Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-11-08

Im. 4. ,.IIm.umr n.
.| H .H n h dHf m
..m u0 n. .mm o.. looked n uu
'u"aH |.HwM.bm m.aM .1dr him to
.l lImm Brown vls 'uo u.In iuN 20
MwN N. position lt Nha
40 '0a m.m.ul when HaVas comploln.
is Nnhas which way go slccr Tho dark
clouds which rd boon gathering overhead
burst with % lo0H vivid fash of liahlninr,
and peal of dcoIoulug thunder but he
heard not the thunder he needed not the
rising storm. That fash Of lightning had
shown him the vessel not one cables
length from him.
"Stcody, boys-s'cudym he whispered,
when the thunder had ceased shall pull
under her stern, and get on dccl; by the
carved work aud netting on her quarter -
The men pulled slowly and silently on;
and as he had marked well her position,
the young officer found himself close un.
der the vessels stern. At this instant
another fash Of lightning iIumined the
. sky and wateri and then, as he glanced
up at the gad, where the flag had been
hoistod, be saw that it was not thero-it
had been hauled down.
lie paused, thought for a moment what
could be done, and then formed his reso.
LUTON.
81 shall 60 on board alone, men" said
he. "Kcep the boat where she is! If the
flag is where think it Is-jn the admiraIs
cabin will have i'll II am not back
in five minutes, and you hear an alarm,
shove Off and 60 back to our ship, and tell
them that Cochrane Bennett died like a
man You must be cautious reef the
ioresaiI-tor the storm will be down upon
us in ten minutes"
All this was whispered 10 the men,
whose heads were leaned forward to hear
the orders which they dared not disobey,
much as they wished to share their leaders
peril.
SPringing lightly from the boat, Ben.
nett caught the quarer.nettngs with his
hands, and noiseIessly asccnded to the
bulwarks. He could hear the regular
tramp Of the officer Of the deck, who hav.
ing already had everything reefed down
for the blow, had nothing to do but to pace
the deck-Ior it was so dark that he could
not see him.
a second more, and the brave boy was
down on the deck and at the cabin door,
which stood slightly open. He peeped
through the crack, and saw the red-laced
old admiral seated at his round table, with
two Of his officers by his side, engaged
over the contents Of a square bottle, which
looked very like that usually found to
contain SchnaPpS.
A glance at a settee Just to the left Of the
table showed the object of his enterprise.
The flag, for which he had periIed his life,
lay there, where it had been carelessly
thrown after it was hauled down.
The young hero did not pause long 10
consider what to do; but quietly walked
into the cabin, and, taking off his cap very
politely 10 the admiral and officers, said
in calm and courteous manner 10 the
admiral:
81 am come TO borrow this flag to wear
Tomorrow, if you please, sir !"
"Who the devil are youl What do you
mean 2" cried Admiral Brown, as he and
his officers sprang to their feet
81 am Midshipman Bennett, sir, of the
Monte Videan service !" replied Cochrane
who had now seized the flag; "and mean
to carry this flag to Commodore Gee p
As he said this he bounded to the cab.
in door, followed closely by bullet from
the admiral's pistol, which grazed his ear;
and ere the alarm became general, he
stood upon the tahral of the vessel.
"Look out for me below !' he shouted,
and flung himself into the sea without a
moments hesitation. His boats crew re.
IcognIzed his voice; he. was caught up
in an instant, and dragged into the boat
while voIley Of pistol shots was poured
a! random by those who were above.
The storm had now broken out, and the
wind began TO come in with fierce and fit.
ful gusts.
up foresail-bo in a hurry, lads -
cried the young hero, as soon as he could
draw breath after his ducking.
The crew did so, and the next moment
the little boat was flying on towards the
harbor, before the blast, like a sea.bird
winging its way to the young ones nest
The enemy opened harmless fire Of
grapeshot in the direction; but it only
served 10 tell the anxious watchers or
board Of Commodore Goes vessel that
something had occurred.
/ The latter, therefore, at once showed
lights, and enabled our young hero 10
make straight course for her.
1t was but half an hour after the first
gun had been fred by Admiral Browns
vessel, when the boat of the young hero
rounded to alongside his own ship.
"Hayo you captured the flag ~ cried
the Sonora, as Bennett bounded over the
side.
The only answer she received was the
banner, wet as it was from the water, and
cut in two pieces by the balls which had