Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-07-02
BAFFLED.

II was uulilI tllt IIllle Vi IlOWucICu
hair and COO ke hats-thc year 1881.
OFF Philadelphia lay the twcnty-gur
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 damsel Of eighteen. There had
been another sutor, also sailor, named
Thomas Wright, who hated Wilson be-
cause Susan had preferred him, and who,
being of cruel, malicious disposition,
ionged to do him some injury
Having finished his term aboard one Of
the vessels in the harbor, Ben. shipped
aboard the Ariel, thlt he might serve
under the renowned hero who, with his
craft, the Bon Homme Richard, had
fought the English frigate Scraps.
Learning that Ben. had shipped.
Wright, who, like the former, had neS'e
seen Jones, also became one of the Ariel
crew. Neither, however, could yet gel
sight of the commodore, who was absent
would not be back for a week.
In few days Wright was chosen tC
act in the place of the boatswain's mate,
who was at that time i'll. 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 ardently hoped
that he might yet have a chance to fog
with his cruel lash the man he hated for
winning pretty Susan.
One day some of the crew were grant
ed liberty-that is to say, permission to
go 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-
natcly, 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-
modated him with a glass of brandy,
which the young man lifted high, saying
at the same time, in loud voice:
"a health to Commodore Paul Joncsn
Then he left the place, not to go TO
the boat, but inten ling to seek some
other tavern.
1t was dark night, but by the bright
light streaming through the windows oi
the house, Ben, could see middling
sized, broad-shouldercd man, enveloped il
a shaggy ovcrcoat, watching him with {
mingled expression Of stern disapprova
and amusement on his broad, weather
beaten face
Hold there, my man, said this per
son, laying a hand on his shoulder
whats your name, and what ship de
you belong to?"
My name2 Why, now, my name i
Ben. Wilson, and my ship is the Ariel
but blast me if know what business it i
of yours2"
1t is time you went to the boat. Yol
will get yourself into trouble if you don
go in time. Bear hand"
"Aye, aye, all very well; but l ain
ready yet, do you see2"
Come, you must go" and the han'
on Wilson's shoulder pressed it heavily
Let go of mer' cried Ben. angrily
but The other, half smiling, gripped hir
yet more firmly.
Then Ben. made a blow at him, whic
the man parried, when a struggle ensued
Ben. fought his best, but the man a
length succeeded in grasping him roun
the arms from behind, in which positio
Wilson was literally carried to within
few fathoms of the boat, when, seeing
number Of the sailors approaching, tn
stranger released his hold, and laughing
made off in the darkness. Ere Ber
could pursue, the coxswain and severi
other seamen arrived on the spot an
drew him to the boat.
'It's lucky you came when you did,
said the coxswain. 1--WE wouldn't hay
waited for you many seconds longer.
81 wouldn't have been here if ol
Nick or somebody like him hsdn
brought me, was the reply.