The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-08-12
tionslv drawn I'D.


sci. but the humnin@ voice. out ot which
nothIhs distinct could be gathered. was min
lied with the winds signing through the ric
ing. and the daShin. Of the waves AGAINST
the huge fabric.
With their patience nearly worn out. Ned
at length whispered: bill, if Won can keen
Your hold will 20 aboard and get full re-
port OF those villains business The latter
was about to ,cpl v when they heard hurried
motions on deck; a large boat was let down
and dozen men, all of whom by the faint
light OF lantern. they discovered! to bc arm
cd, pushed oil toward the shore that lies south
OF the fl>cataGua. Scarcely had they zone
when Ned. with :hc assistance of a rope that
DRAGGED INTO the water climbed to the deck.
The watch was grouped beside a Gun car
RAG, and Ned. As confidently as though he
had been one Of the crew. walked Lv. and
reaching the hatchway. descended TO thc
lower deck Here he found himself amonr
several hundred men. a part of whom were
III their hamnocks. but others. although it
was as dark as dungeon. appeared to be ar
ranging their clothes and preparing for soluc
desperate enterprise.
Almost lost IN confusion. he stood notion
less at the bottom Of the steps: but he had
been there hut moment when hcarinr some
one approaching. he stepped aside hastily.
an" not Knowing where he MIGHT be- held ont
his hands to "ropc his wav As chance would
have II. he went directly toward the head of
a >al'"r who was irving to catch an hours
sleep before his nights work should com
mcncc Ned. quickcning his pace as ,hc step
came nearer, suddenly plunged his fingers
INTO the locks of the sleeper, and with such
force that his head received no inconsid.ra-
ble wrench. The old tar leapcd to his fec.
in twinkling, and Ned dartcd off ike y
chicken chased by a hawk. leaving tie ancrv
sailor darn" the whole Ships company to try
TO take his scalp Off
lie soon learned that it was the intention
to make an attempt to effect an entrance TO
the harbor tnat night. and the boat lie had
seen leave the ship was conc 70 examine the
chains which had been thrown across thc
man channel. and if possible saw them
lhiS was all he could learn Il was cnouoh.
ana he lett there VS. UY4cnt necessity OF
s;'!n@ instant warning oI t,lc danger. Bat
when he reached Tie hatchwav he found the
passage entirely closed bv two old veterans
halt intoxicated. who had settled themselves
TO have Inict time at landing old England
ana cur'ing the Yankees. Ned stood hv en-
tIrc y invisible. but necessarily hearing every
word. 1t was nearly an hour that he stood,
waiting FOR them to rise, ai.L listening to their
outbreaks OF passion concerning the Amcrj-
cans
heir men are 10 lo.Icr than our women
and their guns are no better than tin horns"
>a'i one "ruilv. NO. Jack" said the other.
"and do You know that once On time. about
twenty OF our Gals on the coast of Cornwall
dressed like sailors. pu: oil in a cur-boat and
took Yankee >cycniv-tour with no other
arms than old swords :" Ned boiling with
rage could not hear such SANDER. an,! regard
less OF the consequences. roarcd out. "That'S
a lie, YOU old dog" Both sailors shook rs
though the magazine had exploded. plunged
toward nm. and awakened to a sense of his
situation by his own voice, Ned s,ranr ont
Of their reach. and as soon as the uproar had
IN some decree suh>ilcl, made his way on
'cck-Nut here an ticXpcct,d event occur
red. The boat which Lad left Just before he
cane on h6ard had Just returned, and the
rev when he stepped on deck, were in
hc act OF lifting prisoner Determined
II possible. 10 Know who lie nich, Lc. he
'!h"wcd his way with admirable coolncss
and succeeded IN taking the aim Of the prison
1r. W hllc notice Of their success was na>S-
td below. Ned found an opportunity to
Whisper a word OF encouragement in the
poor i' Lows ear. ana when the orders were
HIvcn that he should be conducted into the
cabin, Nod stole att and dropped into the
boat.
The prisoner found The cabin furnished in
Ill elegant and even sumptuous stvlc. Sofas
bookcases. and tables OF the costicst wood,
rested on carpet That tro;l like velvet. Mir
roTS, OF enormous dimensions, reflected the
occupants at fall length on every side. A
lamp hung above a rack that looked like a
lazzlinG myriad. 50 rich were the polished
sword blades and .icwc'cl hits, the silver
scabhard>, the vanished pistols, the steel sa-
hrcS. and the guns, touched with the highest
finish that skill cou!! 1--WE them. Flower va
'cs filed with beautiful cxot;cs were Eis.c,,-
ed to a stand, d!iiu>inc an agreeable odor
through the cabin. An old man with snow
white hair. am! thoughtful brow, sa; in an
antique char Of carved oak, fashioned after
such luxurious pattern that one might have
loungce! his lifi. out in it and never crown
weary. y girl, ;hc daughter OF the old man.
with such sweet countcnancc as can only
belong to pure mind. and with lips as temp
ting as her own rOsc-buds, was reading when
he entered. 1hc prisoner was brought before
The hard-.catured OLE! veteran, and the officers
arranged themselves about at respectful dis
tanccS.
Young man." said the commander, with
severe frown and penetrating look. .'rcmcm-
bcr It Is The truth Of what YOU SHALL say, on
which Your life depends: any attempt at de
:criion IN my presence, wi!rcausc YOU to be
hung Immediately AT the yarJ-arm. Who arc
vou ~
"a Soldier Of the American army" /
"-Ind what duty were you performing on
horc -
That Of sentinel. TO watch for til: approach
# the numbering British"
.'Bri'!ic your :n>olcncc vcanc man: You
Id not perform your duty % well that You
IN boast of ;our occ"pa.on.'
ASK YOUR servant which was the hardest
lis head or mv .un-Sock. could not dis
olive the night, byt ! swept away the cob
vcbs that cIou,c' the stars before his eyes"
Sir" said tie veteran, in voice hoarse
with anger which he tried to conceal what
; the force assembled this night in Ports
mouth. ?..d you deceive me YOU shall die at
laybrrak.'
his morning i. was proclaimed that it
,rmbcrcd thirty thousand, and they have five
undred cannon in town, ready to blow YOUR
Id hulks out of the water, like cookie shells.