The Portland daily press., 1874-09-19

knocked down and handcuffed and lay pant
ing on the ground, glazing at his captors and
swearing like a trooper. When Smith reached
the spot he at once inquired the meaning of
this sudden outbreak.
s'Mean! Yes, should like to know what it
means,'' gasped Skillins. SLOW came they
to have my mate in limbo here, should
like to know.''
Smith started and glancing toward the
grated windows beheld our old friend Jake
Pendergrast with his arms still swinging
wildly through the bars and his nose thrust
as far out as could possibly be accomplished
without seriously damaging that useful and
ornamental organ, while at regular intervals
he emitted yells like an enraged hyena.
"Come, dry up that" said one of the SOL
diers, aiming blow at the protruding mem
Der which caused Jake to disappear with mar
vellous celebrity, eve don't allow no screech-
ing around here"
After the first start upon seeing Jake's
face, Smith turned away indifferently and in
quired of the officer the meaning of ODE
diah's arrest.
care you a friend of his ?" said the officer.
eyes; am his mate" replied Smith.
"Arrest him" said the officer, turning to
his men and, in trice, Smith found himself
neatly handcuffed and pair of bayonets in
unpleasant proximity to his back.
"Take them in and lock them up" said
the officer.
zone moment, sir" said Smith, zone
word with you before you lock me up"
SWELL" said the officer, turning back,
"speak quick-what is it?''
Smith stepped close to him and whispered
few words rapidly in his ear when the
officer broke out angrily:
Nonsense. That won't do here, my fine
fellow; you can't play any such game"
''But I tell you am" said the mate ear
nestly.
''Take him in,' said the officer, turning on
his heel and walking of.
"You will repent this, SIR" called Smith
after him, but received no reply, and in a
moment more the two men found themselves
locked into large square room, where, seat
ed on low, iron bedstead, they found Jake
awaiting them.
A huge ball of iron was attached to that
gentleman's leg by chain and ring, and he
was also accommodated with strap where
with to lift this ornament from place to place
as he might desire to exercise.
In few moments the door again opened,
and seqeral soldiers entered, bearing similar
fixtures which were adjusted upon the limbs
of Skillins and bis mate. Their handouts
were removed, and the soldiers then retired,
leaving them alone. 'Thunder and light
ninP' said Obadiah, sinking upon one of the
iron beds, and glazing about him wrathfully,
rs this here free country or amt it a
free country? That's what 1 want to know.
Are free born American citizens to be put in
chokey in this fashion, or hev we any rights
worth speakin Of? Jerusalem pickets-Pll-
Here you Jake" he broke off suddenly, his
eye CHANGING to fall upon his unfortunate
second, "what under the canopy is the mean
in of this perform anee? How came YOU
here? What you been doin9 Come you
lantern,jawed son of a dye-pot-speak out,
if you amt deaf"
Thus encouraged Mr.. Pendergrast proceed
ed in deprecattng manner to relate his adj
ventures, in which it appeared that upon the
arrival OF Guacho Jack and his crew at Fort
ress Monroe they had conveyed him (Jake)
handcaffed like a criminal, to the fort where
they delivered him up to the authorities,
stating that he was one of the Brazilian
gang and requesting that he be kept in safe
custody, which was done. "Why didn't you
tell 'em who you were, you dough-head %
enquired the captain contemptuously.
81 'did'' replied the thoroughly subdued
mate, ''but they didn't believe it. I told the
boss that them was the pirates and not me,
and-I swamp he cried suddenly, remem-
brance striking him, "who do you suppose
that burned pirate said he wasp
"Who?" said Obadiah, disdaining to guess.
HE said-as true as you are Twin sim
ner-that he was a detective-d,je ever hear
of such cheek as that2''
'Wall, you've m ade nice mess of it, you
have" said Skillins disregarding the amaze
ment of his mate, "you haze done big job,''
and in high scorn the worthy captain threw
himself back onto his bed and soon fell
asleep.
During this recital of Jake's, the mate
Smith had listened attentively with curious
expression Of amusement and disgust on his
face and at its conclusion he also lay down on
his back and apparently went to sleep. One
watching him, however, might have noticed
at times spasnodic contraction OF the legs
and occasionally heard smothered sound
which might have been suppressed laughter.
About nine O'Clock the next morning the
door Of the guard house was thrown open
and several files of soldiers entered accom-.
panied by sergeant and the regimental
blacksmith. The irons were speedily knocked
off from our heroes, and they were hidden to
accompany the guard to the commandant's
office. Arriving at their destination they
were ushered into spacious apartment hand.
somely fitted up as library and Office where
seated at long table in the center of the
room, were several officers, and at small
desk near the upper end of the apartment
sat the commandant himselt-a grizzly Ole
veteran with white hair and vicious scowl
withal, overhanging his deep-set gray eyes
swell, sirs," said this officer in a gruf
tone as the three sailors ranged themselves
at the foot of the table, "What have you te
say for yourselves
Captain Skilins at once advanced to thu
front and proceeded to state his name ant
nationality also those of his companions
Growing warm over the remembrance of his
grievances he launched forth into a fierce
TRADE of denunciation and abuse, mingled
with some statements regarding the constitu
ton of the United States and its bearing
upon the lives and liberties of citizens gen
orally, and of himself and his mates in par
ticular. The officers listened to this ORATOR
in silence till the captain, having exhausted
his vocabulary, concluded with general con
signment of all meddling stuck-up blue belize
to eternal perdition, when the commandant
turning to him inquired:
"You say this man," pointing to Smith
sis your mate, do you?''