Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-06-16
THE CAPTAINS BATHING TUB,

A cabin>boy of one of the ward. room officers
on board the United States vessel, good dea
given to mischief, one day made his way into
the captains cabin while they were engaged
above in making out a strange sail in the hori-
zon Here he finds all sorts Of luxuries, in.
GLIDING various wines, Of which he drink.
enough to raise his courage not only, but to
make him somewhat reckless of consequences
In this state he finds himself in room nd.
joining the cabin, tin bathing tub in one cor
ner, luxuriousy supplied with rare cosmetics
and smelling like barber's shop of the frs,
class. snow" he says" had tried all the othel
good things that found in the cabin; | had
drunk the captains wine, and straightened my.
self out on his sofa, and swung in his hammock
and thought wouldn't quit until had dip
in his bath"
Accordingly he stripped, and was just enjoy.
ing the first pleasant feel of the water when
he was interrupted by the messenger-boy. who
had been sent into the cabin by the captain.
Fortunately he was not discovered this time,
but it made him cautious.
II must contrise some way to get out with
my clothes if any hody come along again. l
wasn't long in finding the way. The ports on
the side Of the forward cabin were open, and
through them could easily get out into the
mzzenchains where could dress myself with.
out being seen. There was big gun in each
port, carronade, as they call 'em-short but
| fat-the biggist kind; you never see such kind
| OF guns except aboard ships Of war. could
| Chamber out along side of one of EN- easy
enough though. was little fellow them"
He taken his shoes, clothes, and hat, and
sticks them outside of the port where they
couldn't be seen; "and ihen," he says, II went
back to the tub. All this didn't take more than
half minute, for | worked sharp, can tell
you. The only thing was afraid of was that
the steward would come in and catch me. |
didn't care tinker's copper for the captain.
knew could get out OF port in less time than
it would take him to come down the poop.lad.
der. Big bugs are never in hurry; it wouldn't
look dignifed, you know" &
Presently, while lying luxuriously 10 the cap.
tain's tub. be hears him coming down the cabin
stars, when he jumped out Of the receptacle
and makes for the port.
II was fairly outside and safe, as thought,
in the chains before the captain opened the cab
in door. ! sat there minute drying myself,
and then was going to begin to dress when
heard the sound Of oars coming round the stern
Of the ship. knew by.the regular dip in the
water and BY the noise of the oars in the row
locks that it was man-o'.war's boat, aud, of
course it was the first cutter coming along aide,
though it seemed to me she had come DIP
mighty quick,
@Here was in FIX. They would see me
f:om the boat a. soon as she pulled round the
stern, and should have hard work to tell what
was doing start naked in the chains. couldn't
get my clothes on quick enough to be ready for
company, forI couldn't stand up without con.
siderable risk Of being seen from the poop. in
case some fellow happened to be looking over
the larbord side. Iconcloded pretty soon what
to do. ! first looked into the cabin. The cap.
tain wasn't in sight, so jammed my clothes
into the muzzs Of the gun, and then got in at.
ter myself, feet foremost. | told you, you
know. that the guns Of the kind they call ear
ronades, are short, but have tremendous big
borea They are used in close fighting, and,
when nothing else come handy, they load them
with a cask Of nails and such sort Of things
| showed myself in feet foremost, because
knew that it Irammed my head in first, with
my body on top Of it for awad it would be rath.
er close quarters for brething comfortably. ]
found it rather asnug berth a. it was; Icoaldn't
move an inch after got in, but knew was
out Of sight at any rate.
supposed that after the men had come
aboard the boat would be hauled out to the
booms, and that then could get out of the
gun; but, instead Of that, they had the cutter
loaded with something, do not know what,
That It took pretty near an hour, it seemed to
me. to clear her Off They got sling on the
and could hear the orders given to |
hook on in the boat, and the bo'en's mate in
The gangway piping to haul taught and 'toist
away, and 'avast histing,' and. come up,' over |
and over again. until it appeared TO me they
had got dozen launch boats over the side |
By this time my back began to ache with lying |
in the bore Ct that old gun; it didn't exactly fit |
ny shouldiers.-
Il began now to hear talking in the cabin. I
The gun, you know, was ali in the cabin except /
he muzzte Of it, that ran out Of the port. / I
'ouldn't hear 50 well through the iron though,
md il was some time before could make out
What the talk was about. could distinguish |
he captains voice. and could hear the word
lock- and wafer pretty often. Al last he and
ne mau he was talking with came close up to
he very gun | was in, and then heard him call
he gunner BY name in talking to him, and /
ecognised him BY his growl. lheard him rsb-
.ing the gun of with his hand and playing with
be lock, and two or three times be snapped il.
That made me feel little nervous, for didn't
now what he might have put in i"
He tinds out Il lasl what they are taking
bout. The gunner has been making some
waters that he thinks will never miss /
rs. He said he would set the charge of with.
ut any printing, and he wasn't sure that there Il
ronld be any need even Of picking the cart.
ldge. The captain tells the gunner TO try |
ONE OF these new waters on the very gun that
hs fugitive Is 10. II
.Iwas just going to sing out," he continues, Ii
when the captain asked the gunner il he was |
ufe the gun was not loaded. @
Yes. sr, says be. the charges were ell drawn
hen the ship came 10. and thsse guns 10 the
abin have not been lsadsd since
: That vas not 70 Bad altar all. They were
nIv mnsnaps "a fsw ~ fhn ~nHA,. swA~i1 -