Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-10
".dy men, said the cam. T.

"'My men, said the cap'n, Tn go
ing ashore on a rather dangerous ex'
petition tonight. Do you want to
go?'
AYE. aye, SIR said every man,
and among them.
Who told you to come. young
ster?' said the bos'n's mate to me.
Don't send me back, said l. III
YOU won't. III give you all my to-
haccO for months to come.
You can't bride me, said the
bos'ns mate. You haven't got your
eyes open yet. Go back to your quar-
tcrS.'
What is that. bos'ns mate" said
the old man
lin only telling him that lie 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 | speak to the car'n" said /.
"'No: get back to your
What is it. my lad asked the
cap'n
Il just gave one glance at the
boS'ns mate Now. wasn't that like
him-our capn. mean? ! can see
him now, hardly more than lad,
looking at me as if he WAS 80.
"Lct me 60 oh, do please. sir, let
me Oh. do, Oh. do. Oh. sir, please,
capn. sir
THE cap'n laughed. The spirit OF
the ship he said.
If il was the spirit OF the ship.
knew who put it there.
"'IIave we room for one mere,
hos'n?' asked the Cap'n. turning to
where the bOs'n WAS ordering the
boats lowered.
"'Ycs. sir said the bosn. IL he'll
stow himself in the bows
Every well. then. my man, said
the Capn.
While the boats were being low
cred | ran below just to tell my gun
crew and crow over the rest OF EN-,
and was on deck again quicker than
YOU could say Jack Robinson.
I'VE got over the side and slowed
ourselves away. mere "t!t lH'
boats. three officers and 20 men. ard
perhaps because | was so young the
Capn ordered me to got int" his
boat We none of us knew what the
Old man was up to. but W" had heard
the word Smithvillo. 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 Capn Gushing said
it was.
Il can tell YOU We were as quiet as
mice as We passed the forts at the
mouth of the river and rowed quiet
~ up to the town. AS we passed the
forts steamer was coming down the
river. Her lights were cXtinguished
but We heard her paddle wheels and
the throb of her engines. and pres
emily the black mass loomed up just
ahead of us. l felt the boat give a
sudden lurch. as the Capn ported his
helm to get out OF the way of the
great thing which would have run
us down as easily as | coud crush
a fly When We had stcercd clear Of
her | heard the Old man say: That
was the Scotia. | meant to try her
first if she had been at the wharf.
but it would have been fooihardy
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 vas blockade run
ner which we had often hoped to
catch and burn. And now that she
was out of the waE. | wondered what
Ian our commanding Officer had in
his head. As we pulled ashore | saw
big building looming NJ. Which
some one said was II" hotel. There
were one or two lights in il. and |
wondered if 1t was fnll of confederate
officers and soI,ii rs. and if OUT cab
;ain expected to CaDtI:,. en- with two
officers and 20 mon. all told.
We got on: Of the boats and the
cam ordered the men To hide them
selves under the hank. Some Of lis
, he ordered to come with him. and you
NAV be sure | didn't stay behind. II
there was going to be fun. ! was 60
ing in for it. The first thing We did
! was 10 capture some negroes who
were at the salt works.
Il heard the cap'n ask: Where is
Ncn. HERBERT to which the men re
niicd: Right up DAN. sab. in de no
tel. sab
..cann I,Ishin~ ttrn left come Of