The peoples' advocate. [volume] (New-Berne [New Bern], N.C.) 1886-188?, 1886-07-31

Then Ben. made blow at him, which
the man parricd, when a 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
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. eve wouldn't have
waited for you many seconds longer"
81 wouldn't have been hefe if old
Nick or somebody like him hadn't
brought me, p" was the reply.
"a citizen, probably" said the other,
laughing. owe all said that some one
had hold of you, but couldn't make out
who it was in the darkness.
"Just then the boatswain's mate,
| Wright, who had been an unseen wit
ness of the struggle toward its termina-
ton, but who, in the gloom, had not
| been able to obtain good view of the
strangers face, made his appearance,
! coming from the same direction in which
/ the man had vanished.
'1t was l." he whispered to the cox
swain, who brought Wilson. ''He at
tackled me near the Dolphin, because [
requested him to 60 to the boat. Ihad
to let him loose when got him most
here; and run, as you saw me, for | was
afraid he would stab me"
'Haw said the coxswain, cit will go
hard with Wilson for striking a boat
swain's mate. He will be court-mar-
tailed and fogged."
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
! 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.
Il 1o11 +1,N IL
when Jones arrived on aboard, Wilson
being still kept in the brig, whence he
could not s. the commodore. There
was singular expression in the face of
Paul Jones when the court-martial was
ended, and the sentence of the prisoner
"a hundred lashes 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
mentm
The master-at 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 a 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
ewes flashed indignation at the unmented
| o;cb,,, bo oh fn cI1tf0
Along came Wright, scarcely able to con-
ceal his exutation 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 ear:
"Hold? 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,
then turned pae.
ColHmouOIe, ue oldulIISlou, i
my God, sir!-I was little in liquor on
, that night, but l 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 | would not have struck at
you had | known who it was-that it
Enough" answered the latter; 81
forgive YOU"
Then he turned his eagle-eyes on
Wright, who turned deadly pale and
covered, trembling like leaf.
, "The court martial was a mere farce, "
continued Paul Jones. 81 wanted to
5 see if this rascally Wright would really