The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-10-28
THE STORY OF BASSET.


when he was n child. His mother was
a woman Of kind heart, an easy dis
position. and a weak viii. She cNer-
cised little control over her son, who,
rs he grew up, was allowed to do much
as he pleased. He was a bold. active,
restless, and withal somewhat wil,iul
boy, the first among his companions in
every legitimate village paStime, and
generally the first also in every mis-
chievouS prank and unlawful escapade.
Quite uudisciplined. and following in
all things his own viii and pleasure, he
had not 4 bad or callOuS heart, and af-
ter his own wild, boyish fashion, loved
his mother. After long widowhood
Mrs. Basset married again, and young
Basset found in this new father one of
as strong a viii rs himself. Ii was soon
evident that the two could never live to-
Cether on terms Of agreement, and the
stepfather determined that the boy must
leave the house. He therefore appren-
ticcd him on board a man-of-war, and
young Baeset took his departure. For
little time, while the novelty Of the
thing lasted, he liked his new life, but
before very long he began TO weary Of
it. His previous life had been the worst
Of schooling for the enforced discipline
of the navy. He chafed at the restraint
and control, longed once more to be his
own master, and resolved TO escape
from what he had grown TO regard Is Il
bondage on the first occasion that of
fered. 4 part of the crew Of the vessel
in which he served mutined, and BaSSet
engaged himself in the conspiracy, with
the hope that it would prove successful
and afford him an opportunity for OBJ
tanning the freedom he yearned for.
But the plot miScarried, and the mutt
neers were one and all sentenced to
transportation.
BasSet was naturally of quick percep-
tions, and his period Of man-of-war SER
vice had had the effect Of teaching him
a certain amount of foresight and self
control. He soon took in the conditions
of his position. He saw and heard Of
many instances OF men who, by quiet
conduct, had gained their freedom long
before the term of their transportation
was completed, and he knew Of some
of these same men who attained in a
short space TO independence and COM
fort. Freedom was 4 passion in this
mans nature, and the very longing for
it now helped him in his determination
topreSeryea quiet and orderly demeanor
as the swcst and SpcCdiest means OF
winning his liberty. For long while
this resolve held good. One day some
tailurc in his duty on the part Of BasSet
broughtUp him the ceUSure Of the over
seer. The thing had happened through
no williulucss of the mans, not even
through carelessnesS, but was due
wholly to inadvcTtCucc. But the over
seer was in an irritable mood, his tenn
per had been otherwise tried that morn
inc. and his rcbukc was sharp and per
emptorv. BaSsct received il in silence ;
but the suddenly darkening yiSsage,
which be could not wholly hide, did not
escape the oyerSeer. 1t magnlhed the
prisoners fault in his eyes, and It now
appeared clear to him that this was 4
case that demanded some sharper treat
ment than mere words. lie wrote the
following note. addressed to the magis-
trate Of the neighboring township, and
gave It to BaSSct to deliver:
DEAR SIR-Pleasc order the bearer Go.
73) twenty lsshes, and obIge, yours very
truly.
This was a form of epistle very COM
mon in those days. The power of ad-
ministration i'm regard 10 the liogging OF
the couyictS was vested i'm the magiS-
trates. BaSset delivered the note, re-
ceiyed his laShcs rs per order, and re-
turned to his work Next night No. Z:
was missing from the camp. He had
made his escape TO the woods. The
mans naturally hot and hasty spirit had
been reused by the injustice which he
had received, and his former resolves
had @iyen way.
Search was made for Basset with all
the vigor and vigilance which ut that
time attended the pursuit OF escaped
conyicts: hut in this instance IT proved
fruitlcss. The surrounding country had
but recently been opened up, and was
rs vet little known. BasSet got clear
away TO the woods, and penetrating
daily deeper into the Businesses of the
forest fell IN with small tribe of black
fellows. withwhom he ut once castin his
lot. lie knew that this would be the
sureSt of all means of escape. His new
acquaiutauces extended to him all the
hospitality within their knowlodgc, and
their uuSuspicious deme3n0r won IN,
confidence. Mingling with The Uncoutt
savagcry Of their life, he found gentiel
traits Of character. which made exist
cncc among them tolerable. His life
now apprOXimated, as nearly IS possl
bic. to that Of those around HIM. III
soon spoke their language, learned e
hunt and trap the wild animals which
supplied them with food-thc kangaroo
thewaIaby and the native bear; learne,
To lure the bird to the snare by the SIM
ulated call and whistle, taught himself t,
shoot with the bow, to hurl the boom
erang and the javelin, 10 spear the iiSt
in the river, to fashion cunningiy witt
his own hand the rude but deadly i'm
plementS Of the chase; and in all these
and the various other arts OF savage life
he became as skillful rs the most eXper
of those about him. Ere long, too, th'
ascendency of his higher race eNerte'
and manifested lis influence. Tacitl.
his dark-Skinned companions confessed
his supremacy, obeyod his viii, cStab
hshed him as their leader and king. 9
Basset was now tasting freedom in II
most unrestricted forms. and for tim'
he enjoyed II keenly, yielding himsel
with heart and mind to its unfettereC
abandon, and freedom from all care be
vond the day. The nomadic instinct
which is inherent, though often dor
mant. in most men. and which was eS
Deciallv strong in him, now had full
Scope and liberty. The authority, too
which he exercised over his swarth,
comrades in the camp and chase sweet
ened his wild existence. But the tim
came when these pleasures palled Hpo
him. The companionshipo of his uneout
though faithful followers, grew irSaom
to him. and the power he welded owe
them lost its zest. He cast about, hlI
how he might escape the tribe and wa
at last successful in eluding them. ii
hurried himself in the recesses Of a II