The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-08-11
WEDNESDAY MORNING. AUGUST II, 1869.

calculations, the venerable ma
riner gave vent to a series of ab.
dominal cackles, which shock his
corporosity lide the premonitory
trenors of a young earthquake.
"Walk aft," said Tom.
"By the way" remarked the
old salt, as they moved towards
the cabin, "the guv'ner yonder has
a fancy that you are shipping
arms for the Confederates-ha! ha!
good joke, sir. good joke; shipping
arms under Her Majesty's nose.
Wanted me to come off and see
what you're doing-egad, sir,
what you're doing. And I've come,
I've come, sir"
"Tbat's right" said Tom, "I'm
glad to welcome you. Look around
for yourself; there's a pile ofhoes,
some shovels and spades, and when
you 60 below we'll have the box
es opened. and I'll show you the
prettiest lot of hardware ever
shipped from Great Britain. But
come along to the cabin and let's
drink first" ... ",.. ~.
With that Oakley ushered bis
visitor into the private cabin. OF
the "Kate," and closed the door
on that side ofthe ship from which
she was every moment receiving
her warlike cargo.
"What shali.it be-? I've a little
of all sorts" t;Take some cham
pagne,'' said Tom. .:
"a little brandy first, cap'n--
brandy first. Brandy's7 a sheet
anchor, cap'n, a sheet anchor-ao
water, thank'ee, no water; they
don't agree, as the Irishman said,
when be gave the Pope q recipe
for making punch"
"How was tha:w asked Tom.
"First pour in the brandy, then
add the sugar, but, 'gad, sir, every
drop Of water you put in after
that, spoils the punch, sir, spoils
the punch"
Oakley Piled his guest with ques.
tons, and kept him busy with an
swers, every three or four minutes
putting in a liquid punctuation
point in the shape now of brandy ?,
and now of champagne, until the
British captain was in an uproart
Gus state of personal felicity. At
first he was strictly and most i'm
partially neutral-the very essence
of a representative Briton, dutiful-
ly engaged but the more he .prac-
tised multiplication with Johan,
mes Barleycorn the kinder grew
his sympathies, until finally kin
died into enthusiasm, about fifteen
glasses deep, he threw his arms
affectionatsIy around Tom, and ex-
claimed with intoxicated pathos,
;sNev'r mind e 'ardware, cap'n-
nev'r mind! .Ye see, ye see, hic-
it's all right-by Jove, all right,
hic. Pm with ye, hic-with ye
'eart an soul, by Jove-'eart and
soul, hic." The last words were
grandly emphatic, accompanied
with a astroke on Toms back which
the old salt doubtless intended to
be particularly fraternal, bnt which
Tom AYERS, to this day, was very
much like the descending stroke
of spile driver, and always gives
him q rheumatic twinge to think
about.
Three on four more drinks did
the business, by which time Tom
was safe from all fears of inspec-
ton.
Between the Otard on the one
hand, and the necessary official
dignity to be preserved on the
other, the old Briton, as be leaned
lovingly on Toms arm in the pas
sage from the cabin to the ships
ladder, found it exceedingly diff
cult to maintain his specific gravi-
ty. As he rolled over the side,
his parting words were, "Her
Mai'sty's officer after 'ardware-
hic, 'ardware. Ha! ha! good joke,
sir, by Jove, hic; God bless yer,
cap'n, hic-an' safe v'yage-safe
v'yagc back" When last seen the
worthy captain was stretched out
in the stern sheets Of his cutter,
snoring an unconscious accompani-
menr to "When the swallows home
ward fly"
We had now only to finish load
ing, get our clearance from the
custom house, end turn our bow
homeward. The Kate" although
a trim and beautiful boat, was not
the fastest of our blockade run
ners; but fortunately We were not
put to trial of speed on the re-
turn trip. Our cargo being too
important to warrant the ordi-
nary risks incurred in running the
blockade Of Charleston or Will
mington, Captain Oakley deter
mined to land at Smyrna, on the