Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-06-23
BAFFLED.


hair and cooke hats-thc year 1881.
OF Philadelphia lay the twenty-gun
ship Ariel, just arrived under command
of Commodore Paul Jones.
There were in the city many persons
who had never seen that remarkable man,
among them the subject of this sketch,
Ben. Wilson, trim, powerful young
Jack-tar of twenty-five, who had lately
married Susan Gray, humble but beau
tiful damscl of eighteen. There had
been another suitor, also sailor, named
Thomas Wright, who hated Wilson be-
cause Susan had preferred him, and who,
being of cruel, malicious disposition,
longed to do him some injury.
Having finished his term aboard one of
the vessels in the harbor, Ben. shipped
aboard the Ariel, that he might serve
under the renowned hero who, with his
craft, the Bon Homme Richard, had
fought the English frigatc Scraps.
Learning that Ben. had shipped,
Wright, who, like the former, had never
seen Jones, also became one of the Ariel's
crew. Neither, however, could yet get
sight of the commodore, who was absent
would not be back for q week.
Ina few days Wright was chosen to
act in the place of the boatswain's mate,
who was at that time ill. His duties besides
blowing on the call, ETC., were to punish
with the colt-a coil of rope from two to
three feet long-and also with the cato
nine-tails, usually termed the "cat," such
of the sailors as offended" against the
rules of the ship, and he ardcntly hoped
that he might yet have chance to fog
with his cruel lash the man he hated for
winning pretty Susan.
One day some of the crew were grant
cd libcrty-that is to say, permission to
60 ashore. They were ordered to return
to the ship at nine o'clock. The boat
Swain's mate, Wright, and Ben. Wilson,
were among them, the former on the
watch for the coveted chance which
might favor his evil designs. Unfortu-
nately, Ben. drank, and in state Of par
tial intoxication he visited, few min
utes before nine o'clock, when he should
have repaired to the boat, "Thc Dol
phin"-a tavern not twenty yards from
the landing. Here the landlord accom-
modatcd him with a glass of brandy,
which the young man lifted high, saying
ut the same time, in loud voice:
"a health to Commodore Paul Jones "
Then he left the place, not to 60 to
the boat, but intending to seek some
other tavern.
1t was dark night, but by the bright
light streaming through the windows of
the house, Ben, could see q middling-
sized, broad -shouldered man, enveloped in
a shaggy overcoat, watching him with a
mingled expression of stern disapproval
and amusement on his broad, weather.
beaten face.
"dold there, my man," said this per-
son, laying hand on his shoulder.
"What's your name, and what ship do
you belong to-"
MY namc9 Why, now, my name is
Ben. Wilson, and my ship is the Ariel,
but blast me if know what business it is
of yours3"
at is time you went to the boat. You
will get yourself into trouble if you don't
90 in time. Bear hand"
"Ayc, aye, all very well; but amt
ready yet, do you sec"
"Comc, you must go!" and the hand
on Wilson's shoulder pressed it heavily.
"Let go of me-" cried Ben. angrily
but the other, half smiling, gripped him
yet more firmly.
Then Ben. made a blow at him, which
the man parricd, when struggle ensued.
Ben. fought his best, but the man at
length succeeded in grasping him round
the arms from behind, in which position
Wilson was literally carried to within a
few fathoms of the boat, when, seeing a
number of the sailors approaching, the
stranger released his hold, and laughing,
made off in the darkness. Ere Ben.
could pursue, the coxswain and several
other seamen arrived on the spot and
drew him to the boat.
"It's lucky you came when you did"
said the coxswain. "We wouldn't have
waited for you many seconds longer. "
81 wouldn't have been here If old
Nick or somebody like him hadn't
brought me-" was tho reply.