Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-11-27
EVENING STAR.
THE HEROIC SAILoR.
4 Tale CT the Moateyideau SerFic,

Of NoEtevidgo.
The lady was Syaai,h Ly birth, a. wei as
in feelings, aud the cause Cf her anger vas tie
sight # a ship which had been fyr two days
standing of and On before the harbor, using
every signal of insult and defiance to ind ice
the ship Of Commodore Cye, 20 come out, ana
fight him. This ths latter could not 10 for
two reasons: The first was illness, which con-
nGeu him to his cot; tho seccrl that he had
not onc-tiird OF : c-cw-not even sufficient to
man his guns
At the moment when she uttered the words
which Commence tIis tale, Brown, the Almi-
raj Of the BuenOs AyTeS ship, had hoistct
flag whereupOn was embroidered in legible
letters Coos, THE COWARD This was more
than his noble wife could stand; for wcii she
knew her husband truth and valor.
After gazing IN instant 1T the dag, she
raised her icWelled hand, aEd taking from hey
finger diamond cf great value, she cried, o
the oiHecTs and mea who stood round her on
the deck:
Il will give this diamond TO any man who
will bring me yonder nag,''
Ior moment there wa no response; The
men looked 20 their CLiscrs--the cfiicers
glanced at each 0theT-bEt vouate .rs seemed
scarce for 50 desperate n service.
~ hat. i there not one OF all your number
Who Garcs the trial! L nv husbands shin.
then, indeed manned by 9 .ards'n exclaimed
IL.
hcr Iiasling eye spaEkled with the fire Of con-
tempt
4 young oficcr-an Amcrcan-who had
/ been lately appointed stepped forward, ana
! nodestly said
IL was only waiting for my seniors to speak.
SenoE.. Had any Of them volunteered, |
, should have begged 20 accompany him: as il
is, pledge myself to bring you yonder aag
! before the sun uses, OF die IN tie @ttsapti
But L ask not your jewel rs = prize Tor lay
sacceSs-ono tress OF your glossy hair shall
be my reward :"
"Iou shall have both, brave BOY :" replied
tie lady, ard her colJ look of sc0rn changed
into : sweet smile, as she asked his name
at is C0chrane Bennett, Sonora :" replied
the youth; and he blushed beneath her ear
LCst gaze.
lie Was slim, bat we'll formed; looked very
young, but, in his DARK blue eyes anl con-
pressed lip, an observer would read one whose
manhood was not Tade by years alone.
The sun was setting behind 4 bank Of slow
ly rising clouds, which threatened darkness
and storm.
The moment that his services were accent
ed, young Bennett turned to the crew and as
BE glanced over them said:
II want six mon, to man the whale-boat
that hangs at the aite--davits 90
Struck by his sa!lantry, nearly one half of
the crew stepped aft-noy that they had q
leader, volunteers were plenty. Bennett
glanced his eye over them, and IL g few mo-
mcnts he selected six whom he knew IT, be
both daring and fEm-they were American
sailors.
Go sharpen your cutlasses,' - said he: :. L
shall not have 4 LauSket or pistol in the boat
IL We fight, 1t must be steel to steel and hrcast
10 oreast--tor we must succeed or die
The men answered only by lo0k-fo- they
were OF that class whose nctto Is: =. Deeds,
not words -
They hurried below to obey his orders, while
others proceeded, by his direction, TO muifle
the oars Of the boat, and to put a sail and
water into it.
One half hour later the sky was covered
with clouds, AID darkness had set ia Ben
nett had been careful TO take the COMPASS
course OF the eaeMy's ship when the last light
OF the dying day gave the Opportunity--:nd
by TINS alone he hoped to find her.
At this time the lady was on deck standing
by the binnacle light, regarding the prcpara.
tons VI the little party who we're about to
shove of. AT the moment the boats GREY
cried out that all was ready TO start. the your1e
leader came att to the side of the Sonora, aud
taking from his neck u mima ature he handedit
and letter TO her, sayingt =
"If l am Lot on board at sunrise lady,
please 20 send the miniature and letter 10 it.
address"
The Sonora looked at the portrait-it was
the likeness of young and beautiful girl.
tear filled the Senora's eyes.
- You need not go.' she said - 20. Won
love-porchanco are beloved Your life is
rreciOus-I will not xpose it,
" This is my only sister, whom [ almost
adore " interrupted the youth but ore
who would scorn me if played the coward,
or dishonored my name, Send the letter and
likeness to her if fail Farewell till TO NOR.
rows or forever
The lady was about TO answer, and arain 10
entreat him TO stay; but ere she could speak,
he Sprang over the bulwarks and the boat
showed off
d" Give way cheerily, men A long pull,
strong pull, and a pull altogether ~ said our
young hero, in low tone, as he left the ships
side and he soon felt by the trembling of the
frail boat, that his orders were obeyed.
The night was very dark. A calm was on
the deep and in the air; but it was porten-
tous Of a storm. Il small pinnacle light and
compass had been placed in the boat and by
these Bennett shaped his course-himseif
taking the tiller, and steering right out into
the oting, regardless OF the coming storm and
rising clouds-knowing that If the vessel had
remained hOve-tO at sunset lie must be yerr
near her. Bat ho looked in vain TO see a light
which might guide him to her. Admiral
Brown was too old Il fox to betray his position
by lights.
Al this moment when he was completely at
a loss which way to steer, the dark clouds
which had been gathering overhead burst with
long. vivid fash of lightning and a peal of
deafenirg 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.
STEADY, boys-steady ~ he whispered
when the thunder ceased 81 shall pull un-
der her stern. and get OH deck by the carved
work and netting on her quarter
The men pulled slowly and silently on and
as he had marked we'll her position the young
officer found himself close under the vessels
stern, at that instant another fash Of light
ming illumed the sky and water and then, as
he glanced up at the gait, where the flag
had been hoisted, he saw that il was not
there-it had been hauled down
lie paused, thought fer a moment what
could be done, and then formed his resolution.
:. shall 60 on board alone, nen :" said he.
Keep the boat where she is. Ii the fiag is
where l think it is-in the Adniral's cabip2T
will have it. If I am not back in Eve min
utes, and you hear an alarm, shove off and 90
back to our ship, and tell them that CochraSc
Bennett died like a man You must be can.