Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-04-22
CLEVER RUsE
BY sYLvANUs conB, JR

Of and from Norfolk, Va, entered the
port of Liverpool with a full cargo.
She was commanded by Captain Will
lam Brown. and his first mate was Tom
McDonough, a true-h hearted Yankee
sailor, who hailed from somewhere in
the little State of Delaware. After
the brig had been duly entered at the |
cnstom house, she was soon cleared OF |
her cargo. and within one week after /
her arrival, she was loaded for home. |
One pleasant evening-the one pre-
cedine the day on which the brig was
to sail-Tom McDonough took stroll |
up into the town. He had been at
work all day in arranging the cargo.
aud having merely started out for
stroll, he had not thought it worth
while to change his dress. He had
been up as far as the Exchange, and
was returning by way of the docks,
when he was accosted by a man who
appeared to be citizen.
"Good-evening, stranger
The same to you, returned Tom,
never once mistrusting that there was
harm in the way.
do you belong to any of the vessels
now in the river?" asked the other, as
he cast scrutinizing glance over the
somewhat rough habiliments of the
American sailor.
Yes. l belong to the American
brig Sarah.
No, no; that won't do"
What won't do 2" asked Tom, not
little amazed ut the remark.
oh, l know you, returned the
stranger, you are a deserter from the
frigate."
As bespoke he placed small whistle
to his mouth, and IN a moment after
its shrill note had cut the air, six
marines came rushing out from a tap
room close at hand, aud at motion
from the stranger, they seized hold
upon poor Tom aud made him their
prisoner. In vain was it that Tom
protested that he was second in COM
mand of the Sarah, and in vain that
he threatened vengeance, but against
the power of six stout fellows he could
make no effectual resistance, and SO he
was taken along to the naval landing,
where five other prisoners, all victims
of the press-gang, were awaiting their
embarkation. A boat was waiting
in the command of lieutenant, andintO
it Tom, with the rest of the unfOrtu-
nate seamen, was unceremonlously
hurried. and in less than an hour, he
found himself on board an English
frigate which lay at the mouth of the
river.
"a fine set of men, said the Eng
lish captain, as he ran his eyes admir-
ingly over the stalwart forms of the
impressed seamen. They will just
fill up the list of our main-topmen.
Are you the commander of this
frigate ?" asked Tom, addressing the
man who had just spoken.
Captain Downie, at your service, -
replied the commander, with mock
gravity.
Then, sir, of you demand my i'm
mediate release. / am second in COM
mand of an American brig now ready
for sea, and no power in England can
legally detain me"
That won't go down, youDgster,"
returned the captain, with a sneer.
You are a little too young for such an
officer. The king needs men, and you
must take your chance with the rest. -
DO you mean to say that | am to be
detained on board your ship?"
Certainly"
"Then. sir" replied Tom, while his
eyes flashed fire, you will do it at
your peril. Already have your people
run up heavy reckoning, and the day
shall yet come when your king will
have to settle it. l am exempt, by
your own laws, from impressment, and
you know it. y
The captain showed little anger as
our hero spoke, but turning to one of
his lieutenants, he said
Mr.. Monson, have these mems
names entered, and then station them
and mess them" and without further
remark he walked to his cabin.
In a moment, Toms mind was made
up, aud without resistance or remark
of any kind, he allowed his name to be
entered on the purser's books, and his
station and mess to be assigned him,
after which a hammock and bedding
were served out to him, and he was
directed to turn in" as soon as pos
sible.
The frigate was well-guarded by
sentries, there being two upon the
poop, one at each gangway, one on the
torecas.le, and one on the bowsprit,
besides those who were stationed at
various points below, so that no furth-
er notice was taken of the newcomers
after they he'd received their bedding,
except to give the sentinels additional
caution with regard to watching well
that no one left the ship unless he was
passed by the officer of the deck.
Toms hammock was already clewed,
aud having hung it up, he turned into
it without undressing. The night was
warm and SUltry, and as a means of
giving a circulation of fresh air. the
gundeck ports were lowered, and from
the place in which our hero swung he
could look out upon the water as it
sparkled beneath the beams of the
bright moon. Tom lay quiet until mid
night, but as set 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 gundeck and unlashed
the hammock which hung next to his
own, which operation being performed
he proceeded to undress himself, hang
ing his clothes, as he did so, upon the
clews of his hammock. The few hours
duty had given the corporal an excel
lent appetite for sleep, and in less than
FIVE minutes after he touched his mat
tress, he began to snOre.
Now or never" thought Tom, sis
my chance" and with this idea ia his
mind, he slipped quietly out of his ham
mock and proceeded to divest himself
OF his own clothes which having been
accomplished, he very unceremonious-
ly substituted those of the snoring cor
poral in their place, and then sat down
upon tho breeching of a gun to furth-
CT mediate upon his plans.
One hell struck, and the sentinels
passed the usual "all's we'll. Then
Tom heard the corporal, as he started
10 20 his round, and ere long he
descended the main-hatch ladder to
visit the post below. No sooner had
the marine officer passed beyond the
galley, than our hero spraDg up the
ladder aud gained the spar-deck. The
officer Of the deck was aft. upon the
starboard side, the sentries were walk
ing thcirposts Withregular tread, while
the old quartermaSter stood upon the
poop with his night glass under his
arm.
The sentries performed their walk
upon gang-boards raised even with the
bottom of the Misunderstanding and