The Brinkley argus., 1907-11-15

T nearly put my head into the nort and shouted; Take mel but knew that such breach of discipline wou,a land me in the brig, with no ro,ns ashore for a week, perhaps. so 2. crept back to the fo'c'sle and wajtoa
 By and by saw the bos'n's mate come aft and call man from below Then he called another and apotber But didn't hear my name. As each mans name was spoken the rect looked down-hearted enough. but kent their eyes fixed on the bos'n's mata hoping theirs would be the next name At last all were called. Then the bos'ns mate began to walk away. tbe men following him.
 "'Oh!' I said, is that alJT
 That's all, my lad said the mas. ter-at-arms.
 T tailed on to the line and walked up with the others. That's where I considered myself just leetle smart- CT than the rest of 'em. The men were marched up to the mast, where the cap'n and the first lieutenant stood.
 My men, said the cap'n., I'm go ing ashore on rather dangerous ex- petition tonight. Do you want to go?'
 Aye, aye, sir, said every man, and 1 among them.
 "'Who told you to come, young ster? said the bos'n's mate to me.
 Don't send me back said I. If you won't, I'll give you all my to- bacco for months to come
 You can't bribe me- said the bos'n's mate. You haven't got your eyes open yet. Go back to your quar- ters'
 What is that, bos'n's mater said the old man.
 I'm only telling him that he isn't needed, sir said he. We have all that you called for. I've chosen the biggest and oldest and those who have had the most experience
 May I speak to the cap'n?' said l.
 No; get back to your
 What is it, my lad?' asked the cap'n.
 T just gave one glance at the bos'n's mate. Now, wasn't that like him-our cap'n, mean? can see him now, hardly more than lad, looking at me as if he was 50.
 Lot me go! Oh, do please, sir, let me. Oh, do! Oh, do! Oh, sir, please, cap'n, s.r!'
 "The cap'n laughed The spirit of the ship! he said
 If it was the spirit of the ship. knew who put it there.
 Have we room for one more, bos'n? asked the cap'n, turning to where the bos'n was ordering the boats lowered.
 Yes, sir, said the bos'n, if he'll stow himself in the bows
 "Very well, then, my man, said the cap'n.
 While the boats were being low cred l ran below just to tell my guns crew and crow over the rest of 'em, and was on deck again quicker than you could say Jack Robinson.
 We g. over the side and slowed ourselves away. There were two boats, three officers and 20 men, and perhaps because l was so young the cap'n ordered me to get into his boat. We none of us knew what the old man was up to, but we had heard the word SmithvilIe, and we knew that Gen. Herbert's headquarters were there, and the report said that there was about thousand men under arms in the barracks. We didn't right understand it, but we knew it was all right if Cap'n Cushing said it was.
 'T can tell you we were as quiet as mice as we passed the forts at the mouth of the river and rowed quiet ly up to the town. As we passed the forts steamer was coming down the river. Her lights were extinguished, but we heard her paddle wheels and the throb of her engines, and pres ently the black mass loomed up just ahead of us I felt the boat give a sudden lurch, as the cap'n ported his helm to get out of the way of the great thing which would have run us down as easily as l could crush a fly When we had steered clear of her I heard the old man say: That was the Scotia I meant to try her first if she had been at the wharf, but it. would have been foolhardy while she was under way, and per haps would have separated us from the other boat. should like very much to call upon the captain of the Scotia. shall try it. think, when she returns
 .The Scotia was blockade rum ner which we had often hoped to catch and burn. And now that she was out of the way. I wondered what plan our commanding officer had in his head. As we pulled ashore saw a big building looming up, which zome one said was the hotel. There were one or two lights in it, and wondered if it was full of confederate officers and soldiers and if our cap tain expected to capture 'em with two pfficers and 20 men, all told.
 "We got out of the boats, and the .ap'n ordered the men to hide them .elves under the bank. Some of us ,a ordered to come with him, and you
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