The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-03-20

the scOurge in his hand, when the youth !
begged leave to whisper something in
his private ear.
"It's no use," returned the officer;
''it's too late to beg now; you've got to
take it''
He drew back and was about to give |
the first blow, when Bolton said aloud:
elf you won't hear me privately,
shall speak before all these people,"
The mate paused and said:
"What if you do? What then?"
"You wore red jacket once" cried
the youth.
The mate approached Bolton, and the
latter whispered few words in his ear.
The mate became deadly pale.
"What does he sayp" demanded the
captain, who had appeared to be singu-
larly interested by the turn which af-
fairs had taken.
"It's only some of his nonsense" re-
turned the mate, "but l suppose l must
let him off this time, as he has made an
explanation -"
"Well, well-what explantion?" de-
manded the captain.
SHE says that when he sauced me, in
Ben Lowell and now recollect that he
did call me Ben,' though was so an
CRY that it had slipped my memory"
The old tars did not accept this ex-
PLANTATION, and when Joseph met them
at supper they asked him whether the
mate had reported his words correctly.
The youth colored, thrust out his lower
lip, and ended by lifting his tin-cup to
his countenance. No other reply could
be got out of him. From that time for
ward it was observed that the first mate
treated young Bolton with much kind
ness. He seemed to have forgotten en-
tirely that the youth had formerly offend
ed him and that they owed each other
grudge. How long this would have con-
tinued it is impossible to say had not
Bolton been lost overheard in storm Oft
the cape. There seemed to be something
singular about the manner of Bottoms
death. The mate came to the forecastle
and summoned all hands at midnight.
"The watch is called" said Bolton,
springing from his hammock and has
tening on deck. His watchmates fol-
lowed him leisurely. The ship was
plunging badly, being sharp on a wind,
and as they came up the spray flew all
over them. clay hold of the jib-down-
haul here!" shouted the mate. s'Where's
Bolton? just told him to-"
"It's his helm," interrupted an old
sailor.
"The watch isn't OUT" replied the
mate.
In the meantime the sail was flap
ping, and two men ran out to stow it.
When large portion of the sail had
been taken off the ship, eight bells
struck, and the larboard watch prepared
to 60 below.
"BoIton isn't at the helm," said the
mate to one of the sailors; ''you will
have 70 take it,
"But," objected the other, est is his
helm, and he ought to 60 there"
The mate gave perceptible start,
seemed for moment confused and
said:
eyes, yes, of course-where can that
fellow beP''
The second mate came up and took
charge of the starboard watch, while
the mate went below. On hearing that
Bolton was missing, the second mate
ordered strict search to be made for
him.
"He's gone overheard, of course"
said an old sailor.
"Why do you think so?'
"Because he was the first man on
the deck when Mr.. B. called the watch. y
what! did Mr.. B. call the watch ?''
demanded the second mate.
eyes, sir"
"And Bolton came up first? Ishould
, think that Mr.. B. must have seen him
go overheard"
cor heard him yell," added the tar.
No more was said at that time; but it
was afterward saying among the sail
ors that if Bolton had not have been so
great a favorite of the first mate, they
should have believed that the latter had
thrown him overheard. But what is
, the life of friendless, unknown sailor:
: He was soon forgotten.
, "Well," said one or TWO of US who
were comparatively sober, "where's
the point of your yarn, Gaspard
| There's nothing wonderful in poor tai
being forgotten by every one."
The Spaniard's face was dreadfully
, flushed, and his eyes were flaming Sud.
denly he half screamed, more as il
, forced to speak than as if the revelation
, came from him of his own accord.
"No! mol" calculated he wildly
" Every one did not forget! The muir.
dered youth was never, never, never to
be forgotten by one-one man on board
f that craft-he who flung the unhappy
lad into the seal"
We leaped to our feet in apprehension
of what was to follow.
, ell was the first mate, Birbeak
, /, Gaspard, Manuelo, what name you
, please! l slew him! He knew that
great secret of mine! When school.
boy he saw me from the house-top, on
the top-gallant yard of brig, in com