The Van Buren press., 1875-05-11
MISCELLANY. .
A Timely Shot.
BY ROGER STARBUCK

In the year 1910, the English sioop Of
war, Canton. after cruising successfully
against the vessels Of the French lay an
chored off Calcutta.
Soon after the anchor was down, fine
Young sailor, named Henry Melton, a
man of refinement and education, who
however, had shipped as forecast hand,
made application to the captain for per.
mission to 90 ashore to visit his old
mother. who, anticipating the vessel $ ar
rival at her present port had sailed IN
trading vessel all the way from England
to Calcutta for the sake of seeing her
son
Too i'll to 60 aboard the sloop, she had
sent word to Henry of her arrival, beg
eing him to come to her.
Old Capt Knowles, Of the vessel, was
d strict discipinarlan Although his
beautiful daughter Sylveen, girl Of
eighteen, who had joined her father at
Spanish port, where she had been staying
with her brother, besought her stern pa
rent to grant the sailors request, yet it
was decidedly refused.
The consequence was that Henry Mel
ton, who had finally learned tnat his
mother was not expected to live, desert
ed on a certain dark night, in boat in
which he went ashore from the warves
sci, as one of the crew, for provisions.
The young man was just in time to re-
ceive his mothers last blessing, and to
close her eyes in death He had with
| him n sum Of money; part of this he
took to an English merchant of whom
his mother had hired her lodgings, and
from whom he obtained a promise that
the remains of his parent should be de
Gently buried.
With the cash he had left he purchased
small pistol, which he loaded with pow
der and ball. and concealed in 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 a celebrated
professor of pistol practice, who had not
only taught how to always hit a mark,
but also how to choose n good weapon.
He knew that he would be arrested and
condemned either to a logging with the
eat o'nne tails or to death for his de
sertion
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 fog
ging, he would,shoot himself through the
head with his pistol
He resolved to endeavor to avoid cap
ture until his mother was buried, that he
might at least have the satisfaction ofsee-
ing that cold form deposited in its final
resting place.
He, therefore, struck far out into the
country, and finally concealed himself IN
a cavern.
Towards night of the next day, who
should pass his retreat but the captain
and his daughter, who had been out all
day, accompanied 10y guides, for stroll
Unfortunately for Henry, there was, with
the party, small dog, which soon dis.
covering the young man, set up loud
barking.
The captain, with his llindoo guides,
attracted to the cave by the noise, saw
the sailor,
Ian exclaimed the old commander.
So here we are Arrest him, guides
He is one Of my men-a deserter"
Melton was soon n prisoner
How far are we from the city, in
quired Captain Knowles Of one of the
guides
Six miles was the response
Thea we will pitch our. tents IN that
plain yonder, and cncamp for the night
Keep q good watch on the prisoner,
guides.
'Oh, papa pleaded Sylveen, with tears
glistcning in her beautiful blue eyes, let
him 90.
'Humph! growled the captain A
pretty navy we'd have of tif we took the
advice OF the women. No, ma'am, that