The daily crescent., 1851-11-12

Dible, although during the first months Of separa-
tion had written to her many times the res son of
which was partially explained by few lines in one
Of James letters, announcing Ellen Dible's mar
riage-it seemed under some kind Of moral COM
pulsion--to person Of her own grade and their
removal from Itchen. This happened about six
months after my last interview with her. | made
no further inquiries, and Jane, thinking the sub
ject might be painful one, 1t happened that, by
kind of tacit understanding, it was never after
wards alluded to between US.
The utter WEAKNESS of an idle, shore life, soon
became insupportabe, and determined to solicit
the good Offices Of Sir Joseph Yorke with the Ad-
miralty. The gallant Admiral had now taken up
his permanent residence near HANDLE, a village on
the river of that name which issues into the South
ampton water not very far from opposite Calshot
Castle. Sir Joseph was drowned there about eight
or nine years after left the station A more per-
feet gentleman, let me pause moment to say, or
a better seaman, than Sir Joseph never, believe,
existed and of handsome, commanding presence
too" half way up hatchway" at least, to use
his own humorous self-deseripten, his legs scarce
y corresponding in vigorous outline to the rest Of
his person.
He received me with his usual frank urbanity,
and l left him provided with letter to the Sscre-
tary of the Admiralty, the ultimate and not long
delayed result Of which was my appointment to
the command Of the Rose revenue cutter, the du.
ties attached to which consisted in carefully watch
ing, in the interests of his Majestys customs the
shores Of the Southampton river, the Solent Sea,
the Wight, and other contiguous portions of the
seaboard Of Hants and Dorset.
The ways OF smugglers were of course new to
me but we had several experienced hands on
board, and as | zealously applied myself to the
study Of the art Of contraband, was not long in
acquiring competent knowledge of the traditional
contrivances employed to defraud the revenue
Little of interest occurred during the first three or
four weeks Of my novel command, except that by
the sharpened vigilance Of our lookout, certain
circumstances came to light strongly indicating
that Barnaby Diaper, the owner of cutter-rigged
fishing vessel Of rather large burthen, living near
Handle Greek. was extensively engaged in the
then profitable practice OF running moonshine,
demurey and industriously as, when ashore, he ap-
peared to be, everiastingly mending his nets, or
cobbling the bottom of his smack's boat. He was
a hale, wiry fellow, this Barnaby-Old Barnaby,
as he was familarly called, surnames in those To-
calites being seldom used-with wooden stoldi-
ty Of countenance which utterly defed scrutiny, if
it did not silence suspicion. His son, who was
partner in the cutter, lived at Weston, beautifully
situated hamlet between Itchen and Netlay. A veii-
liant watch was consequently kept upon the move
ments of the Barnabys, father, son, and grandson
this last smart, precocous youngster understood
OF about l6 yoars of age, BY which family trio the
suspicious Blue-eycd Maid was with occasional as
sistance, manned, sailed and worked. Very rarely,
indeed, was the Blueeyed Maid observed to be
engaged in hei ostensible occupation. She would
suddenly disappear, and as suddenly return, and
always, we soon came to notice, on the nights when
the Rose happened to be absent from the South
ampton waters.
We had missed her for upwards of week, when
information reached US that large lugger we had
chased without success few nights previously,
would attempt to run cargo at spot not far from
Lymington, soon after midnight. l accordingly,
as soon as darkness had fallen ran down and stood
OFT and on, within signal distance of the shore men,
with whom | had communicated till dawn, in vain
expectation of the promised prize. 1 strongly sus
pected that he had been misled, but on rounding
Calshot Castle, all doubt was extinguished, for
there sure enough was the vessel riding lightly at
anchor. The cargo, whatever it might have been,
was already lindsd, otherwise disposed of-Old
Barnaby, whom knew by sight, and his two de-
scendants, whom had not before seen, busily en-
gagged swabbing the cutters deck, and getting
matters generally into order and ship shape. The
son good deal resembled the old man, except
that his features wore much more intelligent and
good-humored expression and the b oy was an ac-
live, bold-eyed, curly headed youngster, whose
countenance, but for provoking sauciness Of ex-
preston apparently habitual to him, would have
been quite handsome. l thought | had seen his
face somewhere BEFORE and he, noticed, suddenly
stopped from his work, on hearing my name, and
looked at me with smiling but earnest curiosity.
The morning work had, saw, been thoroughly
performed; and as was in no humor for profit.
less game of cross questions and crooked answers,
l. after exchanging one or two colloqual courtesies
In which had by no means the advantage, re.
turned to the Rose, more than ever satisfied thai
the interesting family had left required and would
probably repay the closest watchfulness and care
On the evening Of the same day, the Blueeysd
Ma'd again vanished; fortnight slipped by and
she had not reappeared; when the Rose, having
slightly grazed her bottom in going over the shift.
ing shingle at the northwest of the Wight wen,
into Portsmouth harbor to be examined. Some oil
her copper was found to be stripped off; there were
other trifling damages; and two or three days
would eiapse before she could be got ready for
vice. This interval spent with my sister. The
evening after | arrived at Itchen, Jane and Wis.
tied Southampton, and accompanied an ancient fe
male acquaintance residing in Bugle srset-a dull
grass-grown place in those days, whatever it may
be now-to the theatre in, l bseve, the same
street. The performa were not over till neal
twelve o'clock, and after escorting the ladies' home
wended my way towards the Sun Inn on the
quay, where l was to sleep-my sister remaining
for the night with our friend.
The weather, which had been dark and squally
an hour or two before, was now remarkably fine
and calm and the porter Of the inn telling me
they should not close the house for some time lon
ger strolled toward the Platform Battery, mount
ed by single piece Of brass ordnance overlooking
the river, and pointing menacingly toward the vii
age Of Hythe. The tide was at the full, and ,
falnt breeze slightly rippled the magnificent ex
panse Of water which glanced and sparkled in tn,
bright moon and starlight Of cloudess autumn
sky. MY attention was not long absorbed by tn,
beauty OF the scene, peerless as deemed il 70
unless my eyes strangely deceived me, the Blue
| eyed Maid had returned, and quietly anchored of
| Weston. She appeared to have but Just broue h
up; for the mainsail, three new patches in which
chiefly enabled me to recognize her, was still flap
| ping in the wind, and it appeared to ms--thougl
| from the distance, and the shadow of the dar
background Of woods in which she lay, it was diff
cult to speak with certainty-that she was deepl
laden. There was not . moment to be lost, AM
fortunately, just in the nick of time, boat witt
rendered them a guinea to put me on board tn
smack of Weston-an offer which they eagerl,
accepted and was soon speedily over the waite
to her. My uniform must have apprised the Bar
nabys OF the nature of the visit about to be pai
them for when we were within about quarter Q
mile OF their vessel, two figures, / easily recog
| nizsd to be old Barnaby and his grandson, jumpe
into boat that had been loading alongside, an
rowed desperately for the shore, but at point cor
sideraby further up the river, toward Itchel
There appeared to be no one left on board tn
Blue. eyed Maid and the shore con nfederates of tn
smugger did not show themselves, coniecturins
doubtless, as had calculated they would upon m
having plenty Of help within signal call. l ther,
fore determined to capture the boat first and retur
with her to the cutter. The watermen, excited b
utes we ran alongside the Barnabys' boat, jumpe
in, and found her loaded to the gunwales with braI
dy kegs.
The boy Barnaby, was glad to hear day
two afterwards, had not accompanied his faths
and grandfather in the last trim m ado hv the Rim