The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-04-23
A TIMELY SHOT.
BY ROGER sTARBUCK.


fue young sailor, named Henry Mel
ton, man of refinement and education,
who, however, had shipped as a fore
mast hand, made application to the
captain for permission to go ashore to
visit his old mother, who, anticipating
the vessels arrival at her present port,
had sailed in tradiDg-vsssel all the
way from England to Calcutta for the
sake of seeing her son.
Too i'll to 90 aboard tue slOop, she
had sent word to Henry of her arrival,
begging him to come to her.
Old Capt. Knowles, Of the vessel, was
a strict disciplinarian. Although his
beautiful daughter Sylveen, a girl of
eighteen, who had joined her father at
a Spanish port, where she had been
staying with her brother, besought her
stern parent to grant the sailors re-
quest, yet It was decidedly refused.
The consequence was that Henry
Melton, vino had finally learned that
his mother was not expected to live,
deserted on q certain dark night, IN
boat in which he went ashore from the
war-vessel, as one OF the crew, for pro-
visions
The young man was just il time to
receive his mothers last blessing, and
to close her eyes in death. He had
with him a sum of money; part of
this he took to an English merchant
of whom his mother had hired her
lodgings, and from whom be obtained
promise that the remains of his parent
should be decently buried.
With the cash he had left, he pur-
chased q small pistol, which he loaded
with powder and ball, and conce aled in
a secret pocket of his jacket.
Ia
of its kind. Herbert, in his prosperous
days, had taken lessons of a celebrated
professor of pistol practice, who had
not only taught him how to always hit
his mark, but also how to choose q
good weapon.
He knew that he would be arrested,
and be condemned either to a fogging
with the fearful "cat-o nine. tails" or to
death, for his desertion.
Should the sentence against him
prove to be punishment with the lash,
he now had with him the means of
avoiding it.
Sooner than suffer the disgrace of a
hOgging, he would shoot himself
through the head with his pistol
He resolved to endeavOr to avoid
capture until his mother was buried,
that he might at least have the satisfac-
ton of seeing that cold form deposited
IN it's final resting-place.
He, therefore, struck far out into the
country, and finally concealed himself
in cavern.
Toward night of the next day, who
should pass his retreat but the captain
and his daughter, who had been out
all day, accompanied by guides, for a
stroll?
Unfortunately for Henry, there was
with the party small dog, which, soon
discovering the young man, set up a
loud barking.
The captain, with his Hindoo guides,
attracted to the cave by the noise, saw
the sailor.
"Ha p exclaimed the old command
er. $50 here we are ! Arrest him,
guides He is one of my men-a de-
serter ?"
Melton was soon prisoner.
How far are we from the city p in
qUired Captain Knowles of one of the
guides.
Six miles" was the response.
"Then we will pitch our tents in that
plain yonder, and encamp for the night.
Keep good watch on the prisoner,
guides"
"Oh, papa" pleaded SyIveen, with
tears in her beautiful blue eyes, "let
him &C."
"Humph /" growled the captain. ga
pretty navy we'd have of it If we took
the advice of the women. No, ma am,
that man must not go. He has deserted
in time of war. He viii be shot"
The tents were soon pitched by some
of the guides, who carried canvas and
blankets.
Though much fatigued, yet Sylveer
could not sleep for thinking of the
prisoner.
His calm, handsome face, showing
neither fear nor bravRao, when hel
father had mentioned his destined fate,
haunted her mind.
Through crevice In the tent, she
could now see him standing composed
and cheerful-looking, out there in the
clear moonlight, amongst his dusky
guards.
At last the young girl dropped to
sleep. AT dawn she was awakened by g
strange feeling of oppression in hel
chest.
A thrill of horror went through her
frame. MOtionless speechIsss with
fear she lay, at sight of a hideous
looking serpent cooled upon her breast =
The monster was about four feet long
It's folds wound up IN three rings, IL
the center of which was its head
slightly elevated, its two glittering eve
turned full upon her face, it's forkeC
tongue moving back and forth will
lightning rapidity in its half-openeC
mouth
The body was a dark color, and haG
the appearance OF being covered al
over with slimy-looking spots of scales
Under the throat were two stringy APP
pendages ike miniature hammOcks L
that part of the creature, and adding
to the unconth aspect of the reptile.
Sylveen had heard description
enough of this fearful pest of India, t.
realize at a glance, that her terribl,
visitor was the terrible cobra de ca
2oettO-One of the most venOmous of thu
serpent tribe.
What could she do?
The slightest cry-the feeblest move
ment on her part would insure her de
stTuction.
The creature had it's gaze upon her
and the moment she should stir i
would doubtless thrust it's horrible
head against her face or neck and max
her feel the fatal bite of its pOisonou
fangs
Scarcely daring to breathe, she lay
keeping even her eyelids steady, Will