True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-11-11


our superior sos with hearts full Of all
alncharitableness, we proceeded below and
diyested ourselves of1braow useless GO
ashore garments. You may be sure the
time hung heavily enough on our hands.
Had the ship been at sea, we could have
borne the confinement, and thought 1t no
hardship, whateveri but to be laying
where we were, within sight of the city,
to see our fellow mids-who, not having
been connected with our unfortunate fro
lie, were not deprived of their liberty
going and coming from the city, at their
own sweet will and bringing US news Of
all sorts Of adventures was perfectly un-
bearabEe. And more thanfall, our inno-
cent little firtatlonS were being interfered
with, by our mischievous sbipmates, who
sci themselves 10 work TO cut us out, as
they were pleased to term the-to US
decidedly unpleasant operation, adding
the pangs of jealousy, to our already sui.
fcient disquietude, very sulky set Of
midshipmen we we're, indeed, for the sue
ceedng three or four weeks.
"Innumerable were the plans formed
to compass our liberty, and almost as
quickly rejectedas impracticable. Indeed
it was hardly to be expected the COM
modore would be disposed to forgl i've our
insolence, even if he did not fear we
might likely play another and still more
provoking trick upon him. All Tom
my gave up the hope of regaining oul
liberty, while at Marseilles, but he was
not the person to despair of anything
He was determined, he said, to have his
shore leave again, or that the ship shoult
leave Marseiiles, and that speedily
Either object seemed SO unattainabIe tt
us, that we gave little heed to his repeated
reservations that he would accomplish
no less. Accordingly, it was with M
little surprise and wonder that we lis
tened, one evening, to his declaration
that he was going on shore that YER
night.
"Now? What do you intend 10 do
we asked, with no little earneslness.
Not desert. surely?'
"'No, not so bad as that he replied
'but think it's nothing more than righ
to put an end to our Imprisonment, o
attempt it, at all events
owe assented to this with great unani
nifty.
""And I think it is equally proper tia
the young woman, whom the commodor
is hoaxing at such an unmerciful rate
should be relieved from his addresses
"And so you intend TO inform her thu
he is married man, do you? A mic
little muss you are preparing for yoursel
Her very first act would be to inforr
, the commodore of your ofRciousness.'
go, no. returned Tommy. you don
understand It, at all. I'm only goiLg
make the old man little jealous, that
all, and that will do our business for u:
as well as him, I'm thinking. I hav
made up my mind to go ashore to'nigh
{ and as there is but one boat-the commc
dore's-going, l must go in her.
"Impossible! we all cried in tn
same breath. There is no possibl
chance to stow away out of sight. Yo
/ would be discovered in an instant
81 do not intend 10 stow away h
replied, Getting on shore will be IL
, simplest part of it. Indeed, that is a
t ready arranged. I've made friends wit
! the boats crew, and am to go in disgul:
as one Of their members. and pull til
, bow oar. The nigh. will be dark, an
the chances are altogether in my favor
"The experiment was adangerous on
$ but Tommy was not to be deferred
Accordingly, at the accustomed hOu
: which was considerably after dark, ii
=, commodore's gig was piped away, ar
l Tommy, with a sailors white dat
4 frock and trousers over his uniform, sli
ped into the boat along with the boat
crew. A moment after, the commodo
passed over the gangway, and the bo
started for the shore. So far, all wi
/. well. Tommy had said truly, getting
0 shore was the easiest part of the affal
; but he was equal to almost any eme
a gency that required only perseveren
e and impudence, or rather brass to u
e a very expensive term. Upon reachiI
:. the stairs, the commodore, with the o
4; der 10 be ready 10 start at any nome
E proceeded up The pier while Tomm
/. divesting himself of his outside garment
!. leaving him in his very pretty uniforI
d quickly followed.
| The commodore was a spacious Al
!. heavy man, whose step had lost some
n the elasticity and speed of youth, so II
S Tommy quickly overlook and passed hi
y He knew by the unusual care the old &c
y tleman had bestowed upon his toilet, Il
J, his destination was the residence Of
n fair one; so fastening onward, with
possible speed, to the distant quarter
the town in which resided, he arrived
IS nearly as he could judge, about ten m
d utes before the commodore could possit
N traverse that distance.
10 ""Marching boldly up to the door,
E. rang and was admitted. His inquiry
r mademoiselle was answered by his bel
]. shown into parlor, in the.rear Of whi'
h and opening out of it, was large cons