Middletown transcript., 1876-04-22

have to settle 1t. l am exempt by you
own laws from impressment. and yo'
know it"
The Captain showed little anger a
our hero spoke. but turning on one o
his lieu,enants, he said: "Mr. Mon
som, have these mems names entered
and then station them and mess them;
and without further remark be walked
aft to his cabin
In momeut, Toms mind was made
up, and without resistance or remark
Of any kind. he allowed his name to b.
entered on the pursers books, and hi
station and mess to be assigned him,
after which hammock and bedding
we're served out to him, and he was di
rected to ''turu il" as soon as possible
The frigate was well-guarded by sen
tries, there being two upon the poop
one at each gangway, one on the fore,
castle and one on the bowsprit, besides
those who we're stationed at various
points below. so that no further notice
was taken Of the new. .comers after they
had received their bedding. except to
give the sentinels additional caution
with regard to watching we'll that no
one left the ship unless he was passed
BY the officer of the deck.
Toms hammock was already clewed
and having hung it up, he turned into
it without undressing. The night was
warm and sultry, and as means Of
giving a circulation of fresh air, the
gundeck's ports were lowered and from
the place in which our hero swung he
could look out upon the water as il
sparkled beneath the beams of the
bright moon. Tom lay quiet until mid
night. but as yet he could think Of no
means Of escape. Shortly after that
hour had passed. he heard the relief
guard called, and in some ten minutes,
the corporal of the first guard came
down upon the gun deck and unlashed
the hammock which hung next to his
own. which operation being performed
be proceeded to undress himself. hang
ing his clothes as he did so. upon the
clews of his hammock The four hour $
duty had given the corporal an excellent
appetite for sleep, and in less than i've
minutes after be touched his mattl css,
he began to snore.
Nov or never" thought Tom, sis
my cIance;" and with this idea in his
mind. he slipped quietly out Of his
hammock and proceeded to divest him
self of his own clothes, which having
been accomplished. he very unceremo-
niously substituted those Of the snoring
corporal in their place, and then sat
down upon the breeching Of a gun to
further mediate upon bis plans.
One bell struck, and the sentinels
passed the usual "all's WE'LL" Then
Tom heard the corporal. as he started
to 90 his rounds. and ere long be de-
scended the main hatch ladder to visit
the posts below. No sooner had the
marine officer passed beyond the gallery,
than our hero sprang up the ladder and
gained the spar deck. The officer Of
The deck was aft, upon the siarboard
side, the sen'ries we're walking their
posts with regular tread, while the old
quartermaster stood upon the p"op with
his night glass under his arm. The
sentrits performed their walk upon gang
boards raised even with the bottom of
the hammock nettings and running for
ward from the ladders. The larboard
gang was shaded from the light Of
the moon by the awnings, and walking
deliberately up the ladder, Tom looked
over the ships side.
"Sentry," said he in mumbling
sort of tone, "what boat is that at the
boom 2"
..The second CUTTER" returned the
marine. showing by his manner that he
had no suspicion Of the spurious cor
poral
Tom Immediately walked aft to where
stood the officer of the deck, and being
quite assured by the mistake Of the SEN
try, lie pulled the cap down: over his
eyes and touching his visor respectfully.
remarked: Il should like to overhaul
the second cutter. sir. for | think there
is rum aboard Of her "
Tom knew he was playing desper-
ate game. but liberty was to be the re-
suit of success, and he flinched not q
hair
"Ha! the villains" muttered the
Lieutenant. up to their old tricks
again. Go. Corporal. get down into
the boat. and if you do 6ud rum in her.
they'll catch it."
Tom started quietly forward, but just
as he got abreast of the re-hatchway.
he saw the sinion pure corporars head
rising above the combing.. The marinr
assembled no higher. for with one blow
of his fist. Tom sent him back from
whence he came, and then sprang
quickly ont through the port upon the
swinging boom. and having reached the
place where the second cutters painter
was made fast he hauled the boat up
and leaped into her The food tide
was setting up the riv strongly. and
quick as thought. Tom cast off the
painter. and rapidly dropping asfern.
Help. help!' shouted our hero, at
the top Of his voice: 1.-The boats got
loose"
.'Get out a couple of oars. you lub-
ber." cried the officer Of the deck. as
he jumped upon the poop just as the
cutter was sweeping past the quarter
you can hold her against the tide"
Tom did get out couple of oars.
but the moment he got them balanced
in the rowlocks. he commenced pulling
for dear life, and, to the utter conster-
nation of the lieutenant. the boat began
rapidly to shoot up the river All the
sentries on deck we're immediatly called
upon the poop. and their muskets we're
fred at the desertcr, but though two of
the balls whistl-d near the boat. yet
none Of them did any harm. and on the
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