St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-12-02
SUCCEEDED TOO WELL.
Why the Admiral Was Not Pleased
with tho Dispatches.

''lt's about four years ago." said the
skipper, ''that ] was strollinQ one
evening down the side of the harbor At
Cove with my hands In my pocket,
having nothing to do, nor any pros
poets OF it, for my last ship had been
wrecked of the Bermudas and nearly
all the crew lost; and somehow when .
man is in misfortune the undcrwritcrs
won't have him at no price.
Just before me. when l sat down.
there was an old schooner that Law
snoored in the same place for as long n
II could remember; she was there when
] was . boy.
Tho evening wore on, the moon
shone out, and l was just determining
TO go home again for the night when I
saw two men standing on the steps Of
the wharf below me and looking
straight at the Ark. heard . voice
from one Of the persons. that I 1t once
knew to be the port admiral'A
"'Well, Dawkins.' said he to tho
other. If you think she'll hold together
I'm sure I've no objection. don't like
the job. / confess; but still the admiral
~ must be obeyed'
80, my lord,' said the other. she's
the very thing: she's . ral<ish- looking
craft, and will do admirably; any 70
pair we want few days will effect;
secrecy Is the great thing
'Ho, no! thought /, there's some
thing in the wind here;' % laid my.
self out on the anchor stock, to listen
better, unohserved
I'VE must find crew for her, 9ive
her few carronades and make her q
shtpshape - we cam
"'As to the crew. said the other.
there are plenty OF scoundrels In the
11eet here fit for nothing else. ANY
fellow who has been thrice up for pun.
tshment in six months we'll draft on
board Of her: the fellows who have
only been once to the Rangway we'll
make the officers"
IA pleasant ships company,
thought ], If the devil would only
take the command
"'And with skipper prcportiouats
TO their merit. said DawkinA
"Begad, I'll wish the French joy OF
them,' said the admiral
| 'Ho. hor thought I, I've found you
out 1t last; SO this is . secret expedi-
tion; ] see 1t all; they're fitting her out
as fire-ship. and going to send her
slap in among the French feet 1t Brest.'
Now. them said the admiral, TO-
morrow you will look out for tho fellow
to take the command. He must Be .
smart seaman: bold fellow. too; other |
wise the rufiianly crew will be too |
much for him; he may bid high; wen |
come to his price
Never fear. my lord, said the other. !,
my care shall be to pitch upon one |
whose loss no one could feel; some ono
without frend or home. who, setting |
his life for naught, cares less for the |
gain than the very recklessncss Of the
"'That's me- said I. springing mp
from the snchor~stock and sprinRinR
between them; I'm that man.
my poor fellow, you know not
what you ask; this is no common case
of danger
~ know al, my lord; 1 have heard
Il all
"'We,' said the admiral, must speak
together again; be here tomorrow
night At this hour; keep your own
counsel of what has passed; and now
good night
This is the plan said Dswkins.
when we met again. AS soon Is that
old craft can be got ready for sea, or
some other II she be not worth it, you
will sail from this port with Q strong
crew, well armed and supplied with
Your destination Is Malta.
your object to deliver TO the ad-
miral stationed there tho dispatches
with which you will be intrusted: thew
contain information Of immense Inn
portsnce, which for certain reasons
cannot be sent through . ship of wax.
but must be forwarded by . vessel that
may not attract peculiar notice.
II you be attacked. your order. are
% resist; IL you Be taken. on no &C
,ount destroy the papers, for tho
French weasel can scarcely escape re-
sapture from our frigstes, and it il of
grcat consequence these papers should
-e0Ain. Such & . brief sketch Of our
plan; the details can be made known To
ron hereafter.
I'm less than three weeks l weighed
:nchoe, and stood out to ses one
morning in autumn, and set /,
mt on &nj soition." / have already :,
old yo01Do keel(ng OF the craft UAE-l
ae cod ne - -pac1nfc by infoRmiue.s<
'ou thunse.~Swenty-four ,hog11,si
laased- over L discovered that soun. ,
,ainly, 50 awkward. 50 unmanagcablc |
vessel never put TO sea-
II the ship was Bad The crew was {