The Somerset reporter., 1889-12-19

one night he encountered the press gang,
which had made another descent on st.
Ives, and he was caught in the same trap
he had set for his rival.
In the mean time, letters had come
from Richard Hcxel. He wrote that he
was well, and only unhappy because he
was parted from Mary. He had joined
the West Indian squadron under Ad-
miral Vernon, and expected he would
soon be able to tell them something
about the war. So time passed on and
the spring came.
The club had assembled one Saturday
evening in the parlor of the Golden Lion.
The customary bowl of punch was On
Me table, but Capt. Trenwith had not
arrived, and the serious business of the
evening could not begin without him.
To pass the time Will Nance stirred the
fire and, lighting pipe, remarked that
the evenings were something chilly,
though the spring had come, in spite Of
the men Of Towednack.
"What have the men OF Towednack to
do with the spring. said the mayor Of
st. Ives
why, know you not, replied Nance,
that the men OF Towednack built a
hedge round the cuckoo to keep the
spring la " But what's this news from
the fleet, Tis rumored Portobello is
taken"
" 'Tis true" said John Renowden,
my daughter hath letter from Richard
Hexel. who was on board the Hampton
Court and engaged in the fight"
"What? Dick Hexel hath smelt gun
powder, then, in real battle? Hurrah
for old England and beloved st. Ives.'
"Amen.' cried Capt. Trenwith, who
came stu1nping into the room. Yes,
friends, It's all true Here is copy Of
The Daily Post, dated March 20, wherein
is an account Of the battle, writ by gen
tleman on board the Burford, the ad-
miral's own ship. Fill the glasses, and
John Tackabird shall read out the mar
rative."
Under the combined attractions of the
punch and the newspaper, all eagerly
drew round the table, and the barber
clearing his throat, commenced:
"On the afternoon Of the 21st, about
. o'clock, we came up with Portobello
harbor, where the Spaniards had hoisted
upon the Iron castle the flag OF defiance
They welcomed us with terrible volley,
which, being at 80 short distance, took
place with almost every shot. One struck
away the stern OF our barge; another
broke large gun upon our upper deck;
., ,-l f1,ro,,-l, ~
and the fourth passing through the arm
ing within two inches OF our mainmast,
broke down the barricade OF our quar-
ter deck very near the admiral, and
killed three men in moment, wound
ing five others who stood by them. This
looked as if we should have bloody
work, but was far from discouraging
our brave fellows
The barber continued to read how the
Spaniards were driven from their guns
and the English landed: Zone man set
himself close under an embrasure whilst
another climbed upon his shoulders and
entered under the mouth of great gun.
This SO dismayed the Spaniards that they
threw down their arms and fled for their
lives"-
II would give a guinea to know twas
a Cornish man who did that" cried Capt.
Trenwith; twas brave action"
"Set your heart at rest, then, captain"
said Peter Hexel; twas Richard Hexel
who did it. have letter from my son
wherein he recounts this very same adj
venture"
"Then your son is credit to Cornwall,
and we'll drink his health, my friend"
and the captain got up and heartily
shook Peter Hexel lg the hand. Com
pound us another bowl of punch, John
Renowden, and sec that it be worthy Of
the occasion"
That night the rafters Of the Golden
Lion rang with the cheers which greeted
The .o;.sts Of The British Navy and
1.-The Hero of ST. Ives"-as Capt. Tren-
with was pleased to call Richard Hexel.
1t was doubtless the darkness that
made it so difficult for the mayor and
the captain to find their way home that
night, though they were escorted, AZ
usual, by the black servant with lighted
lantern. The mayor accounted to his
wife for a headache which oppressed
him next morning by the extreme exer-
ton he had been obliged to use in sup.
porting Capt Trenwith. who, poor man
having only one leg, could not be ex
pected to walk as firmly as other people
You may be sure the heart of Mary
Renowden was gladdened by the news
that had come about her lover; but
months passed away, and nothing more
was heard of him. AT length there came
a letter. stating that he had been severed,
wounded in an action with n Spanish
ship in the West Indies, had been dis
charged, and was then lying in hospital
at Falmouth. Old Hexel at once started
for that place, and found poor Dick pal,
and thin from wounds and fever, but il
good spirits and anxious to return home
The doctors, however, would not hear o.
it, and ordered the patient to lay up
week or two longer, and then, perhaps,
he might be allowed to go. His father
was, therefore, compelled to leave him
and return to st. Ives, where he was
eagerly expected by John Renowden and
his daughter. When two weeks hao
passed, they all three went over to Fal
mouth, when the finishing touch was
put to Dicks recovery by the embrace,
of his happy sweetheart.
Thine, though old, is strong in flight,
says the old song: and he has brought u,
once more to Christmas eve. The clul
is assembled at the George and Dragon
there is a trimming punch bowl on the
boards, and the silver ladle with the
golden guinea is in active operation
The talk is of the war, and John Tack
abird has been reading aloud an account
of battle in the Bay Of Biscay, where +
large Spanish ship had been taken, and
where the name of Tom Champer figured
among the killed.
The mummers, having finished then
Christmas play, have departed on theii
rounds; but suddenly they are heard re.
turning, with cheers and shouts. The
clatter of horses hoofs Is heard on the
paved streets.
"'Tis Dick Hexel come back" crisa
the barber. looking out of the window.
"Let us give him welcome" said Capt.
Trenwith. HE is brave lad, and hath
fought and bled for the British flag"
"Hurrah!" cried the crowd outside.
"Hurrahl hurrah!' shouted the cap
tain and his companions as they hurried
to the door, and there, sure enough, was
Dick Hexel, on horseback, with Mary
papou-1ov con tod m n million hahipd hin,