WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:18.000 And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 00:18.000 --> 00:26.080 Tonight, we bring you a transcribed story of a convict ship and a bargain that ended 00:26.080 --> 00:27.400 in death. 00:27.400 --> 00:30.160 We call it, A Sleeping Draft. 00:30.160 --> 00:36.560 So now, starring Ben Wright with Abraham Sophia, here is tonight's Suspense play, A Sleeping 00:36.560 --> 00:37.560 Draft. 00:37.560 --> 01:01.440 A Sleeping Draft. 01:01.440 --> 01:19.040 That helps. 01:19.040 --> 01:23.440 But it's like I say, you can't forget. 01:23.440 --> 01:27.920 You can never forget. 01:27.920 --> 01:34.320 It's at night that you think about it, with the water outside rushing past the hull. 01:34.320 --> 01:39.480 That's when you think that it can never be the same. 01:39.480 --> 01:41.800 You can't trust anybody. 01:41.800 --> 01:42.800 Never. 01:42.800 --> 01:44.800 Not a soul. 01:44.800 --> 01:47.120 I can tell you. 01:47.120 --> 01:50.360 You just can't trust them. 01:50.360 --> 02:07.340 Not even yourself. 02:07.340 --> 02:08.340 What is it, mister? 02:08.340 --> 02:10.400 Mr. Fintz says he's ready to board, sir. 02:10.400 --> 02:11.400 Oh, he is, eh? 02:11.400 --> 02:12.840 All right, I'm not stuffing him. 02:12.840 --> 02:13.840 Yes, sir. 02:13.840 --> 02:16.960 He insists on bringing them aboard one at a time. 02:16.960 --> 02:17.960 What? 02:17.960 --> 02:18.960 Does he think I'm going to miss the tide? 02:18.960 --> 02:20.440 There's over 400 of them. 02:20.440 --> 02:21.440 It'll take hours. 02:21.440 --> 02:22.440 That's what I said, sir. 02:22.440 --> 02:25.160 Mr. Fintz, come aboard if you please. 02:25.160 --> 02:26.160 I'm sorry, sir. 02:26.160 --> 02:28.160 I should have resigned. 02:28.160 --> 02:30.480 Stinking filthy poor devil cargo. 02:30.480 --> 02:33.760 Everything I cock-a-lore-um, Captain. 02:33.760 --> 02:35.880 No, everything is not I cock-a-lore-um. 02:35.880 --> 02:38.200 What in blazes do you mean ordering my mate about? 02:38.200 --> 02:39.800 Oh, no offense intended. 02:39.800 --> 02:41.040 None taken, I owe. 02:41.040 --> 02:43.400 I want those scurvy wretches aboard now. 02:43.400 --> 02:44.400 All of them. 02:44.400 --> 02:45.400 Put them below and we'll way anchor. 02:45.400 --> 02:46.680 One at a time, sir. 02:46.680 --> 02:47.680 One at a time. 02:47.680 --> 02:48.680 We've got to search them, you know. 02:48.680 --> 02:51.040 Why didn't you do that before you took them out of jail? 02:51.040 --> 02:55.440 You'll be surprised what those swine can pick up between jail and the docks. 02:55.440 --> 02:59.040 We've got to search them one at a time. 02:59.040 --> 03:06.600 They're murdering devils, every last one of them, and that's a fact. 03:06.600 --> 03:09.440 The convicts came aboard one by one. 03:09.440 --> 03:10.440 I watched them. 03:10.440 --> 03:14.280 They were going from London to a land they'd never seen. 03:14.280 --> 03:17.280 A colony had bought them. 03:17.280 --> 03:20.040 In Australia, 400. 03:20.040 --> 03:24.080 The sweepings and scraping sorted out from the muck of the jails. 03:24.080 --> 03:26.600 We'd finch in charge of them. 03:26.600 --> 03:31.760 I carried dirty cargoes, die wood, for instance, crawling with scorpions and spiders, not to 03:31.760 --> 03:35.080 mention snakes, in this cattle. 03:35.080 --> 03:41.360 But this, weeks and months at sea, with a human cargo who'd assume cut your throat 03:41.360 --> 03:43.400 as spit. 03:43.400 --> 03:47.960 What made it worse was I felt sorry for the poor beggars. 03:47.960 --> 03:53.040 I watched them come aboard until there were two left. 03:53.040 --> 03:54.040 Name? 03:54.040 --> 03:55.040 Wilkes. 03:55.040 --> 03:56.040 Search him. 03:56.040 --> 03:58.040 Hey, hey now, take your bleeding hands off me. 03:58.040 --> 03:59.040 Oh, you ain't got nothing. 03:59.040 --> 04:01.040 Ain't you stole me last morning? 04:01.040 --> 04:03.040 Oh, shut your jaw. 04:03.040 --> 04:05.040 That's enough, Finch. 04:05.040 --> 04:07.000 I won't have the cat used on my ship. 04:07.000 --> 04:09.000 I've got enough of it where they're going. 04:09.000 --> 04:12.560 You are a trust and soul, you are, Captain. 04:12.560 --> 04:16.640 Ah, how'd you like that between your ebbs, Captain? 