The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-09-17

were fastened down, with worminp at
tached to his ankles His arms were
spread out, and his wrists fastened with
worrning to the rail.
The sentence of the court m artial was
read: ''one hundred and fifty iashes.''
Not only the crew looked i'm each Others
faces, but the Junior officers gave a start
of surprise. The Doctor looked meaninely
at the surgeon. 1t was evident that he
thought their services might be required
before this terrible infliction was completed.
lhe commodore spoke: Before the
ooatswain' :. .mates commence their DUTY
said be, Il wish to say a word to those who
write defenses for men on trial. In future.
they VIII be held accountable for the senti
ments they express in making up those
defenses. Let this be a warning to them ,,
BY this time Barrett, the chief boat
swain's mate, had drawn his scourpe from
ms sheath, and was engaged in disentang-
ling Its tail Every eye was fixed OIL -he
smooth white back of the prisoner. SO 500.
TO be one mass of mangled, bleeding fiesl.
'Go on, boatswain's mate - said IL.
captain.
Barret drew back his scourge and was
about to strike the first blow when the
captain, glancing toward the gancwav. ON
the other side of the frigate, motioned to
the petty officer, and he dropped his arm,
looking surprised at the unwonted inter-
rupton.
midshipman stepped across the deck.
and the crew then perceived the cause of
this stay in the proceedings.
cholar of ordinary appearance had
come alongside in his canoe and mounted
the deck. As it was contrary 10 rule to
administer punishment in the presence of
outsiders, the midshipman, in no pleasant
tone, ordered the intruder to make himself
scarce.
For answer the cholar fumbled in the
folds of his dress, and soon drew out q let
ter which he handed to the midshirman.
1he latter looked at the back of the letter.
and saw that it was directed Ia the com
modore. 1t was, of course, given to him
at once.
The commodore broke the seal rather
iinpatiently, and commenced reading. He
had not read far before he looked up at the
prisoner. He read on. He started visiblv.
and his features betrayed the utmost as
constituent.
Every one looked at the commodo,o.
wondering at his agitation, and trying to
surrnise what that letter contained that the
commodore appeared SO deeply interested
in it.
Having finished reading the letter. the
commodore said something to the captain,
who gave start of surprise. and ordered
Lewis to be released immediately.
As soon as Lewis had put Oh his shirt
and jacket, the captain took him into the
cabin, the commodore soon following after.
OF course the officers left upon deck were
bursting with curiosity, and they were OBJ
served to talk earnestly among themselves.
Alter waiting an hour for further
Developments, the crew saw somebody
emerge from the cabin in the dress of a
| gentleman and as he passed over the side
with the captain and took his place in tie
| gig with the latter, it was thought that his
! features very neatly resembled those of the
| culpIlt so recently stretched out at the
gangway with a fair prospect of being cut
nearly in two by the cat o mine tails. But
secrets come out at last ON board ship.
The letter SO opportunely received by the
commodore was from distinguished law
yer in London, rming the recipient
that George Lewis was heir to the title and
estates of an English lord-his elder BROTH
er having Gicd recently-and that he was
/ legally entitled to an income of SIC. 600 per
annum.
But here arose question with the cl,f --
/ alrous commodore of the L. S. squadrr-
If he had been imsulted by gentleman
stead of common sailor, and, therersle
could not administer corporal puuishme IL.
was it not necessary to the preservation OF
his honor to seek satisfaction in some other
way-according to the code, i'm fact
This subject was discussed very earnest
ly by the principal officers of the frigate,
] and if might have lee. to something serious
had not the young fellow who wrote Lewis $
defense written out his opinion on the
subject and sent it to the first lieutenant.
who showed it to the commodore himself.
He took the ground that as Lewis was a
common sailor, subject to martial law. and
was under the orders of the commodore
when the offense was given, it was only an
insult from common sailor, aud such it
would still have been though the sailor
were the Prince of Wales himself. And as
the commodore had right to forgive an
offense committed by one OF the crew, that
was the end of the whole matter.
'But | did not forgive him common
sailor forgavc him as an English lord,
replied the commodore.
81 am glad to hear that You rorgave
/ him." said the lieutenant.
The commodore looked puzzled a mo-
mem: but that was the last that was said
on the subject and Lewis sailed for Eng