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

Just then the DoatSWaln'S mate,
Wright, who had been an unseen wit
ness of the struggle toward its tcrmina-
tion, 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 man had vanished.
sit was l." he whispered to the cox
swain, who brought Wilson. Gle at
tackled me near the Dolphin, because l
requested him to go to the boat. Ihad
to let him loose when l got him most
here; and run, as you saw me, for I was
ofraid he W ould stab me-"
'Haw said the coxswain, ''it will go
hard with Wilson for striking boat.
swain's mate. lie will be court-mar-
tailed and foggcd."
81 am afraid So" said the hypocrite,
while in his heart he congratulated him
self on this occurrence, which so well
favored his evil designs.
The boats crew were soon aboard,
when Wright lost no time in reporting
that he had been attacked and struck by
Wilson. This the latter denied, of
course, saying it was a 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 sentence of court martial.
The co,lrt-martial was held the next day,
when Jones arrived on aboard, Wilson
being still kept in the brig, whence he
could not sec 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
a hundred lashcs on the bare back
with the cat-was pronounced. The
next morning was appointed for the ex.
ecution Of the sentence. When the time
came, the boatswain gave long blow as
at his call and shouted:
"All hands ON deck to witness punish
mcntw
The master-at-arms brought up the
prisoner and took off his irons. On one
of the gratings, placed just forward of
the gangway, he was made to stand, his
feet being fastened with rope and his
hands secured, wide apart, to the bull
warks. There he stood, his back barred,
his check red with anger and shame, his
eyes flashed indignation at the unmcrtcd
punishment he was about to suffer.
Along came Wright, scarcely able to con-
ccal his cxu.tation as he drew the cat
from its sheath and lovingly stroked the
strings.
GO on, boatswain's mate" said the
captain.
Wright lifted the lash on high, but
at that moment the voice of Paul Jones,
who now appeared, doomed like thunder
on his startled car:
"IIold9 Avast, you rascalw
And he stepped round, so that Wilson
could sec him. The young sailor looked
up at him with start, then colored,
then turned pa,e.
Commodore" he stammcrcd, ~ /
my God, sir IL was little in liquor on
that night, but recognize your face. 1t
was you who took hold of me there by
the Dolphin tavern, and carried me al
most to the boat. Aye, aye, sir, and
God knows l would not have struck at
you had known who it was-that it
was Commodore Paul Jones'"
Enough" answered the latter; II
forgive you."
Then he turned his eagle-eyes on
Wright, who turned deadly pale and
covered, trembling like a leaf.
"The court-martial was mere farce
continued Paul Jones. 81 wanted to
see if this rascally Wright would really
have the heart to carry out his accursed
falsehood. Now cut loose that man
Wilson and put Wright in his place.
Give him round dozen, then let him be
broken and put in the aftcr-guard. His
chief punishment will be that of his hav-
ing made an enemy, by his dastardly
conduct, of every man aboard this ship!"
The commodorc's orders were obeyed.
Wright, with every man against him,
after this, led such an unhappy life
aboard the Ariel that he attempted one
night to desert from the ship. When in
the water he was seen by marine on
guard and ordered to come back, but not
obeying, he was shot through the head
and killed.
AS to Wilson, the fact of his having
struck, under the influence of liquor, a
man, who proved to be Commodore Paul
Jones, had such an effect on him, that,
never after that, greatly to the joy of his
pretty wife, Susan, would he touch an
other drop of alcohol. .-Me,o York. NoOs.