04:16.640 --> 04:20.800 Touch of the cat's a lot better than letting this swine bring a knife aboard, eh? 04:20.800 --> 04:21.800 Touch him below. 04:21.800 --> 04:23.400 I don't know how they do it. 04:23.400 --> 04:24.400 Help me, I don't know. 04:24.400 --> 04:26.400 You've got to watch him for them, now. 04:26.400 --> 04:27.400 Next. 04:27.400 --> 04:28.400 Right. 04:28.400 --> 04:29.400 Oh, here's a terror. 04:29.400 --> 04:32.400 Look at the size of him, eh? 04:32.400 --> 04:33.400 Dangerous swine. 04:33.400 --> 04:34.920 Three murders in Australia. 04:34.920 --> 04:35.920 Escaped. 04:35.920 --> 04:38.200 He's in for it when he gets back. 04:38.200 --> 04:39.200 Name? 04:39.200 --> 04:40.200 Abbey. 04:40.200 --> 04:41.200 Jonathan Abbey. 04:41.200 --> 04:42.200 Abbey. 04:42.200 --> 04:43.200 Abbey. 04:43.200 --> 04:46.600 Well, well, a gentleman in chains. 04:46.600 --> 04:48.880 I am sorry you worship. 04:48.880 --> 04:51.520 Forgive us for daring to lay hands on your highness. 04:51.520 --> 04:53.560 I'm sure as hell you've been wrongly accused. 04:53.560 --> 04:54.560 That's enough, Finch. 04:54.560 --> 04:55.560 Search him. 04:55.560 --> 04:56.560 Take him below. 04:56.560 --> 04:59.560 I want Mr. Jonathan Abbey shackled. 04:59.560 --> 05:01.560 He's a prize, he is. 05:01.560 --> 05:11.560 We mustn't let anything happen to him. 05:11.560 --> 05:16.160 On the day we left London docks, I'd taken a violent dislike to Finch. 05:16.160 --> 05:20.120 He seemed to be happiest when he was laying about him with his cat on the convict's herded 05:20.120 --> 05:22.440 like sheep below decks. 05:22.440 --> 05:27.360 It kept him quiet enough, but one night I decided to have it out with him in the cabin. 05:27.360 --> 05:33.160 I made it strong, I can tell you, so that even he could understand what I meant. 05:33.160 --> 05:35.160 You all finished, Captain? 05:35.160 --> 05:36.160 All right. 05:36.160 --> 05:38.160 Now you hear me out. 05:38.160 --> 05:42.760 They're a bad lot, 400 of us, all bound for Australia. 05:42.760 --> 05:43.760 They don't want to go. 05:43.760 --> 05:44.760 You follow me? 05:44.760 --> 05:46.720 Now there's that bloke Abbey. 05:46.720 --> 05:49.080 Soon as we touch Sydney, the game's up for him. 05:49.080 --> 05:50.480 They'll hang him, sure. 05:50.480 --> 05:53.720 That doesn't mean that you have the right to make life even worse for him here. 05:53.720 --> 05:56.720 Now, we find out where do you think we'll be. 05:56.720 --> 05:58.360 What would you do if you was down there? 05:58.360 --> 06:02.720 I'll tell you, you'd get hold of the ship, that's what you'd do, and it'd be easy. 06:02.720 --> 06:04.720 Bare locked in, we've got a guard. 06:04.720 --> 06:05.720 Ha! 06:05.720 --> 06:06.720 You don't know him like I do. 06:06.720 --> 06:10.360 There's another thing, when I searched him, there was one to five sovereigns stowed away 06:10.360 --> 06:12.520 on every man, earned or stolen. 06:12.520 --> 06:15.640 That'll come to over a thousand pound by my figures. 06:15.640 --> 06:18.760 They're entitled to that money, it's little enough to take to a wild country. 06:18.760 --> 06:23.560 It's truth, but there's them down there what had slit the gullet of any man for a shilling, 06:23.560 --> 06:26.520 and you asked me to be dainty with them. 06:26.520 --> 06:27.520 Ha! 06:27.520 --> 06:35.560 That's the way you talk to me, and I can tell you that I didn't feel easy anymore. 06:35.560 --> 06:37.600 I did something I hadn't done for a long time. 06:37.600 --> 06:46.760 I broke out two pistols from ship's stores and kept them under me pillow. 06:46.760 --> 06:52.260 It was when we got round the horn that the first convict died from scurvy. 06:52.260 --> 06:56.360 We had to put him over the side, of course, and there was a lot of grousing. 06:56.360 --> 06:58.960 I went down to the hold with Finch. 06:58.960 --> 07:00.960 It was hot and stinking. 07:00.960 --> 07:03.400 Now, you let me talk to him, Captain. 07:03.400 --> 07:04.400 I'll put it to right. 07:04.400 --> 07:05.680 You tell him it couldn't be helped. 07:05.680 --> 07:07.680 Ah, don't you mind, I'll tell him. 07:07.680 --> 07:08.680 Oy! 07:08.680 --> 07:10.680 Here comes old bloody part. 07:10.680 --> 07:11.680 Oy, Finch! 