The Carlisle independent., 1907-11-14

hhN' Nht NOs Ol, 0Os OAAJ foAAB PASN~' cap'n, s3r!'
 "The cap'n laughed. The spirit of the shipi' 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 capn, 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.
 sWhile the boats were being low cred I ran below just to tell my guns and was on deck again quicker than you could say Jack Robinson.
 We got 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 Smithville. and we knew that Gen. Herbert's headquarters were there and the report said that there was about a 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.
 'I can tell you we were as quiet as mice as we passed the forts at the ly up to the town. AS we passed the forts a 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 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 I 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. I should like very much to call upon the captain of the Scotia. I shall try it, I think, when she returns
 ''The Scotia was a blockade run 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 I saw a big building looming up, which some one said was the hotel There were one or two lights in it, and I wondered if it was full of confederate officers and soldiers, and if our cap tain expected to capture 'em with two officers and 20 men, all told
 we got out of the boats, and the cap'n ordered the men to hide them selves under the bank. Some of us he ordered to come with him, and you may be sure I didn't stay behind. If there was going to be fun, was go- ing in for 1t. The first thing we did was to capture some negroes who were at the salt works.
 T heard the cap'n ask: Where is Gen. Herbert? to which the men re- piled: Right up dah, sah, in de ho- tel sah!'
 "Cap'n Cushing then left some of
 
 our men to guard the boats. He said: I don't want too many. They would hinder me. I'll take you with me- Jones, and you, Howorth, and one sea- man. He chose, of course, brawny old fellow who had been with him in various expeditions, but though was not asked to accompany 'em, crept along after, for I meant to be in it now, as I told you, if there was to be any fun. The others walked quietly up through the garden, and followed. The first thing I heard was a window being pushed up gently. I stepped upon the piazza and looked into the room. Cap'n Cushing was al ready in the room and so were MT. Jones and MT Howorth. There was lamp burning low. A figure rose up in the bed.
 "'Who's there?' said voice.
 "'Gen. Herbert, you may as we'll get up and come with us,' said Cap'n Cushing.
 "I am not Gen. Herbert said the man in the bed.
 Not Gen. Herbert? Who are you, then?' said the old man, and pretty sharply, too. Perhaps you can imag- inc the tone in which Cap'n Cush- ing said this. I never beard a voice so full of disappointment in all my life.
 - I am the chief of the engineer