Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-01
CAT THE YARDARN.o

''Did 1 ever tell you, Samuel, how near
phate?'
Thus spoke Uncle Ebenezer, who having
nan and boy, plo. ghed the salt sea waves for
the better part of half a century, was now sit
ting on the steps of his back porch of the old
homestead, and while slowly puff ng at the am
Der mouthpieee OF an immense nargile, which
he had brought from India, enlightening nv
youthful mind with shreds and patches from the
storehouse of his multifarious experience.
My uncle had been well educated in his youth
and he came Of a race Of gentlemen, 50 that he
mad preserved refinement of speech and man
ner not usually found among mariners. He was,
therefore. an excellen narrator, and forty wears
aga. had no greater pleasure than to sit in the
Old back porch, and listen Ia his wild tales of
life on the stormy ocean. This was the tale that
peated:
Of the last war, said my uncle, i sailed from
ChaTlestown, In command Of beautiful little
ehpper-brig called the Snake. i hal letters of
narque, and the Snake was armed with eight
brass t-pounders. for, though We did not hope to
be able 10 resist any of the larger cruisers OF the
enemy, nor did We intend to attempt the CAP
ture OF any OF his merchantmen. we knew that
the narrow sea was swarming with English pri-
vateers. and IL was our intention to beat of any
small craft that attacked us, il We could.
Our cargo, in short, was powder and shot
which we were to take to the mouth OF the Ia
gus, and transfer to one OF our frigates, ordered
to meet rs at that point. Fighting, therefore,
was not our cue on that voyage, and accordingly
We set every stitch of canvass that would draw
and kept good lookout night and day.
The last pTecaution was the means of accom-
plishing greater good than eye IN our own safety
On the afternoon Of the third day out, the look
out sPied vessel on our weather bow, with sig
nal of distress flying 1 at once bore up for her
AMI BY sunset We were alongside, inst in time
~ rescue her crew and passengers from a wa
tery grave. She proved to be a West India
trader. under Spanish colors, bound from Ha-
vana TO Norfolk, Va, with a crew of eight, in
ending officers and two passengers. They had
~; nes tneiI boats wnen theIr SraIt vas thrown on
and though working at the pumps steadily,
they had been unable to prevent the vessel from
Sling slowly through the leaks, which were the
result of the same disaster. She was only Just
anOat when we came up with her, and sank be-
sore we were fairly clear OF her, after taking on
her people
had leisure to look after the comfort of our in
voluntary passengers. The crew of the Spanish
vessel were disposed of among my own men, and
NE captain and his passengers invited TO my
cabin. Much to my surprise, one was a beauti-
ful young lady, the other being her father,
gray-haired, portly old gentleman, q virginian,
people OF wealth and refinement, and The Span
ish captain proved to be a fine fellow.
OF course, I should have done all could for
them, had they been less agreeable, but now my
duty became real pleasure, which was, doubt
les, enhanced by the fact that the young lady
Was both amabfe and beautiful. i was but
young at the time, and easily impressed by fe-
the circumstances, that soon began to indulge
in vague hopes that Laura Mason might be
eventually Induced to entertain a warmer feel
her life. Not that ever dared to breathe a
word Of love in her ear. But before she had
been a week on board, 1 resolved that when she
was once again restored to her own home, 1
would seek her there and Ask her to be mine.
But these fond dreams and tender fxncies
we're destined to be quickly brought to an eni
by the sudden approach of peril that menaced
both OF us with a fate more fearful than the
widest Imagination could conceive. Ten DAYS
after the rescue Of Laura Mason and her fellow
travellers, a suspicious sail was sighted on our
dent that the stranger was an English man-ol-
war. in chase Of US.
Every exertion was male by myself and crew,
aded by the Spanish sailors, TO escape our ene-
my, but all our endeavors awaited Us nothing.
The Snake was swift, but her pursuer was
swifter. On the second morning of the chase,
the foe was within gunshot and gave Us a broad
side tina: carried away our topmasts. 1t would
have been mere insanity to continue TO resist
fOrce 50 superior, when thus heiplessly At its
meRG. 1t Is possible that some desperate ex-
and myself had been alone in the brig. But
bone Of US dared to propose anything that would
expose the lovely maiden in our charge TO fur
lheT danger, and having done our whole duty
n sailors and men, We struck our flag but ONLY
OWL force.
OIr cdptoT proved 10 be the friyate Diana. OF
thirty -siN guns, commanded by As great brute
A. ever shamed the name OF man by wearing *.
HIS true character, however, was not percepti-
bic until after We had been i'm his power for
'one time He was still young, a baronet by
hereditary rights, and his person was pleasing,
. hi!e his manners were the perfection of court
.sy- When h first received us You would have
imagined US his guests rather than his prisoners;
but ere MANY days had passed, startling
change took place In his conduct, the secret OF
which was that he had conceived a sinful pas
non TOR the innocent maiden east upon his pro-
eeuon- and had determined TO crafty IL at any
hazard.
when cruising alone, he was absolute in bis
authority, and none to call him To account Ia
would have protected him in any arbitrary ex-
,rcise Of power. Probably, however Sir Ed
ward Martin cared nothing for the consequences
Q himself. Carried away by his unholy passion,
,cmplish his purpose, and when once resolved,
w law, human OF divine, was regarded as an |
HIS arst step was to deprive Laura of the pro- |
eetion Of her father and myself, and this vas |
with the cunning Of . veritabls |
lemon The first intimAtion that We had Of his |
'lace Mr.. Manson and myself in irons, we hav- |
m been allowed perfect liberty up to that time 1
IN the afternoon Of the same day We were taken |
nto the captains cabin, and In the presence Of |
he Dianas officers, charged with piracy.
Ny indignant denial of the charge was cut \
hort by the tyrant, who CURLY informed rs that /
70 would be allowed TO defend ourselves before 4
ourt-martial the next morning, and We were /
nnediately hurried back 70 our place Of con- /
IBement-
Quite stunned by this unexpected calamity, |
ve we're utterly unable TO divine its cause, but |
uring the evening one OF the marines who
uarded rs slipped into Mr.. Manson's HAND /
'ote which threw food of light upon our be- |
IL was from LAURA stating that Il
he brutal commander had plainly told her that
ef Ix,hsrs ne was At his mercy, and that IL
expended upon her 10 save him.
Mr.. Manson was really frantic for q time. bur
II his fury vss OF No avail. and thus in DARK |
ees, chains and despair, we passed the veary l
, seal Our fate. /
need not detail the particulars Of the court |
laxtiai, which was a mere noekery at the best |
nth . cunning that vas absolutely 6endish