07:11.680 --> 07:19.680 Did you steal the clothes off the poor baker's back before you threw them in? 07:19.680 --> 07:20.680 Man! 07:20.680 --> 07:22.880 We ain't man, dearie. 07:22.880 --> 07:24.880 We're dogs, or haven't you heard? 07:24.880 --> 07:30.520 Why didn't you wait the very poor old Smithy in the ground instead of tucking him in the 07:30.520 --> 07:31.520 sea? 07:31.520 --> 07:32.520 Oy! 07:32.520 --> 07:33.520 Oy! 07:33.520 --> 07:40.920 We got another two or three weeks before we reach land, and I'll make a bargain with 07:40.920 --> 07:41.920 you. 07:41.920 --> 07:45.520 The next one, what dies now that it's getting nice and hot? 07:45.520 --> 07:47.160 I'll just leave him down here. 07:47.160 --> 07:50.320 You can take care of him and mourn him till we get to Australia. 07:50.320 --> 07:51.320 How's that? 07:51.320 --> 07:56.520 Half a crown, you don't keep him for three days. 07:56.520 --> 07:58.520 That's old bloody part. 07:58.520 --> 08:00.520 Always a nose for business. 08:00.520 --> 08:07.200 And if you ain't satisfied with that, I'll see that the hatch is closed down tight for 08:07.200 --> 08:09.120 the rest of the voyage. 08:09.120 --> 08:17.840 And you can boil for all I may. 08:17.840 --> 08:20.280 That seemed to settle it for a time. 08:20.280 --> 08:25.480 I began to see that in spite of Finch's hardness with him, the prisoners knew he was master 08:25.480 --> 08:27.400 and behaved themselves. 08:27.400 --> 08:29.520 That is, most of them did. 08:29.520 --> 08:31.120 But there were others. 08:31.120 --> 08:32.440 And that's what began the trouble. 08:32.440 --> 08:36.920 We were two days out of the Cook Islands when it happened. 08:36.920 --> 08:37.920 Yes? 08:37.920 --> 08:40.680 Captain, there's a man on deck. 08:40.680 --> 08:42.480 We brought him up from below. 08:42.480 --> 08:43.480 It's horrible. 08:43.480 --> 08:44.480 What happened? 08:44.480 --> 08:45.480 One of the convicts. 08:45.480 --> 08:46.480 Oh? 08:46.480 --> 08:47.480 Fight? 08:47.480 --> 08:48.480 Yes, sir. 08:48.480 --> 08:49.480 There we be, Captain. 08:49.480 --> 08:53.480 Mr. Darlan ain't much of a surgeon, I must say. 08:53.480 --> 08:54.480 I did what I could. 08:54.480 --> 08:55.480 He must have been dead before we got here. 08:55.480 --> 08:59.760 He's been cut to pieces. 08:59.760 --> 09:02.760 Not half of you, eh? 09:02.760 --> 09:03.760 How did it happen? 09:03.760 --> 09:11.800 I heard him shout when I went down into the hold and there he was, propped up like against 09:11.800 --> 09:14.800 the bars with his arms through, holding them up. 09:14.800 --> 09:15.800 Poor devil. 09:15.800 --> 09:16.800 Oh, him? 09:16.800 --> 09:17.800 No, he's dead, he is. 09:17.800 --> 09:22.800 There's others in for it, though. 09:22.800 --> 09:23.800 What do you mean? 09:23.800 --> 09:26.480 How do you think he got cut up like that, eh? 09:26.480 --> 09:27.960 Knives, Captain, knives. 09:27.960 --> 09:30.320 But you searched them before they bought it. 09:30.320 --> 09:31.320 I did, I did. 09:31.320 --> 09:33.680 And it's true, I don't know how they done it. 09:33.680 --> 09:36.080 Small knives, Captain, small knives. 09:36.080 --> 09:39.960 We're getting close to Australia, that's what it is. 09:39.960 --> 09:42.600 Whoever's got them knives is after money. 09:42.600 --> 09:45.320 A thousand quid or more what's on this cursed ship. 09:45.320 --> 09:46.320 I don't see how... 09:46.320 --> 09:50.680 Oh, you, you are a trustant soul, you are, Captain. 09:50.680 --> 09:53.040 Maybe there's a dozen of them, maybe 20 with knives. 09:53.040 --> 09:54.040 You follow me? 09:54.040 --> 09:56.680 They'll run the others and rob them blind. 09:56.680 --> 09:59.960 Gold sovereigns, Captain, you didn't forget, did you? 09:59.960 --> 10:04.760 If anybody have jacks, cut him up into small pieces, just like this one. 10:04.760 --> 10:06.400 We've got to go down there and put a stop to it. 10:06.400 --> 10:08.880 Yes, I don't think. 10:08.880 --> 10:10.360 How many guns you got aboard? 10:10.360 --> 10:13.680 Well, two pistols and four muskets. 