The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-04-29
A TIMELY SHOT.
BY RoaER srARnUcK.


Soon after the anchor was down, a
fine young sailor, named Henry Mel
ton, a 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 a trading-vesseI all the
way from England to Calcutta for the
sake of seeing her son.
Too i'll to go aboard the sIoop, she
had sent word TO Henry OF her arrival,
begging him to come to her.
Old Capt. Knowles, of the vessel, was
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, who had finally learned that
his mother was not expected TO live,
deserted on a certain dark night, in a
boat In which he went ashore from the
war'vessel, as one of the crew, for pro-
visions.
The young man was just in 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 he obtained
promise that the remains of his parent
should be decently buried.
With the cash ne had left, he pur-
chased a small pistol, which he loaded
with powder and ball, and concealed in
a secret pocket of his jacket.
The instrument was one of the best
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
good weapon.
He knew that he would be arrested,
and be condemned either to a floeQing
with the fearful cato '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 q
hogging, he would shoot himself
through the head with his pistol.
He resolved to endeayor to avoid
capture until his mother was buried.
that he might Mt least have the satisfac-
tlon OF seeing that cold form deposited
IN its final resting-place.
lie, therefore, struck far out into the
country, and finally concealed himself
in a 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
stroll2
Unfortunately for Henry, there was
with the party a small dog, which, soon
discovering the young man, set up
loud barking.
The captain, with his Hindoo guides,
attracted to the cave by the noise, saw
the sailor.
:" Ia !" exclaimed the old command
or. $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 ?" in
quired Captain Knowles of one of the
gnides.
g Six miles, )" was the response.
Then we will pitch our tents in that
plain yonder, and encamp for the night.
Keep a good watch on the prisoner,
guides.
"Oh, papa. pleaded Sylveen, with
tears IN her beautiful blue eyes, "let
him CO."
"Humph /" growled the captain. ga
pretty navy we'd have of it il we took
the advice of the women. No, ma'am,
that man must not go. He has deserted
In time of war. He will be shot"
The tents we're soon pitched by some
OF the guides, who carried canvas and
blankets.
Though much fatigued, yet Sylveen
prisoner.
His calm, handsome face, showing
neither fear nor bravado, when her
father had mentioned his destined fate.
haunted her mind.
Through a crevice in the tent she
could now see him standing composed
and cheerful-looking, out there in the
clear moonlight, amongst his dusky
AT last the young girl dropped to
sleep. At dawn she was awakened by
strange feeling of oppression in her
chest.
thrill of horror went through her
frame. Motionless - speechl IS with
fear she lay, at sight of a hideous. |
looking serpent coiled upon her breastl" !
The monster was about four feet long.
the center of which was it's head
slightly elevated, its two glitterinp ewes
turned full upon her face, lite forked
tongue moving back and forth with
lightning rapidity in its half-opened
mouth
The body was dark color, aud had
the appearance of being covered ali !
over with slimy-looking spots of scales. |
Under the throat were two stringy APP |
pendages like miniature hammocks to |
that part of the creature, and adding |
to the uncouth aspect of the reptile.
Sylveen had heard descriptions |
enough of this fearful pest of IEdia, to |
reallzs at glance, that her terrible |
VISITOR was the terrible cobra de ca
Petto-one of the most venOmous OF the |
serpent tribe.
What could she do?
The slightest cry-the feeblest move !
ment on her part would insure her de- |
stIuction.
The creature had it's gaze upon her.
and the moment she should stir il |
would doubtless thrust its horrible |
mead against her face or neck and make |
her feel the fatal bite of its poisonous |
fangs
Scarcely daring TO breathe, she Law.
keeping even her eyelids steady, while |
cold perspiration bathei her brow. /
and her heart beat loud and fast with a |
wild terror that almost deprived her of
Consciousness.
Meanwhile, outside the tsnt she
could hear the voices of her father and
the guides, as they moved to and fro.
ignorant of her peTilous position.
Would they never come? Vaiulv
she listened for her fathers approach
ing footsteps. Several times she saw
his shadow across the threshold of the
tent, and once she beheld his arm but
he did not enter.
Suddenly the serpent elevated its
head higherthan before. The beating