The mountain Democrat., 1863-11-21

with coarse whale oil could make out
that about thirty men were present.
These were, for the most part, strong,
able-b bodied sailors-some mere lads, 9TH
ers with grizzled hair and weather beaten
faces; but the nautical garb and bearing
of all were plain enough.
They were gathered in knots of four or
five, cOnversing, drinking their grog from
tumblers and pannkins, or moodily puff
ing their clay pipes. Ny appearance at
first created some stir, but several of the
men knew me, and told the others they
need not fear-'it was only Mr.. Hawley,
the good parson of Sallyport.' Poor fel-
lows as they respectfully made way for
me to pass them, | loathed the treachery
which had betrayed them to the kidnap
pers, and | would have warned them to
flee, had flight been possible but | well
knew that every avenue was guarded, and
that, although the merchant sailors were
well provided with bludgeons and knob
bed sticks, they had little chance against
the trained attack of the press gang
therefore turned to the corner of the
room, where fine.looking young sailor,
taller by the head than any there, and
with Yery pleasing expression in his
handsome, honest face, sat alone, lost in
melancholy thoughts. l approached
Henry Mills, said |. in subducd tone,
| wish to speak with you apart from the
rest. Yon may remember me, Mr.. Haw-
ley, the vicar of Sallyport. was asked
to come by some one who takes an inter-
est in you
BY Mary, sir, was it?' asked the
young man, springing up. Have you a
message for me, sir, from the dear girl ?
Hush!' said |, coming nearer, hush
cannot tell you what have to tell, un-
til you promise to obey my instructions
in all this business. l cannot save you
unless you will do so-unless you will
promise not to be rash. And it was to
ask that would render you a service
that your sweetheart, Mary Wade, came
to me this night
Bless her kind little hearth said Mills
warmly; but, indeed, sir, there's no
special danger; we're safe here, and the
Grasper's crew can't find US; and early
to morrow
TO morrow will be too late whisper
ed l. | cannot explain matters here
A hasty word would ruin all. Let us
have few minutes talk in some quieter
room than this
well, sir, if you wish it. The taps
quite empty, and we can talk there all
by ourselves. There's a lantern in the
passage, and can unlock it as we 90 by.
The conversation lasted about ten min
utes, for every moment was precious
At the end of that time young Mills, his
oilskin-covered hat slouched over his
face, and the collar of his monkey jacket
turned up so as almost to conceal his
mouth and chin, returned to the long low
room, and sat down in the same secluded
corner, apparently lost in thought. 60.
And almost at the same mement, the
Rev. Joseph Hawley, incumbent of the
Parish of Sallyport, quilted the public
house, acknowledging, in the curtest and
most laconic fashion, the profuse civili-
ties and verbose good.wishes of the land
lady of the Blue Dolphin.
The man-ofwar's men were hanging
about the archway and the blind alley as
thick as bees, and humming forth note
of preparation; but as the CLEAN of their
lantern fell on the long great coat, the
white neckcloth, umbrella, and beaver
hat of their late captive, they opened
their ranks and let him pass.
Good. night, your reverence! pleasant
dreams, old boy!' said the young mid
sdie&aN, with giggle at his own wit,
and the seamen gave smothered laugh,
which ceased as an important looking per-
sonage in a cloak, with cocked-hat and
clinklng sword, came up - Lieutenant
Barnes himself. But even the Lieutenant
had no power to stay minister Of reli-
gion, and Mr.. Hawley went OH his way
unmolested.
The proceedings of the vicar Of Sally
port that night were very singular; he did
not go home to his lodgings, his tea and
crumpets, but hung about the dark streets
till the hour of ten, when the royal mail,
with horn and clash of hoofs and wheels,
relocated guard and bluff coachman, came
dashing through Sallyport; and then who
should appear at the coach door, just be-
fore it drove off from the Office, but the
Rev. Joseph Hawley.
He modestly announced that he was
going to London. An inside place was
vacant; he occupied it. NO luggage, sir?
All right, Thomas Up jumped the red
coated guard, crack went the whip, twang
went the horn, and off rolled the coach
towards London. The pressgang exam
ined the royal mail two miles out OF Sal,
lyport, but found no runaway seamen.-
What, to them, was the name of the Rev.
Joseph Hawley in the waybill, or the pres
ence of the Rev. Joseph Hawley in the
interior of the vehicle! At exactly ten
minutes to ten, the men.of.war's men and
marines, with clubs, cutlasses, and crow
bars, broke into the Blue Dolphin public
house, and captured every man there
This was not effected without dreadful
fight. Bones were broken, many wounds
and bruises exchanged, and more than
one pressed man was taken senseless on
board the Grasper.
But Henry Mills made no resistance
he was taken as easily as lamb is secur.
cd by the butcher, and the captors were
half disappointed that so gallant and pow.
erfully built young man should have
shown the white feather.
However, when Lieutenant Barnes, al
half-past eleven o'clock reviewed his pris.
oners on the deck of the Grasper, by the
light of ships lantern, he found out with
diSmay that the prisoner in the pea jacket
and glazed hat was not Henry Mills at all,
but the Rev. Joseph Hawley, NJ. A, vicar
of Sallyport; and he made the further dis
covery, that Henry Mills having changed
clothes with his friend. the clergyman in
question, was already far beyond danger,
speeding as fast towards London as four
active horses could convey him.
pass over the oaths and lamentations
both loud and deep, of the crestfaller