The Shasta courier., 1868-06-27
SHASTA COURIER.
RUNNING THE GUARD.
BY ROGER sTARBUCK.

In June, 1S-, shipped, with my chum,
Hal Trevor, to the wbaleship Walrus, then
anchored off Sydney, Australia.
The Captain was Richard Block, broad
shouldered, loud-voiced man, of middle age.
He was native of England, who had come
to America when boy, and followed whal-
ing ever since. In spite of his roughness,
believe the man had tender heart; certain
it is that be treated his men--so they inform
ed me-rather as if they were his brothers,
than under his authority.
Often | would notice about him a certain
peculiarity, which puzzled me. 1t was this,
that whenever he paced the quarterback, he
would turn his eyes wistfully toward the
dark coast, as if looking for something, or
somebody. or as if he had some especial in
terest in those rugged battlements of rock,
that rose, frowning before him.
Soon came an explanation. The steward
informed me that the captain had a son at
Botany Bay-a criminai-convicted for set
ting fire to the house of an enemy, at Liver.
pool.
The skipper, it seemed, had married when
young, and his son. who so disgraced him
self, had run away from home in his fifteenth
year, and gone to England.
The lad, to his father, had been dearer
than life, and the news of his sin, and con
viction, had to him proved terrible blow,
from which he might never recover.
1t had killed his wife, who. being delicate,
and predisposed to consumption, had not
been able to withstand the shock.
One evening, soon after shipping, | was
stretched upon chest in the forecastle, read
ing Voltaire. My shpmates were all on
deck-some sleeping, some conversing, and
others washing their clothes, for there was a
bright full moon, enabling the workers to see
what they were about.
| had become deeply interested in my
book, when. suddenly, | became aware of a
shadow falling on the page, and looking up,
| beheld singular young man, whom | had
never seen before, and who had evidently
just come out of the sea, as his hair and gar
ments were dripping
He glided to my side, aud clasping his
hands. exclaimed:
Hide me Hide me somewhere for
heavens sake! | have just escaped from
one of the ships in port, aboard which I've
been used hard-very hard. See there !"
As he spoke he held up his arm, when l
perceived that his wrist and hand were GOV.
cred with blood.
g A pistol shot !" he continued hurriedly.
" Ny captain fired at me as | sprang over
board l am afraid he'll soon be here !!
Hide me; do not 90 back on shipmate ~
Instantly sprung up, pointed to hole
IN the board partition OF my bunk. and mo-
toned to him to crawl through it. lie did
so. s.shcn | pushed over the aperture loose
board, which had become displaced there
from on the previous day. The runaway
now was in the forehold, concealed, where
believe 40 living person could find him,
among a pile of whalebone. Presently |
heard noise on deck. and making nv way
out of the forecastle beheld party of rude
looking soldiers, who had just come aboard
from boat.
The captain being called, confronted them,
when they informed him that they were in
search of Richard Blank, criminal who
had escaped from confinement, and thew had
reason to believe, had swan off TO this YES
sic. They had seen the outline of his head
in the water, when they gained the beach,
and had discharged pistol at him, but did
not think it hit him.
So,'' thought |, g the young man had
concealed was convict !"
Jump into the boat alongside, Starbuck, "
said the captain, turning to me. land see il
the fellow these men are after is therev'
" Ay. ay sir" promptly answered. and
instantly tumbled into the boat.
" Nobody herel" shouted
"Look sharp, Starbuck, look sharp ~
cried the skipper. and some of the soldiers
came to the rail to look also.
Meanwhile had determined to keep my
own counsel to say nothing of what had hap
pened in the foreeastle. 1t was wrong-in
a legal sense for me to do so, but pity for
the man wi o had tried to obtain his liberty
was the key that locked my tongue.
g Perhaps the fellow was hit after all !"
said one of the soldiers. g He may be a
dead fish by this time, floating on the bottom
of the bay.
Wed better search" said the rest, and
procuring lanterns they Immediately com
menced rummaging the vessels hold.
Well ensconced among the slabs of
whalebone, the convict was not discovered.
The soldiers shook their heads, lighted their
pipes tor smoke and went away, now con-
vineed that their shot had struck the crimi-
nal and sent him to the bottom.
Next morning anchors were lifted and
away we went. bowling out of the harbor
before good breeze. We were running
along under topgallant sails and ROYALS.
and were setting studdingsails fore and aft
when we came upon a small sloor, bound in
to Sydney, and having on board a file of sol
diers, scme of the convict guard. probably,
as their uniform was similar to that of those
who boarded us.
We had not passed them, when to nv
CONSERVATION who should come up but the
convict, whom l bad concealed in the fore.
hold. He had made his way aft, and now
came up from the steerage and confronted
the captain.
The latter, staring at him moment, lifted
his hands in astonisbment. then rushed to-
ward him exclaiming, - My son nv son ~
| saw into matters at once. The young
man. when convicted. had taken a false
name; bis farher had only heard of his dis.
race through friend.
Now cl;sping the boy to his breast mo-
ment. be suddenly drew back
80 Alas !" he exclaimed, "vou are be
whom the soldiers were after last night.''
81 Yes father"