, 1864-02-20

got there, fellow, ana you upon uuty! l
shall report you instantly. Some Of your
old friends, and meditating an escape with
them, see" And, turning to jenkins, he
added: "Who, sir, gave you permission to
come on board this vessel, and to bring a wo.
man Of that description along with you !
of instantly, or l shall detain you, too
You, girl, must remain; !" and he approached
her familiarly to take her by the arm.
Stanley sprang forward, exclaiming-
"Hold, sir, hold! You have insulted her by
your words; but touch not, as you would re.
main living man, the hem Of her garment! p
"Begonc to your duty, presumptuous
slave " cried the boatswain, fiercely; "be.
gone!" And, as he spoke, he raised his
hand and struck him on the breast.
"Again ha! ha! ha!" exclaimed VIII.
liam, like demon laughing through excess
of torture; "twice you have struck me,
Rigby, to-day! struck me in the presence
of her who is dearer to me than life Now,
heaven have mercy on thee!" And, seizing
the boatswain by the breast, he hurled him
violently on the deck, and planted his foot
upon his bosom.
William! dear William" cried Mary,
" "forbear! forbear"
."Bill, Bill, my dear felloww cried Jack,
"don't lose your life for the sake Of a ruf:
fan"
William continued standing with his foot
upon his breast, laughing in the same wild
and fearful manner, and shouting, "struck
me" while Rigby called for help. A num-
Der Of the ships crew sprang forward to the
rescue of the boatswain, who, rising, cried
" The irons, instantly! Set double watch
over him! He has attempted, as ye have
witnessed, the life Of an officer, and his first
promotion shall be the yard-arm."
While they were placing the irons upon
him, Mary threw herself at Rigby's feet,
exclaiming- 40, spare him save the life
of my William! by her that bore you, OF
that loves you, save him"
"Rise, Mary!" cried William, that our
farewell glancebe not one Of reproach. Pray
for vengeanceo on my enemy! Farewell, Jack
forever, this time! See my Mary safe p
And, as they were bearing him away, he
turned his head towards her and added
" Dearest, we shall meet hereafter, where the
villain and the tyrant cannot enter"
She fell insensible on the deck, and, in a
state Of Inconsistencies, was conveyed on
shore by jenkins.
The frigate was commanded by Captain
Sherbourne, and, when the officers were
assembled to hold cOurt-martial over poor
Stanley, he said, addressing Rigby:
"There is not man in the British navy,
Boatswain Rigby, more determined than
myself to preserve order and discipline; but
while, as captain Of this vessel, am CON-
PEELED to enforce the law, l am no advocate
Of the inhuman and degrading lash nor
can /, with indifference, sentence brave
fellow to be hung up for doing that which
the best feelings Of his nature, and the SEN
timents that make hero, prompted him to
do. l sit here as judge, and am neither
advocate for the prisoner nor your accuser ;
but, If the law must be satisfied, the offence,
wherever il is found, shall be punished,
whether in the accused or in the accuser.
For it has not escaped ms observation that
no officer under me has ever found fault
in the prisoner, save yourself. Are you
then resolved and prepared to prosecute your
charge"
al am both resolved and prepared, Cap
tain Sherbourne,' said Rigby; " and l de-
mand the satisfaction Of the laws Of my coun-
try and the service, not only as an officer who
has been insulted and injured, but as q Brit
ish officer and subject whose life has been
nA-