10:13.680 --> 10:16.520 That's a fat lot of wood. 10:16.520 --> 10:19.560 Oh, well, must take the sweet with the sour, like they say. 10:19.560 --> 10:22.280 We can try, no harm in that. 10:22.280 --> 10:27.720 My words, Captain, before we get to Sydney, all of us will probably have our throats cut. 10:27.720 --> 10:28.720 Come on. 10:28.720 --> 10:35.080 Finch and I, with two seamen, armed ourselves and went down into the hole and stood outside 10:35.080 --> 10:36.080 the bars. 10:36.080 --> 10:40.040 The men inside were quiet, very quiet. 10:40.040 --> 10:45.840 They just looked at us, dark like. 10:45.840 --> 10:46.840 You man! 10:46.840 --> 10:48.480 I'll talk to him. 10:48.480 --> 10:51.320 Now listen to me. 10:51.320 --> 10:54.720 We know some of you are carrying knives. 10:54.720 --> 10:59.600 I want you to throw them out here. 10:59.600 --> 11:04.200 Nothing further will be said about it if you do as I say. 11:04.200 --> 11:09.920 Well, Captain, my porridge wasn't hot enough this morning. 11:09.920 --> 11:13.120 And please, sir, can I have sugar in it tomorrow? 11:13.120 --> 11:18.920 That's the way to talk to the scum. 11:18.920 --> 11:20.400 The Captain's a gentleman. 11:20.400 --> 11:21.400 I'm not. 11:21.400 --> 11:22.400 You know me, don't you? 11:22.400 --> 11:23.400 We know you all right. 11:23.400 --> 11:24.400 All right. 11:24.400 --> 11:29.400 You, you Abbey, you listen to me. 11:29.400 --> 11:32.480 I'm giving you till tomorrow morning to throw them knives out here. 11:32.480 --> 11:33.480 Till morning. 11:33.480 --> 11:38.200 If every blasted one ain't out of your dirty hands, I'm going to have you flogged. 11:38.200 --> 11:39.800 Every ruddy one of you. 11:39.800 --> 11:40.800 Fifty lashes. 11:40.800 --> 11:42.960 Do you hear me, Mr. Abbey? 11:42.960 --> 11:43.960 I'll think about it. 11:43.960 --> 11:49.200 Till morning and then fifty lashes. 11:49.200 --> 12:09.560 You think about that, Mr. Abbey. 12:09.560 --> 12:12.760 Good morning, Captain dear and Mr. Finch. 12:12.760 --> 12:15.880 You filthy scum, where's them knives? 12:15.880 --> 12:17.800 Where they're due, they're most good. 12:17.800 --> 12:18.800 All right. 12:18.800 --> 12:19.800 I'm giving you a chance. 12:19.800 --> 12:20.800 I've played fair now. 12:20.800 --> 12:24.000 Mr. Finch, sir, may I have a word with you? 12:24.000 --> 12:27.200 Come to your senses, haven't you? 12:27.200 --> 12:31.920 Bend closer to the bars, cause what I gotta say, I gotta whisper. 12:31.920 --> 12:32.920 Well, what is it? 12:32.920 --> 12:33.920 What is it? 12:33.920 --> 12:34.920 It goes like this. 12:34.920 --> 12:39.920 Is that a hundred lashes, Wilkes? 12:39.920 --> 12:45.520 I'll take you first and handle the cat myself. 12:45.520 --> 12:46.520 Oh no, sir. 12:46.520 --> 12:48.720 Why not take him first? 12:48.720 --> 12:54.560 He won't feel it like I will. 12:54.560 --> 12:59.600 The crowd of men parted suddenly and from out of them was pushed what had once been a 12:59.600 --> 13:01.600 man. 13:01.600 --> 13:06.800 It fell against the bars and then no longer with the support of living arms slid to the 13:06.800 --> 13:08.920 deck. 13:08.920 --> 13:12.080 We looked at him, Finch and me. 13:12.080 --> 13:16.360 His life had been worth a sovereign, maybe two. 13:16.360 --> 13:18.600 He hadn't either now. 13:18.600 --> 13:33.600 And the knives are still in the hold with them that had killed him. 13:33.600 --> 13:40.000 You are listening to A Sleeping Draft, tonight's presentation on radio's outstanding theater 13:40.000 --> 13:51.600 of thrills, Suspense. 13:51.600 --> 13:56.120 With omniscience as rare a faculty as it is, most listeners like to be sure that their 13:56.120 --> 13:59.440 sources of information are reliably accurate. 13:59.440 --> 14:03.920 And that in a nutshell explains why so many listeners make it a point to learn what is 14:03.920 --> 14:08.640 happening in the world from members of the CBS News staff. 14:08.640 --> 14:13.880 Keep tuned to CBS Radio throughout the day and evening and you'll keep in the know on 14:13.880 --> 14:17.080 local domestic and international affairs. 14:17.080 --> 14:24.680 And now we bring back to our Hollywood sound stage, Mr. Ben Wright and Mr. Abraham Sulfair 14:24.680 --> 14:30.480 starring in tonight's production of Sleeping Draft, a tale well calculated to keep you 14:30.480 --> 14:35.480 in suspense. 