Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-05-25
81 Cut Rehind,S


Gibralter, he was said to be perfectly crazy
on matters OF military discipline. lie went
so far as to have the shoes taken of his mule
on purpose that he might 60 night rounds,
and visit the ggaTsdin a the eun he Sa. Close
upon the sentinel. But to our story;
As had been the long established practice,
O'IIara always attended the guard mounting
parade on the sands, at six or seven clock
in the morning and he took so much notice
of the officers of the several guards that he
could generally, during the remainder of the
day, name them all. One day he was pro-
ceeding out Of South Port in his carriage,
| when he passed an officer going into the town,
and whom, at the instant, he remembered as
having passed in review before him that
morning as commanding the south guard
/ Upon this, the General Immediately deter
mined on satisfying himself as to the fact,
and so convict him of the heinous military
crime cf quitting his guard and ordered
| the coachman to drive with speed to the
south guard. Away they went, at the rate
of ten to eleven miles per hour, along the
saluting battery and in short time the
! horses, out OF wind and covered with llther,
reached the south guard, mile or more from
the place where the General had passed the
suspected officer. At the usual distance, the
running sentinel called the guard to "turn
out which was obeyed with all the alertncss
I desirable; and the officer advancing, unob-
served by the General, Mt quick pace from
near the clrriage, drew his sword then,
opened ranks, presented arms, and saluted in
the best manner At the sight of this officer
every doubt had been removed. By Jovc,
it is he himself thought the General, as he
ordered him to turn in the guard, and beck
oned him to come up to the carriage. Pray,
sir, impatiently inquired . liara did not
but IaNy D,in walk
very deliberately into the town near South
Port .
Me sir = exclaimed the officer, pretending
the greatest simplicity, and extreme sur
prise at the question. am guard here
sir,
We'll, we'll, know that; you need not
have supplied me with that valuable piece OF
information Did not, sir, ask you again
did not see you going into town as came
by South Port = his Excellency sand, raising
his voice, and his face reddening with angcl
, at the offenders attempt to conceal the fac
by his cvasive reply.
The officer after moment, in no way dis
concerted, or showing any symptom of timid
ity, looked the General full in the face, nnC
then, with great politeness, said VIII
\ your Excelency have the goodness to state t
j me whether that question is put to me by hi
t Excellency. General OlIara, Governor o
= Glbralter, or from yoursell IN the caPacity U
C q private gentleman
r The of. hand manner in which this question
was put to o O'Hara struck the right chord
C and, after few minutes hesitation, he re
y piled, with smile on his countenance
IS We'll. sir, as private individual | wish
It obtain the information.
t. Then, sir, ! freely confess that you di
&c meet me at the South Port
G Well sir, hat is honest. Now, sir,
want to know how YOU could get here on foe
IT as quickly as did in my carriage, and thai
: too, without any discoverable fugitive =
| Sir shall conceal nothing from you
n the private capacity you have selected. o
| meeting you | strongly suspected that yo
Id knew me and when you stopped the carriat
xt to speak to your coachman, | guessed yo'
he motive So, feeling that if my conJectu
IS were correct, had no means OF arriving
on nv guard at the same time as yourself, g
n up behind your carriage, the only means le
ut me of securing that object.
IN BY Jove, sir y exclaimed O'llara, | Ii
Sc your candor, and still more, the deXteri
do and readiness you have displayed in extrica
N ing yourself from position of the create
We danger, without which you would undout
,e- edly have lost your commission. admire
,as man who, when he gets into scrape, c
Jump out of it at once. You must dine wi
to me, sir, tomorrow giving him mo
Ip- hearty shake Of the hand But, take car
nd You must never leave your guard again,
to by Jove, I'll break you