The Shasta courier., 1868-05-09
COURIER.
HALF PRESSED.

now since we came slowly up the Thames
with the tide, and after a deal Of hauling
and yohoing, and lodging, got the old ship
into London Docks, after being at sea two
years, and going almost round the world.
Sick of it | was, and longing to get ashore,
for there was more than one | was wishing
to see and get word with-folks, too, who
were as anxious to get sight of me and
though aquietish, steadyish sort ofa fellow,
[ felt as if should have gone wild with
the bit of work l had to do, while my
mate, Harry Willis, was most as bad
Poor chap! he's been dead and gone now
this many long year-had his number
called and gone alott. A good fellow was
Harry, and the rest OF that day him and |
was knocking about in the ship, coiling
down and doing all sort of little jobs, such
as are wanted after long voyage, when
there's a great cargo aboard
One day passed, then another, and
another, and mighty savage we were, at
being kept so long before we could get off
but the time came at last, and only just
taking few things each in a handker-
cher, we slipped over the ships SIDE drop
ped on to the wharf and were off.
Well, being regular old shipmates, you
see, it was only natural that we should
drop into a public house that was down
Mapping way, to take glass or two by
way of a treat, and see about nights
lodging where we could be together, as it
was quite evening, and we'd some ways to
go into the country, both of US, and meant
not to leave it till morning. A nice little
place it was, close aside wharf, where the
tide came up, and ship after ship-colliers
| think they were-lay in tiers, moored
head and stern, in short just such a place
as a sailor would choose for quiet glass
and nights lodging, being snug and
cosy looking, But then, for the matter of
that, after poor fellows had years at sea,
knocking about in the close forks'll of a
ship, everything looks snug and cosy
ashore
1t didn't take us long bargaining about
our beds, and then leaving our kits with
the landlady, we strolled out and had a
walk here, and walk .here, till close upon
eleven when | says to Harry, Pm for
hammocks lad. What do you say ?"-
"Same as you do" he says and we
turned back, meaning to have one more
glass o'grog apiece, then to turn in. 1t
wasn't far to the house, and as soon as we
got in sight we began to dawdle slowly
along, looking at the ships here and there,
just seen as they were By moonlight, while
plenty of EN- out in the stream showed a
lantern
whats those fellows hanging about
our place for?" says Harry; for just then
we came in sight of good score of chaps
waiting about the outside of the public,
while another peep at 'em showed as they
were Kings men, and most of 'em had got
cutlasses.
"Thought ours was quiet house."
says l hope they amt going to stop
about long
"Not they" says Harry; /" come on"
So we went up to the house, and being
first, was going in, when a tall chap laid
his hand on my shoulder, with a Come
along my lad, we've been waiting for YOU"
=" What? | says, starting; for lust then
for the first time, something shot through
me as it were, and in that short moment I
saw all that it meant, and that was. that
after years of service in a merchantmen.
we were to be seized by force and dragged
aboard a tender to serve the King,
whether we would or no; for this party we
came across waS a nracc ,r,nr D.
no more time to think Half dosen
fellows had tight hold of me directly, and
if | had wanted to struggle, it would have
been OF no use. Harry wasn't so quiet
though. Like me he had seen it all in a
moment, and as one ofthe gang laid hand
upon him, he dashed it off, cried to me to
help him, and the next moment there was
bitter struggle going on-one which
reused me to fight; for it was such a
struggle as any man would engage in for
his liberty in those good old times, when
sailor was not safe if he walked the streets
of sea-faring place.
Harry was strong fellow, and fought
hard; one man went heavily down, then
three went down together. Poor Harry
was one of them, while head struck the
stones an awful blow, such as seemed
enough to kill any fellow; but it was not
Harry's for the next moment he was up,
and before soul could stop him, he gave
a shout, and leaped clean off the wharf
where he were, right into the water
Then there was splash, and you could
see the stream all dancino like brokan
lights where the lamps and moon shone,
and then all was still for few moments,
till the officer of the gang called to his men
to run down the steps and bring round the
boat Hold tight by that one" he shout
ed, and next minute, with some of his gang,
he was padddling about on the lookout for
Harry who had never as far as we could
see come up again to the surface
did not want to run then, but stood
still, with the men as held me, looking
anxiously out for my poor mate; for it