Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-04-24
TIMELY SHOT.
BY ROGER srARBUcK.

" BY ROGER STARBUCK.
In the year 1910, the English sloop-
of-war Canton, after cruising success
fully against the vessels Of the French,
lay anchored off Calcutta.
Soon after the anchor was down, a
fine young sailor, named Henry Mel
ton, a man of refinement and educa-
tien, who, however, had shipped as a
foremost hand, made application to the
b captain for permission to 60 ashore to
visit his old mother, who, anticipating
the vessels arrival at her present port,
had sailed in a tradihg-vessel all the
way from England to Calcutta for the
sake of seeing her son.
Zoo i'll to go aboard the sloop, she
had sent word to Henry Of her arrival,
begging him to come TO her.
Old Captain Knowles, of the vessel,
was a strict disciplinarian. 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 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
provisions.
The young man was just in time to
receive his mother last blessing, and
to close her eyes in death. He had
with him a sum of money; a part of
this he took to an English merchant of
whom his mother had hired her lodg-
ings, and from whom he obtained a
promise that the remains of his parent
should be decently buried.
With the cash he had left, he pur-
chased 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 prosper
Gus days, had taken lessons of cele-
brated professor of pistol practice,
who had not only taught him how to
always bit his mark, but also how to
NHOOSC d SOOO NOdPOhs
He knew that he would be arrested,
and be condemned either to a fUgging
with the fearful cat-o'nine-tails" or
TO death, for his desertion. ~
Should the sentence against him
prove 20 be punishment with the lash,
he now had with him the means of
avoiding il.
Sooner than suffer the disgrace of a
fogging, 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 salts
faction of seeing that cold form de-
posted in its 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 butthe 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 loud
barking.
The captain, with his Hindoo guides,
attracted to the cave by the noise, saw
the sailor.
Har' exclaimed the old command
er. 80 here we are Arrest him,
guides! He is one of my men-a de-
serter?"
Melton was soon n prisoner.
How far are we from the cityY' in
quired Captain Knowles Of the guides
six miles" was the response.
Then we will pich our tents in that
plain yonder, and encamp for the
night Keep good watch on the
prisoner, guides"
"Oh, papa" pleaded Sylveen, with
tears in her beautiful blue eyes, "let
him 60"
"Humph !" growled the captain.
a pretty navy WEI 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 will be
shot.
The tents were soon pitched by some
of the guides, who carried canyassand
blankets.
Though much fatigued, yet Sylveen
could not sleep for thinking of the
prisoner.
His calm, handsome face, showing
neither fear nor bravado, when heI
father had mentioned his destined fate
haunted her mind.
Through a crevice in the tent, she
could now see him standing composed
and cheerful-l looking, out there in the
clear moonlight, amongst his dusky
guards.
At last the young girl dropped tC
sleep. At dawn she was awakened by
strange feeling Of oppression in hel
chest
4 thrill of horror went through bel
frame. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. with
fear she lay, at sight of hideous-look
serpent coiled upon her breast!
The monster was about four fee
long, its folds wound up in three rings
in the center of which was its head
slightly elevated, its two Offering eyes
turned full upon her face, its forked
tongue moving back and forth with
lightning rapidity in its half-opened
mouth
The body was of dark color, and
had the appearance of being covered
all over with Shiny looking spots OF
scales Under the throat were tive
stringy APPENDICES like miniature ham
Knocks to thatpart of the creature, and
adding to the uueouth aspect of the
reptiE.
Sylveen had heard descriptions
enough of this fearful pest of India
TO realize at a glance, that her terrible
visitor was the terrible cobra dc cGpeiL
one of the most venOmous of the ser
Ient tribe.
What could she do?
The slightest cry-the feeblest move.
ment on the part would insure her de-
struction.
The creature had its gaze upon her
and the moment she should stir il
would doubtless thrust its horrible
head against her face or neck and make
her feel the fatal bite Of its poisonous
fangsl
Scarcely daring to breathe, she lay
keeping even her cyelids steady, while
i cold perspiration bathed her brow,
and her heart beat loud and fast with
a wild terror that almost deprived her
of consciousness.