14:35.480 --> 14:50.320 Oh, that's easy. 14:50.320 --> 14:53.440 We got to have a council war in a manner of speaking, Captain. 14:53.440 --> 14:54.720 I'll tell you one thing, Mr. Finch. 14:54.720 --> 14:56.360 There'll be no more plugging. 14:56.360 --> 15:00.080 Oh, I can see you are a sharper you. 15:00.080 --> 15:02.640 Now, that's right. 15:02.640 --> 15:03.640 That's right. 15:03.640 --> 15:04.640 It's too dangerous. 15:04.640 --> 15:05.960 They're in a nasty mood. 15:05.960 --> 15:08.520 We got to be artful, same as they. 15:08.520 --> 15:10.600 I wish we could spill the old lot of them overboard. 15:10.600 --> 15:12.760 What, and lose your contract for carry them? 15:12.760 --> 15:13.760 Not bloody likely. 15:13.760 --> 15:17.520 Listen here, I'll get them knives. 15:17.520 --> 15:19.400 Oh, it's Abby. 15:19.400 --> 15:20.640 Abby is behind this. 15:20.640 --> 15:22.200 He tells them what's what. 15:22.200 --> 15:23.800 You get him out, the others will come around. 15:23.800 --> 15:25.280 You mark my words. 15:25.280 --> 15:28.120 Are you going into the hole to get him? 15:28.120 --> 15:29.920 Well, not yet, not yet. 15:29.920 --> 15:31.120 Wouldn't be safe now. 15:31.120 --> 15:33.800 Not for nobody to go in there. 15:33.800 --> 15:40.960 But in four or five days, Captain, after we cut off their water and food, seal the edge, 15:40.960 --> 15:41.960 you see what happens. 15:41.960 --> 15:42.960 They die. 15:42.960 --> 15:45.600 Well, they'll die from the knives, then. 15:45.600 --> 15:46.600 Which do you want? 15:46.600 --> 15:49.320 They'll be begging you to take the ruddy knives in three days. 15:49.320 --> 15:51.560 And if they don't? 15:51.560 --> 15:55.680 We tell them to hand over Abby to us, but he's the one to blame for their misfortune. 15:55.680 --> 15:56.680 That'll do it. 15:56.680 --> 15:57.680 All right. 15:57.680 --> 16:01.720 If that's the only way, I'll get the order. 16:01.720 --> 16:05.320 But not just yet, Captain, not just yet. 16:05.320 --> 16:08.360 We'll let them sit down there and wonder, huh? 16:08.360 --> 16:10.920 Wonder what we're going to do about it. 16:10.920 --> 16:13.320 Some of them may get nervous. 16:13.320 --> 16:20.640 We'll let them wonder a bit. 16:20.640 --> 16:22.600 I didn't see Finch the rest of the day. 16:22.600 --> 16:26.520 The barometer had fallen suddenly, and with it came a storm. 16:26.520 --> 16:28.920 I can tell you I had me hands full for the next 24 hours. 16:28.920 --> 16:32.960 There was no time to worry about what was going on in the hold of the ship. 16:32.960 --> 16:38.040 But I didn't think they'd have much stomach for knifing each other and killing. 16:38.040 --> 16:41.360 Next morning at breakfast, Finch didn't turn up. 16:41.360 --> 16:44.280 He didn't turn up at all. 16:44.280 --> 16:47.040 We searched the whole ship. 16:47.040 --> 16:53.160 And then I went down into the hold, and that's where he was. 16:53.160 --> 16:56.680 And he hadn't died quickly. 16:56.680 --> 17:00.960 One had held in against the bars, and the others had... 17:00.960 --> 17:03.960 He hadn't died quickly. 17:03.960 --> 17:05.960 Present for you, Captain. 17:05.960 --> 17:07.960 Who did this? 17:07.960 --> 17:09.960 Who did it? 17:09.960 --> 17:12.240 I wouldn't waste sleep mourning him, Captain. 17:12.240 --> 17:15.240 He was a bully, no better than us, except that he was outside. 17:15.240 --> 17:17.480 Abbey, I thought you were shackled. 17:17.480 --> 17:21.680 I was, but Mr. Finch kindly supplied the key to unfasten me. 17:21.680 --> 17:24.080 Oh, you're going to pay for this? 17:24.080 --> 17:26.400 All of you! 17:26.400 --> 17:28.400 Where are those knives? 17:28.400 --> 17:29.400 In here, Captain. 17:29.400 --> 17:31.400 Want to come in and get them? 17:31.400 --> 17:35.040 You'll pay for this? 17:35.040 --> 17:37.080 You're repeating yourself, Captain. 17:37.080 --> 17:41.920 Good morning. 17:41.920 --> 17:46.320 The blasted convict had dismissed me like I was a clerk in an office. 17:46.320 --> 17:49.520 And there wasn't anything I could do about it. 17:49.520 --> 17:54.040 But Finch, out of the way, they knew I was an easy mark. 17:54.040 --> 17:56.480 It was the knights that got on my nerves. 17:56.480 --> 18:00.720 I could hear things happening, lots of things. 