Louisville messenger., 1842-10-22

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cs, began to shout from the opposite
side, and suddenly lowering himself
into the town commenced cheering rs
loud as he could, inlcrmIngling ms
vocllcrations with tho cries lor Ii.
quor
Assailed, as they supposed, on both
sides, the enemy actually IN the for
tres:, surprised in the middle of the
night, expecting nothing less than to
be cut topieces in the dark, what could
they do y The bravest might well
hesitate unable to get their forces TO
gether, confused and astounded, they
naturally believed that they had been
betrayed. They had but one course
left to pursue. They opened the
gates, and fled as fast and as far as
their feet would carry them, leaving
the town IN the quiet and peaceable
possession of James Bunting, who, at
ter shouting vainly for some time, fell
down and slept for couple OF hours,
when he awoke perfectly sober, though
about as much puzzled at finding him.
self alone, and in the enemy'S fort, as
the poor man was in the Arabian
Nights, when he suddenly found HIM
self transformed into an eagle.
Jim rubbed his eyes. He pinched
his legs, and, walking up 'oa tank,
actually drank three mouthfuls of wa
ter before he was awake. He then
strutted up to the ramparts, and con-
vinced himself he was in his proper
senses for there lay the two frigates
and their foated the union jack, for
which he had so often risked his life.
"ShiVer my timbers! but this is queer
go" said he; and with that he twitch-
ed uphis trowsers, as usual, and shook
the pigtcil, which then hung from eve
ry sailors head.
The vessel, perceiving a man thus
expose himself began to FIRE at our he
ro.
"Avast there?" shouted jim; but,
as they did not hear him, or attend to
him, he ran to tire principle battery,
and, climbing up the flagstaff, pulled
down the Dutch colors, and hoisted
up an old ragged turban he found
lying in one of the streets. The COM
manders of the vessels thought this
extremely odd. Something strange
had evidently happened; so they sent
a boat on shore, bearing flag of
truce, carried by the first lieutenant of
one of the frigates. Unmolested, the
party marched up to the fort; and,
as the gates were open, unmolested
they marched into it. Not soul
did they meet, until Jim strutted up to
them.
"Hollca, you sir, what is the mean
ing of this ?" said the first lieutenant |
to Bunting, in a voice of anger, for it
was sadly iyra dig. for an officer of
his rank to have been thus sent off to
Darley with common sailor. "What
is the meaning of this?"
"Please your honor, hope you
won't be angry, leeftenant but some
how or other, I've taken this place.
The enemy have cut the painter, and
sheared off,"
Jim nodded.
"And who the devil gave you leave
to do so, should like much to know?
Get on board, sir, directly"
cay, ay, sir" replied Jim, respect
fully, instantly doing as he was desir-
ed.
In the meantime, the lieutenant
went, and formally took possession OF
the place, by running up the British
colors, then writing most pompous
despatch, in which he recommended
the real captor to be tried for leaving
his ship without permission, he sent it
back by young midShipman, renal
ming behind himself, with half-a-doz-
en- sailors, in order, as he expressed it,
to garrison the fort.
Strange to say, his recommendation
was attended to, and Jim Bunting
brought to court martial, who, most
reluctantly, were compelled to find
him guilty-adjudging him, however
to undergo the least possible punish
ment that could be inflicted for a gla-
ring breach of discipline. Jim felt
highly indignant at the turn things
had taken. He could not help fancy
ing himself an i'll used man, but ne
bore it stoically. When, however,
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