New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-03-13
the ship unless he was passed by the
officer of the deck.

|
quiet until midnight, but as yet he could
think in OF no means Of escape. Shortly af-
ter that hour had passed he heard TIE re-
lief guardlcalle and in some ten mn
utes 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, he pro-
ceeded to undress himself, hanging his
clothes as he did so upon the clews Of his
hammock. The four hours duty had
given the corporal an excellent appetite
for sleep, and in less than FIVE minutes
after he touched his mattress he began to
shore.
"Now or never thought Tom, els nv
chance and with this idea in his mind
he slipped quietly out from his hammock
and proceeded to divest himself of his
own clothes, which having been accom-
plished, he very unceremoniously substi-
tuted those Of snoring corporal in their
place, and then sat down upon the breech-
ing of gun to mediate further upon his
plans.
One bell struck, and the sentinels pass
ed the usual Gall is well.' Then Tom
heard the corporal as he started to go hi
rounds, and ere long he descended the
main-hatch ladder to visit the posts be
low. No sooner had the marine officer
passed beyond the galley, than our hero
sprang up the ladder and gained the spar
deck. The officer of the deck was aft up
on the starboard side, the sentries were
walking their posts with regular tread,
while the old quarter-master stood upon
the pop, with his night-glass under his
arm. The sentries performed their walk
upon gangboards raised even with the
bottom of the hammock MEETINGS, and
running forward from the ladders. The
larboard gangway 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?.'
The second CUTTER returned the
marine, showing by his mannar that he
had no suspicious 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 sentry,
he pulled his cap down over his eyes, and
touching the visor respectfully, remarked:
II should like to overhaul that second
cutter, sir, for think there is rum
aboard of her"
! Tom knew he was playing desperate
game, but liberty was to be the result of
success, and he finched not hair.
'sHa! the villains" uttered the lieutcn-
ant. Cup to their old tricks again. Go,
corporal, get down into the boat, and if
you do find rum in her, they'll catch it,"
| Tom started quickly forward: but just
as he got abreast of the fore hatch way he
saw the real corporal's head rising above
the combings. The marine assembled no
higher, for with one blow of his first Tom
sent him back from whence he came, and
then sprang quickly out through the port
upon the swinging boom; and having
reached the place where the second cut
ter's painter was made fast, he hauled the
boat up and leaped into her. The flood
tide was setting up the river very strong
ly and quick as thought Tom cast off the
painter and rapidly dropped astern.
Help, helpw shouted our hero, at the
top of his voice; Z" the boats got loose.''
sect out a couple Of oars you lubber"
cried the officer Of the deck, as he jumped
upon the poop on hearing the cry, which
arrived 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 CONSERVATION of the
| lieutenant, the boat began rapidly to shoot
up the river. All the sentries on deck
were Immediately called upon the poop,
and their muskets were fired at the desert
er: but two of the balls whistled near the
boat, yet none of them did any harm.
| The next moment Tom heard the third
cutter called away; but he knew the men
were all sound asleep in their hammocks,
and so he felt secure
1t was ten minutes before the third cut
ter cast off from the ship; and long ere
they had reached Tom he had gained
the shore, and was running at remark
able speed toward the town, which he
reached in safety, and before two o'clock
he was on board his own brig
The next morning the. Sarah dropped
down with the ebb tide; and as she passed
the frigate Tom saw the second cutter
swinging in her usual place, and as he
gazed upon the proud flag that foated at
| the Englishman's peak he murmured to
himself:
IF | live, LII some day take the pride
from those proud tyrants."
How literally was that saying fulfIledl
! Tom Marlborough had been Commodore
Decatur's favorite midshipman at the siege
Of Tripoli; and wherever Decatur led he
dared to follow. Subsequent to that brill