Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-07-07
CHAPTER VIII.
THE "CLEOPATRA." ="

THE CLEOPATRA"
So, with British will that made the row.
locks creak like an iron door swinging on
harsh hinges, the oarsmen in the Ckopatras
boat flung their backs at the facing spray,
and drove the wedge of their boats bow into
the blast of the wind and the ebon hills in
their path.
Right under the moon, and in the broken
simmer of it on the water, lay the man-of-
war brig bowling to the land like some rest
less colt flinging furious heels at the wind
Urged by six heavy blades, the boat ate
her way stubbornly; dashing the surging
spray in sheets and souses until she was
awash, and the backs of the men lustrous
for the drenching.
Meanwhile Cuthbert had recovered the use
of his brain, thanks to copious splashing,
soon after the boat showed off.
Beholding the stars and flying clouds, and
feeling the jump and wobble of the sea in the
strain and ache of his own timbers, he i'm
mediately comprehended the dreadful char
acter of the misfortune that had befallen him,
and raising his voice attempted to address
himself to the young gentleman in the cloak
who was steering the boat, but was instantly
silenced by kick and promise of fogging
if he opened his lips.
"You cannot be aware" began Cuthbert.
"Hold your jaw, you lubber!"-here came
the kick
"Sir, you're"
4By the Lord, you shall be fogged until
your back is as green as your brains, you
villain, if you move your tongue again."
So there was no help for Cuthbert but to
fo -baor rftAd
ton of this bitter divorce from the woman of
bis love; and with his hands bound he re-
clined, knawing his lips with misery, and
watching with distracted eyes the land they
were leaving, while the foam flew in his face
and the gale in his ear howled down every
movement Of hope.
In this condition of mind was he when tho
boat went rolling alongside the brig.
1t was something to see the big and brist-
ling hull stoop to the upward leap of the
boat. 1t was as though q mother leaned
down to embrace her little one.
Briskly the crew handed up the prisoners;
then sounded the keen pipe Of the boatswain;
and while the boat scared to the davits the
pawls of the capstan jerked out music OH
the gale like the hammering on an anvil
while the furnace roars. With quick leaps
and runs, and the disciplined rush, and the
steady pulls of the men-of-war's men, the
anchor was cat-headed, the yards dropped
their dim spaces of canvas, round swept the
shore lights, and down lay the cruiser to the
wind. And then you heard the squattering
of plowed froth humming at the bows, and
shrieking Of big sails in the high gloom.
The four impressed men were left standing
near the foot Of the mainmast, under the eye
of the marine The business of getting under
way was achieved with the swiftness that
war time teaches, and oil the wind whistling
of pipe, the brig being snug in less time
than woman takes to brush her hair.
While the shore lights were veering into
faint line upon the quarter, and the great
foreland lamp was thrusting its red flame
among the cloudy stars we'll to the right, a
brawny fellow came to the prisoners with
battle lantern swinging in his grasp, and
made them visible group.
Then approached two men from the oppo-
site quarter of the deck, and the lantern
flashed in the bullion and buttons of uniforms.
Behind them stood others, and forward was
a crowd Of seamen staring at the four men;
and this was the picture Of the deck, adding
to it the details of O savage row of carronades,
black as ink in the watery moonshine.
"Are these your men, Mr.. Towplank" said
one of the uniform wearerS, the tone Of whose
voice was as good a warrant of his office as
epaulets.
ayes, Sir Peter, four Of them, sir" replied
the young gentleman who had done Cuthbert
the honor to impress him.
"Well, you look likely men, my lads; and
suppose you don't require me to tell you that
YOU are wanted to serve the king, and fight
his mujesty's enemies! There is glory and
prize money to be got if you do your duty;
and as British seamen, you'll never want me
to tell you what your duty is, hope"
With which flourish Captain Sir Peter
Grahame, Bart, in command Of H. NJ S.
Cleopatra. was about to slew himself round
on his heel to 20 aft, when one of the men
spoke up.
III you plaze, sir, me nam, is Matthew
Murphy, and I'm all Imirikin. Io,ir honor
therefore persaves that's not me duty to
fight for the king, God bless him.
"Ah, 1 see-an American, born i'll Xii
kenny"
"Indade, then, your honor, was born in
Galway" responded Murphy, at which muir
derous admission there went smothering Of
laughter among the men forward.
Hereupon Cuthbert spoke.
81 have to represent to you that l am not
sailor, sir. My father is DR.. Shaw, of the
Greystone school. Your officer has COM
mitted an error in impressing me"
This had in it the matter of O rebuke, and
was trifle downright for the quarterback
hearing; but then it was delivered in soft
and cultured voice, and he who spoke it,
with figure lighted up by the flare of the
battle lantern, and handsome face showing,
looked like gentleman
Sir Peter gazed at him inquisitively.
"Mr Towplank," said he, "where did you
meet this gentleman"
At the word gentleman applied to the man
he had kicked, and which same word was q
definition he was the last midshipman in the
service capable of making with true applica-
tion. not because his Iather was retired un-
,lertaker, but because his fathers son was
cad, Mr.. Towplank's ewes began to roll
and the wind to feel chill upon his small
clothes.
Meet him, Sir Peter! Why, sir, coming
down hill He gave us a deal of trouble,
sir He knocked the bosun down l never
took him to be better than the mate of a
coaster, sir"
~ can vouch, Sir Peter, that there is q
DR.. Shaw living at Greystone, and that he
leeps q school there" exclaimed the first
lieutenant, who stood near the captain. Il
know this to be so, because my friend Lord
Cosgrave told me that he has son with Dr.
Shaw"
"Yes, sir; young Middleton is d pupil Of
my father" said Cuthbert
"Quite right; Middleton is the name, re-
turned the lieutenant.
a large name helps out a case grandly in
Britons ear Mr. Towplank drew his squat
figure out of the glare of the lantern.
"Your impressment is mistake, Mr.
Shaw, and much regret it," said Sir Peter
Grahame in kind voice. He then held
whispered conversation with the lieutenant
and walked aft.
There is poor satisfaction in the apology or
regret that does not right man to his own
wishes. With clasped hands and down-bent
eyes stood Cuthbert n bitter mourner; for
every burst of foam struck out Of the hurry
ing waves by the vessels bow was a mark Of
increasing distance from all he loved in this
world; and he was like to 60 mad when his
mind went to Jenny waiting for him to come
and speak to father-waiting and marveling,