Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-11-01
CHAPTER III.
THE DISCRETION.

We now invite the reader to accompany
US TO the deck of the British man-Of-war
that for several weeks had been cruising
about the eastern coast of the United
States, driving away Yankee slOOps and
bombarding small seaport towns. This
vessel had hove to near a long stretch of
sandy beach, fifteen or twenty miles
above ManOa, and sent ashore several
hundred British soldiers, under Major
Bridges, who was to proceed by land to
the village, while the war vessel was to
cooperate with the troops by sea.
The XenOphOn was one of his British
Majesty's stanchest crafts. While not
carrying heavy guns nor as many as other
vessels, she was tough and trim from
stem to stern, and from the bottom Of her
keel to the tip of her maintOp mast there
was not single flaw discernibIe, even to
the eye of a sailor.
The XenOphOn was eXcellently manned.
Officers and crew were all trained and
experienced seamen. Captain MOntieth
frequently boosted that he had not a man
in his crew who was not capable of COM
handing a vessel
Captain MOntieth was man who pos
sessed that tyrannica1, overbearing dis
position so common among naval officers
Of the past. He seemed to hold his crew
but little above dogs. Discipline with
him had been converted into despOtism,
and his sailors were treated as slaves.
Disgraceful logging scenes for even
the most trivial Otfense were common,
and if a sailor attempted to desert he was
either shot or strung up to the yardarm
the moment he was caught.
1t was late in the afternoon, and two
sailors, both finely formed men, past
middle age, having been relieved from
duty, were slowly walking aft. There
was a quiet, sullen air about them which
becomes hebItual to men who have long
been accustomed to strict discipline.
Neither spoke a word, and from beneath
their lowering eyebrows fiery chances
were occasionally cast at Captain Mon
tieth, who stood near the mizZen deck
in all the gaudy uniform and pOmpOus
dignity Of tyrant.
The sun was descending beneath the
horizon, and the two sailors had long
been sitting on the gun carriage. Each
was lost In thought, and seemed to know
Just what the other was thinking about.
At last, when the sun had dipped beneath
the ocean, and the stars began to appear
in sight, the oldest and most intelligent
of the sailors, in q voice scarce above q
whisper, said:
Dawes, I know the coast we'll.
All"
yes, and we are only a few hours sail
from Manoa. We viii reach the harbOr
and be warEping in by daylight If the wind
should be fair"
DO you suppose the soldiers We landed
will be there by that timer"
The first speaker reflected a moment
and then answered: Il hadn't thought
of that. Dawes. It may be Capt. Mon
tieth will beat about a day or two yet, to
give them time, but every moment We de-
lay increases our danger of escape"
He spoke in a very cautious whisper.
Dawes trembled, but was silent. There
was a look Of the irmest determination
on the faces Of these men, and one could
have told at that moment that they had
resolved on something desperate. The
/ sentry who was pacing this part of the
/ deck come so near that there was danger
/ of being heard, so they remained silent
/ until he wheeled and started to the other
| end OF his beat. Then the first speaker,
! clasping his messmate's arm, said;
Dawes, viii you go with meF@
Yes"
We must do it tonight"
/ Dawes nodded.
Il will not raise my hand against my
native country" the first speaker de-
/ clnred. The British have impressed nat
and made me their slave. For ffteeI
long ye RS I have been a slave, but viii
heavens help I will be a free man.
His voice was low and deep, but had IA