The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-08-03

other seamen arrived on the spot and
drew him to tic boat.
sits lucky you came when you did, y
said the coxswain. eve wouldn't have
waited for you many seconds longer
~ wouldn't have been here if old
Nick or somebody like him hadn't
brought me, " was the reply.
ga citizen, probably" said the other,
laughing. eve all said that some one
had hold of you, but couldn't make out
who it was in the darkness.
"Just then the b~oatswain's mate,
Wright, who had bcen an unseen wit
ness of.thc struggle toward its termina-
ton, but who, in the gloom, had not
been able to obtain a good view of the
strangers face, made his appearance,
coming from the same direction in which
the mar had vanished.
cit was l." he whispered to tho cox
swain, who brought WILSON,. 'He at
tackled mo near the Dolphin, because I
requested him to go to the boat. Ihad
to let him loose when I got him most
here; and run, rs you saw me, for 1 was
afraid he w ould stab me-"
"Ha!" said the coxswain, 'tit will 90
hard with Wilson for striking q boat.
swain's mate. He will be court-mar-
tailed and foggcd."
II am afraid So" said the hypocrite,
while in his heart he congratulated him
self on this occurrence, which so we'll
favored his evil designs.
The boats crew were soon aboard,
when Wright lost no time in reporting
hat he had been attacked and struck by
Wilson. This the latter denied, of
course, saying it was q citizen and a
stranger with whom he had his combat,
but he was not believed, and was, there
fore, ironed and put into the brig to
await the Science of a court martial.
The co,lrt-marti.l was held the next day,
when Jones arrived on aboard, Wilson
being still kept in the brig, whence he
could not see the commodore. There
was a singular expression in the face of
Paul Jones when the court-martial was
ended, and the sentence of the prisoner
hundred lashes on the bare back
with the cat-was pronounced. The
next morning was appointed for tho ex-
ecution of the sentence. When the time
came, the boatswain gave a long blow as
his call and shouted:
"All hands on deck to witness punish
The master-at-arms brought up the
prisoner and took off his irons. On one
the gratings, placed just forward of
the gangway, he was made to stand, his
feet being fastened with a rope and his
hands secured, wide apart, to the bull
warks. There he stood, his back barred,
his cheek red with anger and shame, his
eyes flashed Indignation ut the unmer,tcd
punishment he was about to suffer.
Along came Wright, scarcely able to con-
ceal his cxuitation as he drew the cat
its sheath and lovingly stroked the
$50 on, boatswain's mate" said the
Wright lifted the lash on high, but
that the voice of Paul Jones,
who now appeared, doomed like thunder
On his startled car:
"Hold2 Avast, you rascalw
And he stepped round, so that Wilson
could see him. The young sailor looked
up at him with a start, then colored.
hen turned pa:c.
Commodore, he stammered, 'I i !
ny God, sir!-I was a little in liquor on
hat night, but I recognize your face. It
vas you who took hold If me there by
he Dolphin tavern, and carried me al !
most to the boat. Aye, aye, sir, and
Tod knows I would not have struck at
7ou had I known who it was-that it
vas Commodore Paul Jones'"
Enough" answered tho latter; 81
YOU"
Then he turned his eagle-eyes on
who turned deadly pale and
covered, trembling like a leaf.
THE court-martial was a mere farce"
continued Paul Jones. IT wanted to
ee if this rascally Wright would really
ave the heart to carry out his accursed
alsehood. Now cut loose that man
wilson and put Wright in his place.
live him a round dozen, then let him be.
'roken and put in the after-guard. His
hief punishment will be that of his hay-
ng made an enemy, by his dastardly
onduct, of every man aboard this shipr,