18:00.720 --> 18:02.800 And it was awful. 18:02.800 --> 18:04.120 Those devils with the knives. 18:04.120 --> 18:09.440 And then each morning we'd have to pull out six or a dozen, all cut about and bleeding. 18:09.440 --> 18:13.120 Most of them died. 18:13.120 --> 18:16.120 And those with the knives were getting money. 18:16.120 --> 18:17.720 Money they stole from the victims. 18:17.720 --> 18:23.840 I began to be afraid of my crewmen, that one would take a bribe, let that murdering crowd 18:23.840 --> 18:24.840 out of hand. 18:24.840 --> 18:28.600 I walked around with two pistols in my jacket all the time. 18:28.600 --> 18:31.640 And then late one afternoon something very bad happened. 18:31.640 --> 18:33.120 I was standing by the wheel. 18:33.120 --> 18:34.120 Captain! 18:34.120 --> 18:35.120 Captain! 18:35.120 --> 18:36.120 Here, buster! 18:36.120 --> 18:37.120 He got out, sir! 18:37.120 --> 18:38.120 Got out who? 18:38.120 --> 18:39.120 The big one, Abbey. 18:39.120 --> 18:40.120 Two of us were standing guard. 18:40.120 --> 18:41.120 We heard a scream. 18:41.120 --> 18:42.120 It was Abbey. 18:42.120 --> 18:43.120 Said he'd been stabbed. 18:43.120 --> 18:45.320 He bent and opened the grill to get him. 18:45.320 --> 18:47.200 And Abbey bashed him on the head and bolted. 18:47.200 --> 18:48.200 What about the others? 18:48.200 --> 18:49.200 I got my grill closed in time. 18:49.200 --> 18:50.200 They were safe enough. 18:50.200 --> 18:52.200 He must be somewhere on the ship, sir. 18:52.200 --> 18:53.200 Unless he went overboard. 18:53.200 --> 18:54.200 Not that one. 18:54.200 --> 18:55.200 He's up to mischief. 18:55.200 --> 18:56.200 Take one of my pistols, mister. 18:56.200 --> 18:57.200 Aye, sir. 18:57.200 --> 18:58.200 Pass out the muskets. 18:58.200 --> 18:59.200 I want every inch of this ship searched. 18:59.200 --> 19:00.200 If he puts up a fight, shoot him. 19:00.200 --> 19:01.200 Do you hear me? 19:01.200 --> 19:02.200 Shoot him! 19:02.200 --> 19:03.200 The night comes quickly in southern parts. 19:03.200 --> 19:21.280 Did you ever try to search a ship at night with lanterns and 19:21.280 --> 19:24.000 ship at night with lanterns? 19:24.000 --> 19:25.560 It's not easy. 19:25.560 --> 19:27.440 Too many shadows. 19:27.440 --> 19:29.280 Too many sounds. 19:29.280 --> 19:33.960 Which could be rats or a murderer who's bigger than what you are and could choke your life 19:33.960 --> 19:36.440 out in half a minute. 19:36.440 --> 19:38.680 We couldn't find him. 19:38.680 --> 19:42.740 But he was somewhere aboard, waiting his time. 19:42.740 --> 19:46.880 And because we were shorthanded, what with the crew searching, I stood a watch and I 19:46.880 --> 19:47.880 thought about Abbey. 19:47.880 --> 20:00.760 The man who Finch said had committed three murders in Australia. 20:00.760 --> 20:03.880 Don't turn around, Captain. 20:03.880 --> 20:07.280 It's only a little knife, but don't move. 20:07.280 --> 20:10.480 What do you want? 20:10.480 --> 20:12.400 A talk. 20:12.400 --> 20:15.280 I've nothing to say to the likes of you. 20:15.280 --> 20:18.640 It may be, but I have an offer to make you. 20:18.640 --> 20:21.680 You know what I'm in for when we reach Sydney. 20:21.680 --> 20:22.680 Finch told me. 20:22.680 --> 20:24.320 I've no pity for you. 20:24.320 --> 20:26.280 I'm not asking for pity. 20:26.280 --> 20:28.640 I have an offer to make. 20:28.640 --> 20:30.600 The men below are planning to take the ship. 20:30.600 --> 20:34.040 I don't think they've got a chance, but they'll be killing. 20:34.040 --> 20:36.360 Those that have got the knives have got the money too. 20:36.360 --> 20:38.240 It's 1,200 pounds. 20:38.240 --> 20:41.120 I'm aware of that, mister. 20:41.120 --> 20:44.360 I can get the knives for you. 20:44.360 --> 20:46.800 All I want is a chance to get away before the ship docks. 20:46.800 --> 20:51.200 I know it isn't a trick. 20:51.200 --> 20:54.200 Turn around, Captain. 20:54.200 --> 20:57.160 Here, my knife. 20:57.160 --> 20:59.240 Will that convince you? 20:59.240 --> 21:00.400 You must have a pistol. 21:00.400 --> 21:03.040 You can shoot me if you want. 21:03.040 --> 21:06.280 What makes you think you can get the knives away from me? 21:06.280 --> 21:07.280 I can. 21:07.280 --> 21:09.280 That's all you need to know. 21:09.280 --> 21:12.880 I couldn't help you openly, you know that. 21:12.880 --> 21:14.560 You'll put aboard as a murderer. 