Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-08-27

oiowiy ne moved toward the com.
panion-way. Il don't mind If
do he said at length; 'and yor
may as well bring up your papers
with the drinks, TO- / shall carry
them on board the Petrol. o.
course you understand that you ar.
my prize
And having set q guard at the
hatchways, the lieutenant descend.
ed the cabin stairs.
The iced champagne was duly
forthcoming, and under its genial
influence Lieut.. Brabazon began to
feel something like pity for the
young man who had been SO early
seduced into the paths of crime.
Probably he had a mother or q
sweetheart somewhere in the States,
who imagined that he was already
on his way home, whereas now his
character was ruined, even il he es-
capped a long tenn Of imprisonment.
This feeling was strengthened,
as he saw that his companion was
gazing mournfully at his glass,
without speaking a word. At length
the young man lifted his head.
Say, mister, what'll they do to
me %
Il can't tell. Of course, you
know that what you have been en-
gagged in is kind of piracy
'Nov
Il believe so. Cargo and crew
are confiscated, of course. What
they will do with you l can't tell
They won't hang me, will they?
Probably not said the lieuten-
ant; 'but let this be q warning to
you. You see what it IS to wander
off the straight course and banker
after forbidden gains. Lead an
honest life in future, when you are
released from custody. Avoid VIC
ious companions- But what is
this " he cried, as his eye fell on
an empty scabbard hanging on the
wall. It looked very like q United
States service sword -scabbard, and
Immediately the thought darted
through his mind that this hypo-
critical young Yankee (who had
been pretending to wipe away a tear
as he listened to the lieutenant's
good advice) had been doing some
thing worse, or at least more heav-
lily punished, than running cargoes
of slaves.
The British officer looked round
the cabin. A United States navy
cap was lying on a plush-covered
bench.
'Ah you've been having q brush
with an American mau-of-war =
cried Lieut.. Brabazon. sYou will
have to tell my superior officer how
you came into possession of these
articles. l must place you under
arrest And bitterly regretting
that he had sat down to table with
the fellow, the British officer rushed
on deck.
'Quartermaster = he cried, bring
up a guard of four men, and take
this man. pointing to the Yankee,
who had followed him on deck, 'to
the 'Petrel. II he tries to escape.
shoot him at once p
The quartermaster advanced to
seize the prisoner; but before he
reached him he involuntarily stop
ped short. A roar Of laughter
sounded on his ears. The Ameri-
can mate and his companions were
shrieking and staggering about the
deck; even the crew of the SLAYER
were, every man jack of them, grin
ming from ear to ear. The lieut.
enant was dumbfounded.
Excuse me, sir; but the joke was
too good said the Yankee, coming
forward and holding out his hand.
"I am the first lieutenant cf the
United States warship Geors;s.
in command of q prize crew on
board this vessel, taking her to
to have her condemned. We seized
her yesterday. Hearing that yen
had been on a visit to her the day
before, and had gone away without
doing anything, / couldn't resist
the temptation of taking you in.
Hope you don't bear malice: Let's
finish that magnum ef champagne
1t was evidently the best thing to
be done; but the lieutenant was no. o
first-rate companion on that occas-
ion.
'Give my respects to your COM
mander,' called out the United