The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-07-15
CHAPTER Will
THE CLEOPATRA" "

So, with British VII! that maue tne row.
locks creak like an iron door swinging on
harsh hinges, the oarsmen in the Cleopntras
boat flung their backs at the facing spray,
and droYe the wedge of their boats bow into
the blast of the wind and the ebon hills In
their path.
Right under the moon, and in the broken
simmer of it on the water, lay the manor
war brig bowling to the land like some rest
less colt flinging furious heels at the wind.
Urged by six heavy blades, the boat ate
her way stubbornly; dashing the surging
spray in sheets and souses until she was
awash, and the backs Of the men lustrous
for the drenching.
Meanwhile Cuthbert had recovered the use
of his brain, thanks to copious splashlng,
soon after the boat showed off.
Beholding the stars and flying clouds, ana
feeling the jump and wobble Of the sea III the
strain and ache of his own tim!bers, he i'm
mediately comprehended the dreadful char
acter Of the misfortune that had befallen him,
and raising his voice attempted to address
himself to the young gentleman in the cloak
who was steering the boat, but was instantly
silenced By kick and a promise of fogging
If he opened his lips.
sYou cannot be aware" began Cuthbert
aHold your jaw, you lubber"-here came
the kick.
aBy the Lord, you shall be Aogged until
your back is as green as your brains, you
villain, if you move your tongue again"
So there was no help for Cuthbert but to
resign himself to broken-hearted contempla-
ton Of this bitter divorce from the womano OF
his love; and with his hands bound he re-
clined, knawing his lips with misery, and
watching with distracted eyes the land they
were leaving, while the foam flew in his face
and the gale in his ear howled down every
movement of hope
In this condition Of mind was he when the
boat went rolling alongside the brig.
1t was something to see the big and brist-
ling hull stoop to the upward leap OF the
boat. 1t was as though a mother leaned
down to embrace her little one.
Briskly the crew handed up the prisoners;
then sounded the keen pipe Of the boatswain;
and while the boat scared to the davlts the
pawls Of the capstan jerked out music on
the gale like the hammering on an anvil
while the furnace roars. With quick leaps
and runs, and the disciplined rush, and the
steady pulls Of the men-of-war's men, the
anchor was cat-headed, the yards dropped
their dim spaces of canvas, round swept tho
shore lights, and down lay the cruiser to the
wind And then you heard the squattering
of plowed froth humming at the bows, ana
shrieking ST big sails in the high gloom.
The four impressed men were left standing
near the foot of the mainmast, under the eye
of the marine The business of getting under
way was achieved with the swiftness that
war time teaches, and all the wind whistling
of a pipe, the brig being snug in less time
than q woman takes to brush her hair.
While the shore lights were veering into
faint line upon the quarter, and the great
forcland lamp was thrrsting its red flame
among the cloudy stars we'll to the right,
brawny fellow came to the prisoners with
battle lantern swinging in his grasp, and
made them q visible group.
Then approached two mon from the oppt
site quarter of the deck and the lantern
flashed in the bullion and buttons Of uniforms.
Behind them stood Others, and forward was
q crowd of seamen staring at the four men;
and this was the picture of the deck, adding
to it the details Of savage row of carronades,
black as ink in the watery moonshine
aAre these your men, Mr.: Towplank'' said
one of the uniform wearers, the tone of whose
voice was as good warrant of his office as
epaulets.
"Tes, Sir Peter, four of them, sir" replied
the young gentleman who had done Cuthbert
the honor to impress him.
"Wel you look likely men, my lads; and
supposo you don't require HE to tell.you that
YOU are wanted to servo the king, and fight
his maiesty's enemies? There is glory and
prize money to be got if you do your duty:
and, as British seamen, you'll never want mo
to tell you what your duty is, hope"
With which flourish Captain Sir Peter
Grahame, Bart, in command of II. NJ. S.
Cleopatra, was about to slew himself round
on his heel to go aft when one of the men
spoke up
"If you plazc, sir, me name is Matthew
Murphy, and I'm an Imirikin. Your honor
therefore pcrsaves that's not me duty to
fight for the king, God bless him!'
"Ah, see-an American, born in XII
kenny"
Galway" responded Murphy, at which muir
derous admission there went smothering of
laughter among the men forward.
Hereupon Cuthbert spoke.
Il have to represent to you that I am not a
sailor, sir. My father is DR.. Shaw, of the
Greystone school, Your officer has COM
mttcd an error in imprcssing me-"
This had in it the matter Of rebuke, and
was trihe downright for the quarterback
hearing; but then it was delivered in soft
and cultured voice, and he who spoke it,
with figure lighted up by the flare Of the
battle lantern, and handsome face showing
looked like a gentleman.
Sir Peter gazed at him inquisitively.
"Mr TowplanlS," said he, "whero did you
meet this gentlcman!"
At tho word gentleman applied to the man
he had kicked, and which same word was a
definition he was the last midshipman in the
service capable of making with true applica-
ton, not because his father was n retired un-
dertaker, but because his fathers son was a
cad, Mr.. Towplank's eyes began to roll
and the wind to feel chill upon his small
clothes.
",Leet him, Sir Peter: Why, sir, coming