Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-03-07
soldier of you yet, my man. he said
as he turned away.

like fire. Torn away from home an,
friends. from his beloved studies anC
fair prospects, brought by force to
war ship where daily toll and tn
ultimate horrors Of war awaited him
and sneered at in this situation for tn
expression of natural feelings, Sool
hot, indeed. but slow to cool. Eveson'
temper rose till he felt like murder
But seeing that remonstrance and re
slstence were alike useless. and woul(
probably bring further indignity OF
him, he wisely controlled himself. anC
determined to make the best of cir
cumstances, or to seem to, at any rate
As a volunteer, Eveson felt that i
would have been his proudest duty t.
serve his country. But to serve as
slave, as mercenary, he never could
no honor lay that way. 4 gentleman
by birth and education, the knowledg
that the lash would punish his in
suhordlnation or neglect of duty. ga!
led him to the quick. One touch o
that lash, he well knew. would bring
red murder to his heart and to hi
hand so. in proud self-control, he tool
mp his menial duty. and performed i
faithfully, that no occasion Of reproo
or punishment might be found agains
him. Strong as a lion and active as ;
cat, he soon led the ships crew. In
ItelIigent and re- >pectful in his bearing
he gained the esteem and the conf
dence Of the officers. The captain
deceived by this apparent submission
congratulated himself on having reaC
Eveson' scharacter so we'll. and marked
him for promotion.
After ten weary weeks Of storm and
hardship, all hearts beat high with
pleasure W hen Land. no. was shouted
By the lookout man at the masthead
! Eyes sparkled with interest and gIist
ened with tears at first sight Of TN,
Idusky cedar clothed Bermuda islets
lying low in the A'lantic's broad bosofn
Land indeed lay again before them
but il was not mother land. And hc
knew, in the chances Of the coming
war, whether their eyes should ever
behold Old Eugland's shores. 4;
the Panther nesred st. Georges Har
hor under the careful guidance Of q
black pilot. all hands crowded or
deck. A little apart from the rest
stood Eveson. his eyes bent on the
J coast with a keener interest than any
> knew. To him, Bermuda was land
I Of hope, country where he might re
, Jain liberty. Looking with purpose
W.. - fcaIl what i sought Il
knew that the islands were Of coral for
nation, the lime stone rock, therefore
10 be probably friable by tides and
waves. With this knowledge, he look
ed for what no one else noticed-caves
in the sea wall. Seeing he means o
escape. his heart was like furnace
But when the captain approached
tapped him on the shoulder, his fac,
was like a stone, giving no sign Of the
feelings that burned within.
Well, Eveson,' said the captain
cheerilv. glad to see land again
1T is not my land, sir, replied Eve
son.
/ You will not care to desert just here
then, said the captain, referring tc
the resolve Eveson had expressed on
the day OF his impressment.
To this the lad made no reply.
'Sulky still. eh:' laughed the cap,
tain rs he walked awav. Have a car,
lad ; the harbor is full Of sharks
.Sulky' muttered Eveson to him.
self. Yes. old ioy; sulky if you like
And something more-determined"
| For day or two after their arrival
no opportunity of escaped offered
Strict watch kept by men on the shiI
and by sharks in the water prevented
even attempt. Eveson resolved tc
wait, if necessary. until the last night
of their STAY, and then, if nothing bet
ter offered. TO risk TO sharks, and try
to swim ashore. But on the third da,
, the Governor Of Bermuda. George
James Bruere, came aboard 10 dine
with the captain of the Panther. Ii
The hustle aud excitement of the &c
casion, Ewes M found his opportunity
Late in the evening when the shorI
twilight of latitude thirty two degree:
was quickly fading, negro came
aboard with fresh fruit, grapes, peach
es, pomegranates. bananas, oranges
etc, gathered specially for the feast
Samb took his baskets to the steward
room. and being of an inquiring turr
of mind, and desirous of tasting tn,
good things he knew to be in cours,
of preparation, he delayed his depar
ture. Amused by his unfamiia
, blacknss anC by his negro comicalit,
of speech, the stewards allowed SambC
to remain and assist him in his tryin!
, duties. Meanwhile, twilight deepened
, swift darkness descended, and on th'
waves beside the great ship the blacl
mans little cedar boat bobbed pleas
antly.
e Now two figures crept stealthil,
| along the bulwarks, lodging and stoop
| ing whenever the watch turned thei
\ way. Quietly the two figures slippe(
over the ships eide, softly they drop
ped into the little boat bobhing abou
there so pleasantly, noislessly the,
t united the painter, and pushing OF
let the sea bear them where it woult
S until they were a little distance from
s the ship. Then, mutf1ing the oar
| with handkerchiefs, they pulled stead
0 lily away, between st. David's AM
!. Songbird islands, through Castle Har
t Dor, and then far along the soutl
shore Of Main Island.
Aboard the Panther, the black MAJ
still delayed his departure. and merri
: ment still went on. When. at las,
Sambo sought his boat and found
It not, the desertion was discovered. |
e was then too dark and too late to G
in search; but the captain vowed tha
: in the morning the deserters shoul