The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-09-15

S8lQ
"Mr. Monson, have these men
names entered, and then station
them and mess them )" and with
out further remark he walked at
to his cabin.
In moment Toms mind wa!
made up, and without resistan K
or remark of any kind he allowed
his name to be entered On the
pur>er's books, and his station ant
mess to be assigned him, after
which q hammock and bedding
were served out to him, and he
| was directed to "turn in" as soon
as possible.
The frigate was we'll guarded
by sentries, there being two upon
the poop, one at each gangway:
one on the fore castle, ami one on
| the bowsp,it, besides those which
| were stationed at various posts
| below, so that no further notice
was taken ofthe new corners, af
| ter they had received their bed
ding, excepting to give the sen.
tinels additional caution with re.
| gard 10 watching we'll that no one
left the ship unless he was passed
by the officer Of the deck.
Toms hammock was already
clewed, and having hung it up, be
turned into it without undressing,
The night was warm and sultry,
md as a means Of giving q circu.
lation Of fresh air, the gundeck.
,orts were lowered, a:,... from the
place in " hich our hero swung he
,ould look out upon the water, a.
sparkled beneath the beams OF
he bright moon. Tom lay quie:
until midnight, but as yet b,
c,uld think of no means of escap".
Shortly after that hour had pas.
I'd, he heard the relief guard call
ID, and in some ten minutes the
'orporal of the first guard came
lown upon the gun-deck and un-
ashed the hammock which hung
,ext to his own, which operation
,eing performed, he proceeded t.
,ndrcss himselg hanging his
:lothes, as he did so, upon the
'lews of his hammock. The four
aour's duty had given the corpo-
al an excellent appetite for sleep
md in Eve minutes after he touch
d his mattress; he began to snore.
Now, or never" thought Tom.
is my chance and with this
lea in his mind, he slipped quietly
,ut from his hammock, and pro
.eeded to divest himself of hi>
,wn clothes, which having been
accomplished, he very unceremo-
,eously substituted those OF the
snoring corporal in their place,
and then sat down upon the
oreechins of a gun to meiitate
luther upon his plans.
One b.ll llstruck, and the sentinels
,assed the usual "all's well" -
Then Tom heard the corporal, as
ne started to 90 his rounds, and
IRE long he descended the main
hatch ladder to visit the posts
be'ow. No sooner had the marine
o:fiesr passed beyond the galley,
than our hero sprang up the lad
der and gained the spar-deck.-
The officer of the deck was aft
upon the star-board side, the sem
tries were walking their posts
with regular tread, while the old
quarter-master stood upon the
poop, with his night-glass under
his arm. The sentries performed
their walk upon gang-bnar,is
raised even with the bottom OF
the hammock nettings, and run
ming forward from the ladders
The larboard gangway was sha-
ded from the light of the moon by
the awnings. and walking delib-
erately up the ladder, Tom looked
over the ships side.
Sentry" said he, in a num-
bling sort of tone, "what boat is
that at the boom?"
"The second CUTTER" returned
the marine, showing by his man.
ner that he had no suspicious OF
the spurious corporal.
Tom Immediately walked aft to
where stood the officer Of the
deck, and being quite assured by
the mistake of the sentry, he pull.
ed his cap down over his eyes,
and, touching his visor respectful
ly, remarked:
u should like to overhaul that
second cutter, sir, for I think
there is rum aboard Of her."
Tom knew be was playing a
desperate game, but liberty was
to be the result of success, and he
finched not o hair.
"Ha! the Williams" uttered the
lieutenant. up to their old
tricks again. Go, corporal-get
down into the boat, and if you do
find rum in her, they'll catch it."
Tom started quickly forward,
but just as he got abreast of the
fore batch-way, he saw the Simon