The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-04-22
A TIMELY SHOT.
by O sTARBUCK.

soon alter the anchor was down,
me young sailor, named Henry Me-
ton, a man OF refinement and education
who, however, had shipped as a fore
mast hand, made application TO Tn
captain for permission to 20 ashore I
vlsit ms old mother, who, anticipatin
the vessels arrival al her present por,
had sailed In u trading vessel ali th
way from England TO Calcutta for tb
sake OF seeing her sOn.
700 Ill to go aboard the sloOp, sh
had sent word to Henry Of her arrival
begging Inn 10 come to her.
Old Capt. Knowles, of the vessel, wa
strict disciplinarian. Although hi
beautiful daughter Sylyeen, n giri 0
eighteen, who had joined her father a
q Spanish port, where she had beer
staying with her brother, Desought heI
stern parent 10 grant the sailors re
quest, yet it was decidedly refused.
The consequence was that Henry
Melton, who had finally learned that
his mother WAS not expected 10 live
deserted on Il certain dirk night, III d
boat IN which he went ashore from the
w'r.vessel, ne n OF the crew, for pro
visions.
lhe young man was just in time tl
receive his mothers last blessing, and
to close her eyes in death. He had
with him a sum OF money "A part OF
this he took to an English merchant
OF whom his mother had hired her
lodgings, and from whom no obtained
"a IrpI,1iun tbuI ll,n r.n,n,t,p az bio ,un p.pt
should be decontIy buried.
With tho cash he had left, he pur.
chased n small pistol, which he loaded
with powder and ball, and concealed in
u secret pocket Of his jacket.
The instrument was one OF the best
Of it's kind. Herbert, in his prosperous
days, had taken lessons Of u celebrated
professor OF pistol practice, who had
not only tanBht him how to always hit
his mark, but also how to choose n
good weapon.
He knew that he would be arrested,
and be condemned either to Il hogeing
with the fearful "cat,o 'nine.t ails" or to
death, for his desertion.
Should the sentence against him
prove to be punishment with the lash,
he now had with him tho means OF
avoiding it.
Sooner than suffer the disgrace of a
hogging, he would shoot himself
through the hoad with his pistol.
He resolved to cndeavor to avoid
capture until hia mother was buried.
TINT he might at least have the satislac,
ton OF seeing that cold form deposited
IN it's final rcsting-place.
lie, therefore, struck far out into the
country, aud finally concealed himself
in O cavern.
Toward night of tho next day, who
should pass his retreat but tho captain
and his daughter, who had been ont
all day, accompanied by guides, for n
stroll?
Unfortunately for Henry, there was
with The party Il small dog, which, soon
discovering the young man, set MP Il
loud barking.
The captain, with his Iindoo guides.
attracted TO the cave by the noise, saw
the sailor.
"Ha y exclaimed the old command
or. $50 here we are Arrest him,
guides He il one of my men-a de-
serter 7"
melton was 0 II prisoner.
How fat are we from the city ?" in
qnlrcd Captain Knowles of one of the
guides.
six miles," was the response.
"Ihen we will pitch our fonts in that
PLAIN yondcr, and encamp for the night.
Keep a good watch on The prisoner,
guides"
"Oh, papa" pleaded Sylveen, with
ours in her beautiful blue eyes, "let
CO."
"Hnmph I" growled tho captain. "a /
retty navy we'd have OF it If we took /
advice OF tho women. No, ma'am, O
lat man must not go. He has deserted
time OF war. He will be shot" II
The tents were oon pitched by some O
the guides, who carried canvas and CT
ankets, n,
Though much fstigued, yet Sylveen ci
'uld not sleep for thinking OF the q
isoner. !,
His calm, handsome face, showing |,
'ither fear nor bravaao, when her n
ther had mentioned his destined fate. G
her mind. /
Through u crevice in tho tent. she :
pnio now see hlm standing composed ,
nd Overwhelming, ont there in the \
lear moonlight, amongst his dusky :
~ :
AT last the young girl dropped to |
.eep. At dawn she was awakened by ,
tralge feeling of oppression in her ,
hest. "' !,
A thrill of horror went throucb her d
rame. M~otlonless speecblr ss with '
ear she lay, ut sight of Il hideous.
ooMing serpent coiled upon her breast I"
Ihe monster was about four feet long. /
~ iolds wound up in three rings, in 4
no center Of which was its head s
ightly elevated, its two glittering eyes "
'ihed inll upon her face, its Eorked ii
niRue moving back and forth will d
.n.nng rapIdity in its half.opened cl
Duth lii
The body wa n dark colcr, and had
o appearance OF being covered nll
or WIN s~llmy-looking spots OF scales.
tile throat were two stringy up
ndages like miniature hamm0cks 10 bt
~ part OF the creature, and adding ~
the uncouth aspect OF the reptile. eS
Sylveen had heard descriptions as
o,ugh OF this fearful pest of India, to CO
iizo at Il glance, that her terrible be
was the terrible cobra de ca. fe,
OF the most veuomous OF the tn
fpent tribe. ri,
What could she do? an
Inc slightest cry-the feeblest move mi
,nI on her part would insure her de. go,
it
ihe creature had it's gaze upon her.
q inc moment she should stir il hi
ma doubtless thrust its horrible VI
"a against her face or neck and make I'M
feel the fatal bite of its poisonous DO
g. wa
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