Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-03-02

\ III POiSClfO a Mai ACO OiAClCHOO VIC LA
: ment we were under sailing orders.
. "The long boat is in, and ever
: : man ehews his own tobacco ] hear
rather coarse, b bpllying mildly
: who, to use the conventional tern
: had Sailed say to greenhor
= whose wine he had drank freely th
: day before, in reply to modest rt
/, , quest for chew.
by the way, caterer, s. aid I, "di
:. you lay in sundry pounds of tha
old 'honey dew as you promised?'
II asked Paxton to attend to j
|, for me, and be forgot,iLe
"1'll run that youngster over
boardl' said the first speaker, whose
name was Jenkinson, turning looE
of imposing ferocity upon the delin
quent-a young, newly appointed
midshipman, of somewhat fragile and
delicate appearance, but possess ed o.
a good deal of quiet selfpossession
Sure enough, from that hour Mr.
Jenkinson commenced a system Of
pettys annoyance and persecution
against little Paxton, which made the
poor lads time any ything but agreea-
BILE. He bore it with manly resolu-
fion, however, and, but for the appar-
ent malice Of the attacks, would
have taken the no ugh usage Of his
tormentor as a necessary probation;
bat the feeling was too evident not
to awaken resistance. One Of the
customary tricks Of that day was to
lower the victims hammock while he
slept, landing him comfortably, and
sometimes, rudely, on the sanded
deck. JeI linson had practiced this
upon Faxton frequently, and without
much regard to the care with which
he eased him down. On one occa-
sion, letting him dc wn ''by the run"
he hurt him not little. Resistance
was at last awakened, and the yonDg
ster was determined ON revenge. In
his plans he was backed by manly,
good-natured KentuckianI himself a
'ereenhorn," but strong S a young
giant, and SO well disposed to repay
practical jokes in kind, that he was
pretty generally left alone. The
reader must understand, that to low
er hammock while one is sleeping
in it, requires the strength to lift the
ring to which the clews, or small
lines that hang the hammock, are at
taehed off the hook from whence it
is suspended, which is equivalent to-
raising the whole weight oflthe occu-
pant. Now, Paxton was unable to
do this, and, burning viii. resent
meht, he determined to cut his ene-
my down; so he procured a sharp
sheath-knife, which he concealed for I
the occasion.
1t was id the mid-watch, and the 4
lenizens ofthe steerage were wrapped \
n profound slumber. The bright /
moonlight of the tropics she one down |
he hatchway as the boy slipped
quietly below to accomplish his rel
Ienge. He saw everything clea / forI
i retreat, approached the ham q ock 4
'f bis prosecutor, and placing his
tnife-edge against the head-clews,
ightened by the weight they sus-
aimed, he drew it vigorously towards
lim The slender cords were sew
cred at once by the blow, and Jen-
1inson, who, moment before, was
snoring in lusty enjoyment Of his
was precipitated head first
o the deck and considerably hurt by
he fall. AS soon as he recovered
rom the stun ne had received, he
Knew at once the nature of his mis-
zap, and suspected the author. Torn
ng to the hatchway, he beheld in :
he moonlight, the cou1tenance Of
Taxton, who deemed it a point of
'onor, as it vas satisfaction, to brave
he consequen nces Of his act, lit up
18th a smile of triumph which fairly !.
nraged him.
cts you, d-n your eyesl is it, E E
gu young Whelp? I'LL fix yon!'' I
nd be made a bolt forthe boy. +
IL an instant the blade Of the II
nife cleaned aboFe his head, and, e
the attitude ofIstriking, Faxton t
armed his foe moi, toI approach il
Keep off! you serted ME as bad, and lii
oH it's my turn. Keep of, ! tell Q
on!'' I'll
The Injunction vas needed, though I
ID anger Of The bully was furious. t
EDO you draw d knife on me, YOU a
! =