The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-01-24

ing softer tint TO the dark foliage Of the
lunges along its shores, s,-touching here and
there the dim tower of some heather temple
with finger of gold and, above, painting
the sky with coloring richer than that of the
golden heaven of Mahomet. The British
fleet, as il lay with its dark batteries frowning
upon the walls of Mayapore, and still reeking
with the smoke ofits artillery, was motionless
rs the glasswsurface upon which it rested,
leach mast and spar casting its distinc, and
tapering shadow far away to the eastward.
solve !" said Admiral Watson, as he with
drew the glass from his eyes, through which
he had been surveying the fortress and bat
tered walls of Mayapore, "these black scoun
drels are still busy and numerous. Our ar
tillery has shaken their walls somewhat, but
50 long as they receive no considerable cor
poreal injury, they will hold ou. against us.
And see, they are swarmng like bees upon
yonder cminence."
"And we are likely TO feel their stings,"
said Colonel Olive, as shower Of musket
balls swept past them, and four Of the ships
company fell at their feet.--'What shall be
done, Admral?'
Before reply could be made, sailor by
the name OF Strahan, staggered forward and
confronted the two officers.
why, Colonel, III tell you what'sto be
done. Take dozen on us, and board 'em.
D----n my eyes if ! couldn't do it myself
In ordinary cases such an address from a
common sailor would have been replied to by
round dozen of lashes from boa,swain's
mate; bur the oddity Of the proposal, the
queer look and tone Of the drunken seaman,
forced smile upon the weather beaten sever
ity of the AdmiraPs countenance, as he or
dered the fellow back to bis post.
Whether the Admiral took his hint from
the sailors advice, or otherwise, we know
not, but he actually ordered preparations to
be made for storming the eDemy's works.
Col. Olive, at the bead of some hundred sol.
diers, landed below the town, under cover OF
the darkness, with orders to remain quiet un.
Ill day break, and then make vigorous at-
tack upon the fortress.
About ten o'clock that evening, a solitary
figure, in the garb off British tar, the cir.
cumgyratons ofwhose motion, gave evidence
that arrack punch had by no means improved
the awkwardness of his sea legs-was seen
working his way towards ;he enemy's forti.
fcations, veering now to the right and then
to the left, like boat rowing against shifting
winds and eddies. II was none other than
Strahan himself, evidently too much elated by
the influence of grog to reason coolly upon
any thing Insensible to fear, but with no
very definite purpose in his mind, he stagger.
ed onward until he found himself directly i'm.
der the walls of Bougee Fort; strong forti-
fcetion, defending the town Of Mayopore.
Strahan, after vainly endeavoring to press
onward, and thereby bringing his head sew
eral times in rough contact with the wall
looked upward and began to realize his stu.
ntion. The wall at this point had been great
ly exposed to the cannon Of the British fleet,
and huge breach had been laid open, just
before the spot where Strahan was standing,
partially revealed by the lamps and torches
which flashed wild light from the interior OF
the fortress. The drunken sailor looked at
il with as much GOODNESS as his inebriation
would admit Of Burns says somewhere in
his O'Shanter,
"Wi' twopenny we fear nae evil,
WI usquebaugh wo face tho devil"
and the conduct of Strahan certainly verified
this assertion. Bcstowing hearty curse up
on his Admira! for lard lubber, and COW.
ard, he clambered up the breach and mounted
upon the bastion. Several dark yisaged in.
fdels, rendered still more hideous by the grim
Of gunpowder, who were sitting quietly upon
the platform, sprang upon their feet at the
startling apparition of Strahan. Discharging
his pistol at the nearest of his enemies, who
rolled back with fatal wound upon the plat
form, the sailor fourished his cutlnss, and
shouted iu tone which thrilled through every
nook Of Mayupore, and reached even the
camp Of his comrades.
"Hurra The place is mine %
The startled garrison returned the shout,
aud sprung coniusedly to arms. Strahan
gave three cheers and put himself on the do.
i fensive. At that instant half dozen OF
Strahan's shipmates, who had also strayed
away from The camp, hearing the outcry, and
recognizing the voice Of one of their fellows,
sprang up the breach, and repeated the cheer
ing hurra. The whole British camp was by
this time in motion,- 1.-The orders of Col. Olive
were disregardod-all discipline was forgot.
ten, and officers and men rushed promiscuous-
iy to the attack. They scaled the breach,
and tho bayonet and cutlass did bloody work
among the infidels of the garrison. In ten
minutes all was over; and British salute
from the guns OF the Bougee fort, told the
astonished Admiral that Mayapore was bis
own.
The next morning, Strahan, the hero Of the
affair, was brought before Admiral Watson.
The Admiral was stern, dark visaged man,
u severe disciplinarian, and, however graft
fed he might have been at the capture ofthe
fort, he was sadly shocked at the total want
Of discipline manifested in the desperate un.
dertaking.
"Strahun," said he somcw hat sternly, "what
have you been doing ?"
The sailor bowed stifily scratched his head
with one hand, and twirled his tarpauling
with the other. "Why, dye sce," said be
with the utmost simplicity of look and tone,
ITO be sure twas that took the fort--but
hope there was no harm int" A roar of
laughter burst from the subaltern officers, and