and llfty wero wounded by tho tlmo she reached the starboard side of tho Aquitaluc. Sho would have lost many more wero It not that her onset de moralized tho French gunners, while the cheers of the British sailors aboard the Beatitude gavo confidence to their mutineer comrades. On his own deck, Dyck watched the progress of the battle with tho Joy of a natural fighter. Ho had carried the thing to an almost Impossible success. Thcro had only been this in his favor, . that his vvas an unexpected entrance a fact which had been worth another ship nt least. Ho saw his boarders struggle for tho Aqultatne, Ho saw them discharge their pistols, and then resort to the cutlass and tho dagger; nnd tho marines bringing down their victims from the masts of tho French flag-ship. Presently ho heard tho savagely buoyant shouts of the Beatitude men, nnd ho renllzed thnt, by his coming, the udmlrnl of tho French fleet hnd been obliged to yield up his sword, and to signal to his ships such as could to get nway. That half of them suc ceeded In doing so wns duo to tho fact that the British fleot had been heavily 4 handled In the fight, and would hnvo been defeated had It not been for the opportune arrival of tho Arladno. Never, perhaps, in tho history of the navy, had British ships clamped tho enemy as tho Aqultulno wns clumped by tho Beatitude and the Ariadne. Certain It Is that m admiral of the British fleet had over to perforin two such nets In one day as receiving the bublulsslon of a French admiral ami offering thanks to the cnptaln of a British man of war whom, while thanking, he must nC oucu plnco tin- , der arrest as n mutineer. a What might have ch'unced further to Dyck's dlsndvantago can never he known, becnuso there appeared on tho deck of the Bcntitude, ns Its enptniu under the rear udmlrnl, Captain Ivy, who, llvo years before, had visited Dyck and his father at Playmorc, and hnd gone with them to Dublin, Tho admiral had sent word to tho Arlndne for Its captain to come to tho Beatitude, When the captain's gig arrived, nnd a mun in seaman's clothes essayed to climb the side of the flagship, he was at first prevented. Captain Ivy, however, immediately gavo orders for Dyck to bo admltttd, but without honors. "You've dona quite wall Mr, Calhoun, but my Instructions were to hang you." JZki tfx .: coimm'Tiaj $ ; p