The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-08


tion, 20 hear each man protest as ne sat
up and rubbed his eyes that we had not
treated them fairly, and that they had
only that moment fallen asleep. But
when assured TO the contrary they
reused UP at once, and / was greatly
gratihed TO see that, short as had been
their period OF rest. IL had undoubtedly
done them q world OF good. The watch
on deck was placed under the command
OF the man Tom, who had done such
good service with the carronade on board
the cutter. he being, In my opinion, the
! most trustworthy man In the party; ana
giving linn the most stringest orders TO
keep a bright lookout. TO fire al once and
unhesitatingy on any moving object
which might make it's appearance and
TO call me In the event OF anything taxi
Ing place out Of the common, / flung my
self upon the ground with my back To
the sod parapet, and I'm the act Of fold
ing my arms across my chest fell asleep.
To be cruelty awakened the next in
stant almost before ! had had time 10
fully realize the blessedness of the gift
OF sleep.
tishly. rubbing away at my eyes to force
them oper.
mo. sir; everythlngs still quiet thank
Then what did you wake me for. in
Heavens manner"
Pour bells sir; our turn for a spell of
sleep again. SIR was the exasperatns
-Four bells! Nonsenser
/ could not believe 1t. AS in the case
/ of the others. 1t really seemed as though
! l had not actually had time to get TO
/ sleep at all.
Yet ] had slept soundly for an hour,
and on staggering to my feet, though
the abrupt awakening had inflicted upon
/ me positive suffering, | found when tair'
: ly awake, that i was very distinctly the
/ better for my short nap. which seemed
| TO have made up. at least partially, In
soundness what II lacAed in duration.
Another hour passtA peacefully-and
| this time not quite so laggngly--away;
! our turn again arrived for a rest: and
| once more did we enjoy for a brief space
| the bliss OF perfect oblivion. AT Midnight
we were called again, Tom reporting that
| neither sight nor sound had occurred dur
! lrg his watch To disturb him. We now
! began To feel really refreshed. and dur
| Ing the next hour some of the men in
my watch actually found superfiuous en-
4 ergy enough To hum under their breath a
snatch or two of forecastle song rs
they paced vigiantly to and fro over the
I short stretch of ground which constituted
1 their beat"
\ As the silent hour fitted away without
disquieting sight or sound OF any kind |
| began TO feel sanguine that we were go-
ing To he blessed with Uninterrupted peace
! for the remainder of the night, and in
wardly resolved that n matters still con-
|
| had It's next hours sleep / would extend
| the period OF sleep to two hours for the
, next watch, which, with what they had
| already had, ought TO put them IN cxcel-
| lent trim for the fatigues of the succeed
ing day, whatever they might be. And
| with this resolve still uppermost I'm my
mind laid down and once more dropped
TO sleep when my turn came at one
| o'clock n. m.
Two O'plOpl arrived Our watch was
called. and still there had been no sign OF
the enemy. ] thought we might now safe
ly reckon upon being allowed 60 pass the
remainder of the night undisturbed: | ac-
cordingly informed the retiring watch
that unless we happened 10 be attacked
In the Interim they would now be allowed
to sleep for a spell OF two hours instead
OF one, and they forthwith composed
themselves for good long nap.
But IL was not TO be. An hour later
one OF the men startled us all into in.
slant wakefulness by sharply giving the
challenge. which was instantly repeated
all round the battery. and peering anx
iously into the fog detected the indis
tinct presence OF several shapeless Oh.
jects lying prone upon the ground where
knew that nothing OF the kind ought
90 be. These objects were quite motion.
less; but the man who had first given the
challenge assured me that his attention
had first bccn attracted To- them by
stealthy movement. Ordering the man e
at once rouse the sleepers cnutioninf
them Individually 10 take up their proper
stations noiselessly behind the parapet,
waited until every man had gained hi
post. and then taking n steady aim nj
one OF the objects I discharged my mus
ket.
(To he continued tomorrow)