Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-10-12

1aakee captain arrive st Portsmouth
De:ore them. and report his vessel
Tho Falkirks commander walked
the quarterback rapidly, often glanc-
ing IN our direction, and, as we judged,
SAYING something about us to his Off
GERS.
For three days, with intervals Of
ngnf breeze, Gains, and fogs, we con-
t,nued near Chops of the Channel
the vessels changing more or less their
relative positions with the unsteady
puffs OF air. yet never getting very far
nom each other. And all this time
Captain Downs seemed in state of
irritation.
AOn the evening of the same day we
were once moro decidedly ahead, and,
before morning, saw the steady beacon
from the lighthouse on the western
end Of the Isle of Wight. We were
nearing the great naval anchorage at
Spithead, between the island and the
main land, where the harbor of Ports
mouth is situated.
@As the day broke, ship was OBJ
served off our quarter. Lighter and
lighter grew the sky, and more and
more familiar the appearance of the
accompanying vessel.
"'Confound the miserable Yankee!
cried Captain Downs, at last out OF
patience, and grown terribly nervous
with his three or four days of suspense.
Can it be that he really means to fol-
low me into port? I'd no idea the
would carry his contemplate folly to
this extent?
HE had, indeed, good reason to feel
disturbed, for there, before his eyes,
and not two miles Of, was the Rebecca,
bearing straight up for Spithead.
mo doubt he thought Of the Board
of Admiralty, the Court of Kings
Bench, the interminable discussion in
Parliament, and all the wearying COM
pications, both national and interna-
tional. which this vexatious matter in
volved. And who could say how many
individual cases might be held up to
the light, which would reflect little
credit on his Majesty's service, and
still less on the immediate actors?
upon his own side he might plead
the countenance of immemorial Gus
tom; but would he not be confronted
with that broad construction of En-
glish law which is the guarantee of
personal liberty? And besides, would
not the Yankee Captain be abundantly
able to prove the nativity of the four
impressed men?
Every moment we were getting
nearer to Portsmouth and Spithead;
but SO, too, was the Rebecca. Soon
the affair of our impressment would
be noised over all England, and
thence borne to the ears of our coun-
trymen at home. Soon Captain Eddy
and the remainder of his crew would
stand up in the English courts, testi-
flying to the wrong that had beer
done us.
"Our feelings were intense. We
ceased to regret what had happened.
We thought only of the noble sympathy
and resolute conduct of our rue-heart-
ed Captain. How wretched our condi-
ton but for this.
"Stil the Rebecca came steadily
along, making what Roadway she could
with the light breeze, and almost hold
ing her own with the Falkirk.
"But suddenly Captain Downs stop
ped in his igety walk.
g Lieutenant Vane,' he said, see
the brig brought to the wind, and the
main-yard laid aback.'
I'm few minutes the Falkirk was
lying motionless.
Now continued the Captain, see
the cutter called away. Put those
four Yankees into her, and send them
aboard the shipp Then, with sorry
attempt to cover his modification, he
added: Possibly there has been some
mistake. At all events, the fellow has
followed me long enough to deserve
something at my hands, and he is well
come to the lubberly scoundrelsp
In fifteen minutes we were on the
Rebecca's deck. but it was midship-
man, and not the Lieutenant, who es-
corted us there.
"As we climbed over the ships rail,
Captain Eddy seemed as much re-
joiced as ourselves. Grasping each by
the hand, he welcomed us with o sym
patty that went to our hearts.
It's sooner than I expected, he
said, but I meant to see this whole
matter of impressment overhauled, and
I would have had you at last
@We tried to express our thanks, but
could not say all we felt. And oh,
how CHEEKY it seemed once more to
haul at the braces of the good Yankee
ship, and obey the tones of Yankee Of
fcers.
sHome and friends were before us,
and in o few weeks We reached the
United States, there to relate to won
dering ears our four days experience
as impressed sailors, and tell every
one how much we owed to q captain
who had proved himself such friend
in need and so worthy of his position