21:14.560 --> 21:18.600 You're in my charge and it's my job to turn you over to the police as soon as we arrive. 21:18.600 --> 21:19.600 Then? 21:19.600 --> 21:25.520 If... if you could get the knives, though, I might be able to give you a chance to clear 21:25.520 --> 21:26.520 out... 21:26.520 --> 21:27.520 That's all I want. 21:27.520 --> 21:28.520 A chance. 21:28.520 --> 21:29.520 All right. 21:29.520 --> 21:31.560 I must have a pistol. 21:31.560 --> 21:32.560 What? 21:32.560 --> 21:33.560 A pistol. 21:33.560 --> 21:36.080 You take me for a fool? 21:36.080 --> 21:37.960 No, it's the only way to get the knives. 21:37.960 --> 21:42.440 Yes, I'll give you this pistol and you shoot me down, not likely. 21:42.440 --> 21:46.720 If I'd wanted to do that, Captain, I'd have cut your throat two minutes ago. 21:46.720 --> 21:47.720 Yes. 21:47.720 --> 21:51.240 But you're a murderer. 21:51.240 --> 21:52.240 I know. 21:52.240 --> 21:53.400 No, you can't have it. 21:53.400 --> 21:56.520 It's either them or your ship and probably your life. 21:56.520 --> 21:57.520 Well... 21:57.520 --> 22:02.480 You talk like a gentleman, but suppose you want my pistol so that you can free them. 22:02.480 --> 22:08.280 You just have to trust me as I trust you to give me a chance to get away. 22:08.280 --> 22:09.280 Take it. 22:09.280 --> 22:10.280 Yeah. 22:10.280 --> 22:11.280 What about the guards below? 22:11.280 --> 22:12.280 They'll shoot. 22:12.280 --> 22:13.280 They'll say I caught you. 22:13.280 --> 22:15.600 How do I get out again when I've got the knives? 22:15.600 --> 22:17.280 Send word that you want to see me. 22:17.280 --> 22:18.280 All right. 22:18.280 --> 22:22.280 Captain, I'm trusting you now. 22:22.280 --> 22:26.000 I want that chance to get away. 22:26.000 --> 22:28.320 We'll talk about that if you get the knives. 22:28.320 --> 22:38.200 I'll take you below now and come back tomorrow. 22:38.200 --> 22:40.280 Keep your voice low. 22:40.280 --> 22:43.080 They think I'm tricking you into making a bargain. 22:43.080 --> 22:44.400 They think I stole the pistol. 22:44.400 --> 22:48.360 I told them I had to have the knives to make you believe that we wouldn't make trouble. 22:48.360 --> 22:50.960 I said we'd take over the ship tonight. 22:50.960 --> 22:52.640 What do you want me to do? 22:52.640 --> 22:54.360 Leave me the key to the grill. 22:54.360 --> 22:56.280 I can slip out tonight and bring you the knives. 22:56.280 --> 22:58.360 They'll want you to let them out too. 22:58.360 --> 22:59.360 I won't. 22:59.360 --> 23:00.360 I'll lock it. 23:00.360 --> 23:01.960 How do I know you will? 23:01.960 --> 23:02.960 You don't. 23:02.960 --> 23:05.280 You'll have to trust me, won't you? 23:05.280 --> 23:06.280 Yes. 23:06.280 --> 23:08.000 Do they know about this plan? 23:08.000 --> 23:10.800 Sure, except for the fact that I'm going to lock them in once I'm out. 23:10.800 --> 23:12.600 Now, give me the knives now. 23:12.600 --> 23:14.280 No, they'd know something was wrong. 23:14.280 --> 23:16.520 I'd never get out alive. 23:16.520 --> 23:17.520 Give me the key. 23:17.520 --> 23:18.520 All right. 23:18.520 --> 23:19.520 Here. 23:19.520 --> 23:20.520 Tonight. 23:20.520 --> 23:32.440 I waited, and I can tell you I didn't like it. 23:32.440 --> 23:36.800 The wind came up a bit and I knew that before sunrise we'd be in Sydney. 23:36.800 --> 23:44.880 That is, if I could trust a murderer. 23:44.880 --> 23:51.440 At 10 o'clock that night, there was a tap on my cabin door. 23:51.440 --> 23:54.880 One of your crew nearly caught me coming down here. 23:54.880 --> 23:57.560 I've kept my side of the bargain. 23:57.560 --> 23:59.800 Oh, you needn't worry. 23:59.800 --> 24:01.400 The knives are all there. 24:01.400 --> 24:03.400 Here's your pistol. 24:03.400 --> 24:04.960 No. 24:04.960 --> 24:05.960 You may need it. 24:05.960 --> 24:06.960 Oh, thanks. 24:06.960 --> 24:09.600 Now, how do I get away? 24:09.600 --> 24:13.800 We'll be in port in about six hours if the wind holds. 24:13.800 --> 24:16.240 You stay aft in the longboat. 