The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-30
THE LONE CORVET.


Captain Richard Dobnoy of the British
navy, commander Of tho man of war Cor
morant, was entertaining some friends in
tho harbor of San Francisco, and the talk
turned upon Ted Dobney, his brother, who
had resigned from tho navy several years
before because he had chivalrously pre-
vented French cruiser from boring holes
In wrotched opium smuggling craft
Ted was impulsivc, bravo, daring and
loved alike by his supcriors and his men.
Have you ever got on the track Of Tedi'
"Onco I thought had at Singapore
but nothing came of 1t. No doubt no
changed his name. Ho never asked for,
nor got, the legacy which my poor father
left him."
An hour later thoy were aboard tho Cor
morant dining with u number of men
asked to come and say goodby to Mostyn,
who was starting for England the second
day following, after pleasant cruise and
visit with Debney.
Meanwhile, from fur beyond that yell
low lane of light running out from Golden
Gate there came vessel, sailing straight
for harbor. Sho was largo, old fashioned
cruiser, carrying guns, and when She
passed another vessel she hoistcd tho Brit
ish ensign. She looked like Il half obsolete
corvct, spruced up, mndo modern by ev-
cry possible Device and all her appoint
clearly q British man. of-war ms shown In
her trim dressed Sailors her good handful
of marines, but her second and third lieu
tenants seemed little like EnglishmcD, and
indeed ono was an American and ono was q
Hollander. There were gun drill and cut
lass drill every day, and what was also
singular, there was boat drill twioo n day
SO that the crew of this man of-war rs
they saw Golden Gate ahead of them, were
Inn.
boat that sailed They could lower and
raise boat with wonderful experiences in
bad sea- and they rowcd with olocklike
precision and machinelikc force.
Their general discipline did credit to
tho British navy. But thoy were not given
to understand that by their commander
Captain Shewcll, who had an eye like u
spot of steel and tongue like aloos or
honey as the mood was on him.
This was most noticeable when he was
shut away from the others In his cabin.
Then his whole body seemed to change
The eye became softer and yet full of IL
sort Of genial deviltry, tho body had a
careless alcrtncss and elasticity, the whole
man had the athletic grace of u wild uni
nal, and his face had hearty sort of hui
NOR which the slightly lifting lip in its
bizarre disdain could not greatly modify
He certainly seemed we'll pleased with
himself, and more than once, rs he sat
alone he laughed outright and once he
said aloud, as his fingers RON up and down
schcdulc-nOt q man Of wars schedule
Laughing softly:
Poor old Fafq1haT, IL no could sec mt
nowl" Then to HIMSELF well, us L told
him, was violently tossed like ball into
the large country, and I've had lot of
adventure and sport. But here's some
thing morc-thc biggest game ever played
between n1tions by private pcrson-with
5000, 600 iEthc end thereof, if all goes well
with my lSne corvct!''
Tho next evening just before dusk, after
having idlcd about out of sight of the sig
nal station nearly all day, Captain She
well entered Golden Gate with the Hornet
of no squadron. But the officers at the
Signal station did not know that and sim
ply tclcgraphcd to the harbor in reply to
the signals from the corvct that British
man-of-war was arriving. She came lei
surely up the bay, with Captain Shcwell on
the bridge He gave low whistle rs he
saw the Cormorant in the distance. Hc
knew the harbor WE'LL and he SAW that the
Cormorant had como to now anchorage,
not the same rs British mon of-war took
formerly. He drew away to the old anchor
age. He need not be supposed to know
that change was expected. Besides, and
this was important to Captain Shcwcll,
the old anchorage was nearer the docks,
and it was clear, save for one little life
boat and schooner which was masking
out rs no came up.
AS he came to anchor the Cormorant
saluted her, and she replied Instantly.
Customs officers who were watching the
craft from the shore or from tlcir boats
gave up hope of any excitement when they
SAW and heard tho salutcs. But two went
out to the Hornet, were received gracious
ly by Captain Shewell, who, over a glass
OF vino in his cabin-appropriately hung
with pictures Of Nelson and Collingwood-
said that he was proceeding to Alaska to
rescue crew shipwrcckcd OH an island,
and that he was leaving the next day as
soon rs he could get some COAL though he
feared it would bc difficult coallng up that
night. Still, he did not ncod q great deal,
he said-which was indeed the casc-but
he did need some, and he knew that for
his own safety and tho Hornets he must
have It, After this, with cheerful com
plimcnts' and tho pcrfunctory declaration
on his part that there was nothing duti-
sbio on board, the officers left him, greatly
pleased with his courtesy, salutcd as they
left the ships side by the marines and
sailors standing Mt the gangway The
officers did not notice that one of these
sailors winkcd an eye Mt another, and that
both then grinncd and were promptly or
dered aft by tho second lieutenant
AS soon rs 1T was very dark two or three
boats pushed out from tho Hornet and
rowed swiftly to shore, passing u customs
boat rs they went, which was saluted by
tho officers in command. After this boats
kept passing back and forth for long
time between the Hornet and the shore,
which was natural, seeing that % first
night in port is O sort of holiday fer Off