The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-07

sus.n ,ne1r nves, tney were as suilen,
calm, and dogged as usual.
Captain Montieth required the strlctest
discipline. Like many other petty
tyrants, he covered his tyranny with dis
cipline. But few words we're spoken oy
the sailors during their repast. "nen
supper was over and the sailors dlspersea'
many retired to their quarters, others to
the upper deck, to lie beneath the oul,
warks or under the gun carriages ana
spin yarns. D
nett and Dawes were in the morning
watch hut neither retired 10 their ham,
mocks that night. The night was warm,
and the weather being fair great many
of the sailors we're permitted to De on tne
gun deck.
What have l to gain by going to my
native 3aud:= burnett ASKED himself ashe
paced the deck, his head bowed in deep
Thought. -Nothing-I will be an mn.
known, uncared-for sailor; but then !
shall have the glorious consciousness of
knowing that I am not fighting my, own
countrymen. I might have served Johnny
Bull many years yet, had they not forced
me to raise my hands against America.
Burnett, as the reader hns doubtless
observed, was superior to the common
class of sailors. he was not only fine
seaman but fine physical and intellect
ual man.
He was an American, who years before
had been impressed into the British ser
vice, and although he had borne every in
suit petty tyrant could heap upon a
subject, was so thoroughly schooled in
a1sclpiine Inat ne never tnouRnt or oeser.
tion until he was required to take part
in besieging ON American seaport town.
When Capt. Montieth informed him thai
he was to command tho long-tom he de.
termined to desert.
It lacked but an hour of the appointed
time when these two Americans were to
make a bold strike for liberty. The sail
ors, one by one. had gone to their ham.
mocks, and all save few restless spirits
snd the watch were asleep.
Burnett had not seen Dawes for two
hours, though he knew that he could be
depended on when the tima came. They
we're not many leagues from the shore,
and he was satisfied that two good oars
men could reach it by daylight A dark
form suddenly glided forward to the sail.
or's side, and the low voice of Dawes
whispered:
'I've been over the top rail to see the
boat"
rs all right3"
1Yes."
4Pulleys, ropes, and rigging safe?"
Everything safe and taut."
Dawes, do you think they suspect?"
NO"
The sentry was coming that way and
the sailors separated. When the sentry
came along each was stand at the rail,
though some distance apart, gazing down
into the water. The sentry eyed them
somewhat suspiciously, and then resumed
his beat.
When he next came that way both had
disappeared.
try sald to nlmseIr, ana resumedhls beat.
Another hour wore slowly by. The
watch felt glad that they would soon ba
relieved, and allowed to turn in and rest
The night had grown intensely dark.
There were few stars in the heavens, and
light yapor-like cloud obscured the
light of even those. A dark form might
have been seen gliding along the larboard
side of the vessel, from gun carriage to
gun carriage, eluding the sentries until al
last a point near the top rail was gained,
where it disappeared behind stern
chaser.
The sailor named Dawes was standing
leaning over the toprail gazing down into
the water. The sentry was coming down
on his boat when Dawes suddenly said:
.lonie mere JACK come here
What yer wantP" the sentry demanded
Come, see what this is"
"Where?".
Here"
The sentry Looked over his shoulder to
gee if any of the officers of the watch
we're in sight, and sterped quickly to the
rail. :,
1Look'ee there; there's fsh-whew.
No one would have thought that whis-
tie signal. It seemed nothing more
than a surprise, but as it sounded over
the deck, the dark form rose from behind
the gun carriage, sprang lightly forward,
and as the sentry leaned over the toprsll,
lifted his heels into the mir and hurled
him headlong into the water. His cry
WAS accompanied by shouts from 10th
Dawes and Burnett.
Man oveIboard.- man overheard, the!
shouted Justly.
Almost instantly the widest excite.
ment prevailed. The officer of the watch
ordered q boat lowered and sail short
ened.
Down went Burnett and Dawes, and in
O jiffy the boat which swung over ths
stern was lowered, and they in, row.
ing straight out from the slip, paying
no heed to the marine, who was struggling
in the water.
Captain Montieth rushed up from the
cabin, and was soon on the poop decb
with forty or fifty others.
Bling lanterns" he cried. Lanterns
we're brought, and their light fell on the
deserters not o cables length away
Hey, back, you rascals! Where are you
going?" But they kept on, and the Cap.
tain in fury shouted: Il understand il
now. The internal Americans are desert.