Spirit of the age., 1853-06-29

One bell struck, and the sentiaels passed
the usual all's well.' Then Tom heard the
corporal, as he started to golis rounds, and
ere long he descended the main-hateh ladder
to visit the posts below. No sooner had the
marine officer passed beyond the galley than
our hero sprang up the ladder and gained
the spar-deck. The officer Of the deck was
aft upon the starboard side, the. sentries were
walking their posts with regular tread, while
the old quarter-master stood upon the poop
with his night glass under his arms. The
sentries perforped their walk upon gang
boards raised even with the hammoek-nes-
tings and running forward from the ladders.
The larboard gangway was shaded from the
light of the moon by awnings, and walking
deliberately up the ladder. Tom looked over
the ships side.
Sentry, said he in mumbling sort of a
tone, what boat is that at the boom?
The second cutter, returned the marine
showing by his manner that he was not sus-
picious Of the spurious corporal.
Tom Immediately walked aft to where
stood the officer of the deck, and being quite
assured by the mistake of the sentry, he
pulled his cap down over his eyes, and touch
ing his visor espectfuily, remarked:
/ should like to overhaul that second cut
ter, sir, for think there is rum aboard of her.
Tom knew he was playing desperate
game but liberty was to be the result ofsuc
cess, and he f1inched not.
Ha the villains uttered the lieutenant
Up to their old tricks again. Go, corpo
raj, get Gown into the boat, and if YOU dc
find rum in her, they'll! catch it.
Tom started quickly forward, but just as
he got abreast Of the forehatchway, he saw
the Simon pure corporal's head raising above
the combingS. The marine ascended no high
er, for with. one blow of his fist, Tom SEN
him back from whence he came, and then
sprang quickly out through the port upor
the swing boom, and having reached the
place where the second cutters painter was
made fast, he hauled the boat up and eaped
into her. The food tide was setting up the
river very strongly, and quick as though
Tom cast off the painter, rapidly dropping
astern.
Help help y shouted our hero at the tor
VI LAio HOINO LL1C OOdGS SOG lOOo0.
Get out couple of oars, your Iubber,
cried the officer Of the deck, as he jumped
upon the poop on hearing the cry, where be
arrived just as the cutter was sweeping pas
the cutter. You can hold her against tn,
tide
Tom did get out couple Of oars, but th
moment he got them balanced in the row
locks he commenced pulling for dear life
and, to the utter astonishment Of the lieu
tenant the boat began TO shoot rapidly u
the river. All the sentries on deck wer
Immediately called upon the poop, and the
muSkets were fired aetle desarter, hntehouo
two Of the balls whistled near the boat, VI
none of them did any harm and the nez
moment Tom heard the third cutter calIe
away, but he new the men were all soun
, asleepin their hammocks, and so he fe
i secure.
1t was ten minutes before the thir
cutter cast off from the ship, and long Ell
L they reached Tom he had gained the shor
and was running at a remarkable speed t
: wards the city, where he arrived in safet,
and before two o'clock he was on board b
own brig.
'' The next morning the Sarah dropped dow
with the ebb tide, and as she passed IL
) frgate, Tom saw the second cutter swim
:" ing in her usual place, and as he gazed /
: on the proud flag that foated at the Enclis
= mans peak, he muttered to himself:
. If | live, III some day take the pric
u from these tyrants.'
u How literally was that saving fulfilled
Tom Macdouough had been Decatur's fave
: :, ite midshipman at the siege of Tripoli, al
: wherever Decatur led he dared to follow
~ Subsequent to that brilliant chapter in t
page of our history, occurred the event viii
F. is embodied in our sketch; but five years aft
= :, wards, on the 1lth Of September, Is
= Thomas Macdonough met one Of England
v proud fleets on Lake Champlain. At t
~ ~ first broadside, the British Commodore, Do
% ME fell, and at the eEd of the fight viii
lasted two hours and twenty minutes, withc
- intermlssion, Commodore Thomas Mace
~ ~ nough was the conqueioro fChamplain.
- had gained proud victory-he had indie
:" huubled the pride of the tyrant and that da
~ achievement forms one ofthe brightest pa
~ IN the history Of America.
W no Commodore Thomas Macdonoagh-
~ ~ hero of Tripoli-the conqueror of Champla
-n He was noble and true hearted man.
u a terror to the enemies of his country. Pc
to his ashes, ard everlasting honor to
nd memory.
put ~.~--
mi A FAIR BET FAIRLY Wov.-Said Bill
of Richard the other day Did you ever i
ed, how tough hided l am 2 never did,
he piled Dick, tougher than common folks
led reckon It's few-wliy, I'll bet yo
- drink, Dick, that you may take cowE
as and lay it upon my bare back skin as hard
- as long as you like, and | won'teven fin
ard Done-l'Il take that bet. If Idon't IN
ten you squirm like half skinned eel the
me cut, I'm sadly mistaken. You take the
,ich then L do We'll, wait till go up 81
be- and bring down my bear skin, and -
i'm no . your bear No, no-I mcan-'
pom don't care What you meant-it's fair
ur's fairly won. NV bear skin is my bear skin
lent nothing else I'll give in, said Ricl
utes looking foolish and flabergasted.
n to
1t was not Snook's wife who 'lovet
I