Squatter sovereign., 1855-03-20
these Frank shaped his course, himself
4oir;.,or LIZ, +iIlo, {, I'd -St..eriI,er

and steady pull said he, III a low tone, as
| he left the ships side; and he soon felt, by
| the trembling of the frail boat, that his di-
rections were obeyed.
Out right into the offing lie pulled, re-
gardless of the rising clouds, keeping his
eye fixed steadily Oh Lis compass, until ne
knew. If the vessel had remained hoye-toz
| she was at sunset, that he must be near
her, But he looked In vain to see her
dark hull loom up in the gloom; he looked
in vain to see a light which might guide
hun to her. Admiral brown was roo old a
fox to be showing his position by lights.
| AT this moment, when he was complete
| ly at loss which way to steer, the dark
clouds which had been gathering over him
burst with long vivid flash of lightning
and peal OF deafning thunder; he needed
not the rising storm. That fash of light
ming had showed him the vessel, not one
cabers length from him
"Steady, boys steady he whispered,
! when the thunder ceased; 81 shall pull
directly under her stern, aud get on deck
by the carved work and noting on her
quarter.
The men rowed slowly and silently on,
and he had marked well her position, the
young officer in moment found himself
close under the vessels stern, At this
instant another fash of lightning illumina-
ted sky and water, and then, as he glanced
up at the staff, where the flag had iioisted,
he saw that it was not there! 1t had been
hauled down.
He paused; thought for moment what
could lie done;
and then formed his resolution.
81 shall go on board alone, men, said
he; "keep the boat where she is. If that
flag is where think it is in the Admiral's s
cabin, will have it. If | am not back
in five minutes and you hear an alarm,
} shove off, scud to our ship and tell them
that Frank Bennett died like man! You
must be cautious; reef the loresail, for the
storm will be down upon us in less than
ten minutes
All Of this was whispered to tie men,
} whose heads We're bent forward to hear
the orders which they dared not disobey,
much as they wished to share their leaders
peril.
Springing lightly from the boat, Frank
caught the quatcr-nettlngs with his hands,
and noise1essly assembled to the bulwarks.
He could hear the regular tramp of the
officer OF the deck, who having already had
everything reeled down for the blow, had
nothing to do but pace the deck; hut it was
SO dark that he could not see him.
n second more and the brave boy was
down on the deck and at the cabin door,
which stood slightly ajar. He peeped in
through the narrow crack, and saw the red
faced old admiral seated at his round ti-
lie, with two of his officers by his side, en-
gagged over the contents of square bottle
which looked very like that usually found
to contain schnaps.
A galnce at settee just to the left oil
this table, showed the object OF the enter
prise. The flag fer which he had periled
his life lay there, where it had been care.
, lessly thrown after it was hauled down.
The young officer did not pause long to
consider what to do, but quietly walked in
/ to the cabin, and taking off his cap, bowed
very politely to tie Officers as he stepped to-
wards the flag, said in calm and coure-
Gus manner to the admiral
Il have come to borrow this banner, Sir,
to wear to-morrowif you please!''
"Who the devil are youl What does
this means' cried Brown, as he and his
officers sprang to his feet.
Il am Midshipman Bennett, Sir, OF the
Montevedian service?'' replied Frank, who
had now seized the flag: ssand l mean to
carry this flag to Commodore Coer'
AS he said this he bounded to the cabin
door, followed closely by a bullet from
Brow's pistol, which graized his ear, and
ere the alrm became general, he stood OF
the taffrail of the vessel.
s'Look out for me belowl'' he shouted
and flung himself into the sea, without a
moments hesitation. His boats crew rec
ognized his voice, he was caught III mo.
lnent and dragged into the boat, while q
volley of pistol balls was sent down at ran.
dom by those who were above.
The storm had now broken, and the wind
began to come IN with fierce and fiifu
t gusts.
, "Up foresail. be in hurry lads.up fore
r sail, and let her slider cried the young
. hero, as soon as he could draw breath, al:
5 ter the ducking.
r The crew did so. and the mex
moment the little boat was flying
in toward the harbor, before the blast like
l glad sea bird wingiag It's way 10 its young
ones nest.
5 The enemy opened harmless random
fire of crane shot in their direction, but i
only served to tell the anxious watchers Oh
4 board of Goes vessel that something has
5 occurred. The latter tllrefore at once show
s ed lights, and enhabled Frank to make ;
strai ght course for her.
? 1t was but half an hour after the frs
a gun had been fired by Browns vessel, tha
: the boat of the young adyenturer rounde'
: alongside of his own craft.
: Have You captured the 1agF cried the
Senora, as Bennett bounded over the side
The only answer she received was tbs
. hammer. wet as il was from the water, an
cut in two places by the balls which ha
been fired al the captor. s@
n The lights of the vessel CLEANED No
S half sobTight as did the iadys eyes swle