Betsy and Catherine by Helen Gailey

Author:Helen Gailey [Gailey, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781728315201
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Published: 2019-06-16T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Home

I was pleased to tell Elizabeth, “Since we first saw Edward in Australia, he has been at Catherine’s side as much as humanly possible. You can see the pure joy he has when he is with her.”

Elizabeth responded thoughtfully, “How such a thing could have happened, I don’t know.”

Gesturing to the book in her lap I asked, “I have forgotten where we were in the journal. I should have marked it. Do you remember, Elizabeth?”

“The last time we read I think it was just after there had been theft on the Barringer. Is that right, Betsy?”

“Yes, you have a good memory,” I replied. “Sometimes I feel as though I have read it so many times that now I can almost recite it word for word.”

“You do know dear, I appreciate the time you have taken to share Catherine’s story with me.”

“It’s a joy for me, Elizabeth. You have no idea how delighted I feel to be able to share Catherine’s tale with a true friend.”

Elizabeth responded, “You know it’s not just Catherine’s story. It’s very much your story as well.”

I remarked distantly, “Yes, perhaps,”

Turning the pages, I said. “Yes, here we are, Catherine writes”

I was glad, in a way, that we were confined to our quarters. I lay on my bench most of the time. The days seemed to drift by. Betsy occasionally roused me gently to ask how I was feeling. And when the guards came to distribute what little food we were allowed, Betsy was there to help me get up and walk. She made sure I took some nourishment. She seemed to be coping better than most. I was certainly not the only person suffering from privation. Many of the convicts were too weak to get up from their benches, even when it meant the difference between life and death.

The troopers never found the stolen food. It struck me as somewhat ironic. The theft of the food resulted in reduced rations. The one remaining conspirator who had stolen the food was then obliged to share the food they had, lest someone betray her secret. Nothing good had come of it and all of us suffered from their stupidity.

When we were finally allowed up on the main deck, our days of rationing and privation had taken their toll. There were many who were not strong enough to climb the stairs unassisted. Some stumbled and fell as we were ordered to stand before the captain. Indeed, we were in a pitiful state. He looked very serious as he stood on the forecastle and addressed us. He was in full uniform. Abby, the third woman who hadn’t been identified earlier, was strung up facing some type of board, her back towards us. I wondered how they found out she was involved.

The captain commenced by saying, “When you came on board, Head Trooper Tottenham gave you all explicit instructions. Any person stealing or secreting any of the ship’s stores or any other article belonging to the stores in the ship will be severely punished.

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