24:16.240 --> 24:19.840 When you hear the anchor go, drop over the side and swim for it. 24:19.840 --> 24:20.840 Very well. 24:20.840 --> 24:23.400 I'll try to anchor as close to land as possible before I take her in. 24:23.400 --> 24:26.440 If I can land without being seen, I've got some friends who'll hide me. 24:26.440 --> 24:28.280 Yes, well, I don't want to know about it. 24:28.280 --> 24:32.720 Just remember, when the anchors let go, that's your signal. 24:32.720 --> 24:33.720 Thank you, Captain. 24:33.720 --> 24:36.320 I trust you. 24:36.320 --> 24:40.400 I'd like to shake hands with you. 24:40.400 --> 24:46.320 I took the hand of the murderer, and we shook hands like old friends. 24:46.320 --> 24:52.680 And then he was gone. 24:52.680 --> 24:57.560 Two hours later, the wind went down and in its place came fog, thick, mucky fog. 24:57.560 --> 25:01.760 I had me hands full what with danger from other ships and the blasted current that knocks 25:01.760 --> 25:03.800 you about off the harbor entrance. 25:03.800 --> 25:05.680 By three o'clock, the fog had shut in properly. 25:05.680 --> 25:08.400 My blessed tide ran us all over the place. 25:08.400 --> 25:10.760 It's proper dangerous, I can tell you. 25:10.760 --> 25:12.360 We were about 15 miles offshore. 25:12.360 --> 25:14.320 I didn't like the look of things. 25:14.320 --> 25:17.520 There's shoals there about, and I sent the mate forward to heave the lead. 25:17.520 --> 25:23.520 I got a proper start when I heard him sing out, by the deep, far. 25:23.520 --> 25:28.080 We got off course right enough, and at this rate, we'd shear the bottom clean off of her. 25:28.080 --> 25:32.000 I saw it was high time to bring the ship up and wait until we could see something. 25:32.000 --> 25:34.000 Let go, the anchor! 25:34.000 --> 25:36.000 Let go, the anchor! 25:36.000 --> 25:43.000 In for 35 fathoms to the water's edge, Burson. 25:43.000 --> 25:45.000 Aye, sir! 25:45.000 --> 25:47.000 Not too soon, sir. 25:47.000 --> 25:48.000 She was showing fast. 25:48.000 --> 25:51.000 Her blasted current must be making five knots out to sea. 25:51.000 --> 25:52.000 Listen to her. 25:52.000 --> 25:53.000 She's holding, sir! 25:53.000 --> 25:54.000 The anchor! 25:54.000 --> 25:55.000 The anchor! 25:55.000 --> 25:59.000 Abby! 25:59.000 --> 26:04.040 I ran to the longboat. 26:04.040 --> 26:05.040 It was empty. 26:05.040 --> 26:08.640 He'd heard the signal as the anchor paid out. 26:08.640 --> 26:13.200 Couldn't see in the fog and had gone overboard into a five knot tide running straight out 26:13.200 --> 26:17.760 to sea, 15 miles from shore. 26:17.760 --> 26:21.400 He trusted me. 26:21.400 --> 26:40.800 That's why I tell you, you shouldn't trust anybody. 26:40.800 --> 26:44.560 Sometimes it's hard sleeping at night. 26:44.560 --> 26:49.720 When you hear the water outside, you think. 26:49.720 --> 27:06.640 Sometimes it's hard to sleep. 27:06.640 --> 27:24.160 Suspense, in which Mr. Ben Wright starred with Mr. Abraham Sofair in tonight's presentation 27:24.160 --> 27:26.720 of A Sleeping Draft. 27:26.720 --> 27:30.800 Be sure to listen again next week when we bring you another presentation of Radio's 27:30.800 --> 27:47.400 outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 27:47.400 --> 27:49.760 Suspense is transcribed in Hollywood by Anthony Ellis. 27:49.760 --> 27:54.360 Tonight's story was written by Weston Martyr and adapted for radio by Mr. Ellis. 27:54.360 --> 27:58.600 The music was composed by Rene Garagank and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. 27:58.600 --> 28:03.840 Created in the cast were Abraham Sofair, Eric Snowden, Hans Conrad, Charlie Lung, Stan Jones, 28:03.840 --> 28:04.840 and Raymond Lawrence. 28:04.840 --> 28:06.280 Got money to burn? 28:06.280 --> 28:08.240 Well, neither has Uncle Sam. 28:08.240 --> 28:11.760 The nation cannot afford to let precious timber go up in smoke. 28:11.760 --> 28:15.440 As an American, you cannot afford to let a carelessly tossed cigarette start a forest 28:15.440 --> 28:20.320 fire that may cost millions of dollars and may even cost human life. 28:20.320 --> 28:24.560 Help keep our forest lands green and growing. 28:24.560 --> 28:29.120 Stay tuned now for five minutes of CBS News to be followed on most of these same stations 28:29.120 --> 28:57.280 by my son, Jeep.