Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-05-27
a TIMELY SHOT.
By ROGER sTARBUcK.

1uily agalnSI the vessels OF Ine FRENCH,
lay anchored off Calcutta.
Soon after the anchor was down, a
ine young sailor, named Henry Hell
ton, man of refinement and educa-
ton, who, however, had shipped as a
foremost hand, made application to
the captain for permission to go ashore
to visit his old mother, who, anticipa-
ting the vessels arrival at her trading
port, had sailed in trading vessel all
the way from England to Calcutta for
the sake of seeing her son.
To 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 strict disciplinarian. Although
his beautiful daughter Sylvee, 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 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 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 mad hired her lolg.
ings, and from whom he obtained a
promise that the remains of hir 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 it's kind Herbert, in his prosper
GUS days, had taken lessons of a cele-
brated professor of pistol practice, who
had not only taught him how to azaoays
hat his mark, but also how to choose a
good weapon.
He knew that he would be arrested,
and be condemned either to a foggine
with the fearful "cat' mine tails or tc
death, for his desertion.
Should the sentence against him
prove to be punishment with the lash,
he now had with him the means O.
avoiding it.
Sooner than suffer the disgrace of 6
fogging, he would shoot himsei
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 depos
tied in its final resting place.
He therefore struck far ont 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 al
day, accompanied by guides, for +;
stroll?
Unfortunately for Henry, there wa.
with the party small dog, which soor
discovering the young man, set up
loud barking.
The captain, with his Hindoo guides
attracted to the cave by the noise, saw
the sailor.
"Ha!" exclaimed the old comman.
der. $50 here we are! Arrest him
guides! He is one of my men-a de-
serter."
Melton was soon prisoner.
GLOW far are we from the city,
inquired Captain Knowles of one of the
guides.
"Six miles" was the response.
"Then we will pitch our tents il
that plain yonder, and encamp for the
night. Keep good watch on the
prisoner, guides"
"Oh, papa, )" pleaded Sy1veen, with
tears in her beautiful blue eyes, s'let
him 60"
"Humpbl' growled the captain. "a
pretty navy we'd have of it if we took
the advise of the women. No, ma am,
that man must not go. He has de
serted in time of war. He will be
shot.
The tents were soon pitched by
some OF the guides, who carried canvas
and blankets.
Though much fatigued, yet Sylveer
could not sleep for thinking of the
prisoner
His calm, handsome face, showing
neither fear nor bravado, when hel
father had mentioned his destined fate
haunted her mind.
Through crevice in the tent, she
could now see him standing composed
and cheerful looking, out there in the
clear moonlight, amongst his dusky
guards.