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

the Captain demandea or the 'Dlaeksmith,
who was the first man he CHANGED to meet.
"W'y, Griff, yer here, old boy; well,
I'm glad ye come, " said the blacksmith
in an excited manner, beating the breach
of his musket upon the well-soaked earlh.
What is it, speak out?"
Dye see them two sailors?" the smith
asked.
aYes. Where did they come from?"
Il brought 'em in" said Hatchet, boast
fully. Me n ST Cole we're on picket
out thar on the hill n all was dark as
stack O. black cats-couldn't see nothing,
when all of sudden thar come fash o
lightning. We shot at 'em but missed,
an then charged 'em an they surrendered
an come in wi US"
Where are they from?"
Dun know. Spec they're spies, an We
orter hang 'em right up"
Don't they give any account of their
selves2"
"Yes," said Hatchet, still greatly e1-
cited. They say they are deserters from
that ship called the Tenny. stone or Jenny
Stone or some sich name"
"Oh, the man f-war, the Xenophon. !
will see them; they may be all right,
said the young officer. elbowing his way
through the crowa to wnere the sailors
stood, calmly gazing on the crowd of ex-
cited villagers, farmers and impromptu
soldiers. The Captain knew that great
many American sailors who had been i'm
pressed into the British service were de-
serting and coming over into the American
army and navy. These might be trying
to do the same.
1Who are your" he asked, approaching
the oldest and tallest of the sailors, who
stood calmly among the almost furious
Americans with his arms folded across his
breast.
II am James Burnett, deserter from
his Britannia Majesty's man-o'-wa the
&enophon, " was the answer in clear, dis
tinct voice.
And this man with you'll" asked the
young American, favorably impressed
with the honest, candid manner and tone
of the stranger.
He is my shipmate, Henry Dawes, Of
why did you desert the Xenophon?"
Because we did not wish to fight our
own country"
Then you are Americens?"
1We are, was the answer, with no little
AtCaptaIn Atoms request Burns:s gave
an account of his escape and its cause.
He stated that he had been for fifteen
years in the British navy, having been
Impressed into it, and never able to make
his escape. That Henry Dawes had been
impressed four years before. That they
had become almost reconciled to their
fate, when war with America was de-
clared, and they resolved the first oppor-
tunity to desert. The opportunity came
four nights ago. During the mldwatch
they had thrown the sentry overheard,
and, on pretext Of trying to lower boat
md rescue him, had escaped under ire
of musketry from the marines.
It was near noon when they landed on
long stretch of sandy beach. Twice that
day they had almost run into Major
Bridges troops, who had been landed the
day before their desertion, and after nu-
merous adventures had reached Manoa On
hour ago.
The story was reasonable and was told
in straightforward way which carried
conviction with it. and yet, while there
was possibility of a doubt, Griffith felt
that he could not give entire credence to
it. The lives and liberties Of these peo-
pie whom he had come to protect were In
his hand, and demanded the utmost care.
Your story is very reasonable, he
said to the sailor, "and I nm inclined to
believe it, but for the present you must
consider yourselves prisoners. You shall
be prisoners Of war and treated we'll, until
we are convinced beyond doubt that you
are really deserters.
The sailors looked little disappointed
ho o1
Burnet said:
@When the man-o'-war heaves to to
lombard you we want to lend hand in
the defense. If you are taken prisoners
you will be treated as prisoners o war, il
we are taken We will be hung OF the yard
arm"
The prisoners were taken to the guard
house under strong guard, and our hero
went with Simon to his headquarters.
Griffith knew the Yankee to be shrewd
and far seeing, and regarded his opinion
as safer than any other mans in the
village.
Simon, what do You think Of chose
wall. Capen,@ answered the Yankee,
scratching his head in q puzzled sors of
O wav. Il doan't eggsactly kneow bout
that. They seem to be all right meow,
but then there's no KNOWN how it may
NIL turn eout. Better treat them well,
an keep a sharp look out on 'em, too"
Il thought would. But what think
you of the man-o'-war?"
Guess they're abeout right, Capen.
Doan't think she'll get in sooner'n they
said. Its been BLOWN great guns, anil
keep 'er up till morni2'.'
The Yankee was right in his predic-
tons. The storm ragged nearly all night,
but the wind was hushed to sleep with
the rise of the sun, though large waves,
rolling and Iashing in foam crested fury
against the rock-bound shore. attested the
esct that the sea still run high"
ITO BE CONTINUED