The Wildfire Club - The Emma Hardinge Britten Archive

OX TH:s SPIXIT RIDE.
Could your sours perdition change the law which gives
this man authority? Could your resistance change the
system, or even save the lad? Look around you: other
officers, equally cruel, equally powerful, are ready to step
into his place, and execute his orders; ani!. where would
you be? - shipwrecked beytJnd my power to save you!
Henceforth learn to act when you can saue. Speak iD
the right of manhood ,.hen God and the Right demand;
but never act unless you can do good, and never speak
unless you have given yourself time to think. And now,
Tbm, - dear, dear Tom! - having had time to think, it
is now time to speak '"
And speak Tom did, in the might of manhood and the
name of God, and, with the spirit of his angel bride on
his lips, he shouted aloud, .. Hold, captaiD! You have
done enough! The boy'8hall not be flogged!"
The next instant, as if by magic, ,the air rung to one
tremendous shout, echoed from the swelling hearts of the
outraged and indignant crew, and a terrible scene of
mutiny raged throughout the ship. The officers were
neither unaccustomed to, nor unprepared for, such scenes.
Firm and composed they remained at their posts, and, by
virtue of strong command, some persuasion, and some
show of determined authority, the riot was soon quelled.
Still, the unfortunate subject of the mutiny profited by it,
for he was not flogged, although his generous defender
was shortly after placed in irons to await his trial for life
or death.
That trial never took place. By what means, was·
never ascertained, - whether by the connivance of the
officers or the determination of the crew, - certain it
was, that at midnight the captive's chains were unloosed,
and he remained concealed in the ship for weeks, fed