Year: 1861

heavy reckoning, and the day VIII yet
come when your King will have to settle
it. / am exempt by your own laws from
impressment, and YOU know it,"


The captain showed little anger as
our hero spoke, but turning to one of his
lieutenants, he said:


"Mr. Monson, have these mems names
entered, and then station them and mess
them;" and without further remark he
walked aft to his cabin. In moment
Toms mind was made up, and without
resistance or remark of any kind, he al
lowed his name 10 be entered on the
purser's books, and his station and mess
TO be assigned him, after which his ham,
mock and bedding were served out to
him, and he was directed to "turn in "
as soon as possible. The frigate was
guarded with sentries, there being two
upon the poop, one at each gangway, one
at the fore-castle, and one at the bow
spirit, besides those that were stationed
at the various ports below: so that no
further notice was taken Of the new
comers, after they had received their
bedding, except to give the sentincls nd
ditional caution with regard 10 watching
well that no one left the ship unless he
was passed by the officer of the deck.


Toms hammock was already cleared,
and having hung it up, he turned into it
without undressing. The night was warm
and sultry, and as means of giving a
circulation of fresh air, the gun deck
ports were lowered, and from the place
in which our hero swung, he could look
out upon the water as it sparkled beneath
the beams of the bright moon. Tom lay
quiet until midnight; but as yet he cold
think of no means of escape. Shortly
after that hour had passed he heard the
relief guard called, and in about ten mi.
nutes the corporal of the first guard came
down upon the gun deck and unlashed
the hammock which hung next to his
own; which operation being performed
he proceeded to mdress himself, hanging
his clothes as he did so upon the clews of
his hammock. The four hours duty had
given the corporal an excellent appetite
for sleep, and in less than five minutes
after be touched his mattress he began TO
snore.


"Now, or never" thought Tom, sis my
chance;" and with this idea in his mind,
he slipped quietly from his hammock, and
proceeded to diyest himself Of his clothes,
which being accomplished, he very un-
cerimoniously substituted those of the
snoring corporal in their place and then
sat down upon the breech of n gun to
mediate further upon his plans.


One bell struck, and the seutinels pass
ed the usual calls we'll" Then Tom
heard the corporal, as be started to go
on bis rounds, and ere long he descended
the main hatch ladder to visit the post
below. No sooner had the marine officer
passed beyond the galley, than our hero
sprang up the ladder and gained the spar
deck. The officer of the deck was aft
upon the starboard side; the sentries
were walking their posts with regular
tread while the old quarter-master stood
upon the poop with his night glass under
his arm. The sentries performed their
walk upon the gang boards, raised even
with the bottom of the hammock nett
ings, and running forward from the lad
ders. The starboard gangway was shad-
ed from the light of the moon by the
awnings; and walking deliberately up the
ladder, Tom looked over the ships side.


"Sentry," said he, in mumbling scrt
of tone; "what boat is that at the
boomW


"The second CUTTER" returned the ma
rine, showing by his manner that he had
no suspicious of the spurious corporal.


Tom Immediately walked aft to where
stood the officer of the deck, and being
quite assured of the mistake of the sen
try, he pulled his cap down over his eyes,
and touching his visor respectfully re-
marked, al should like to overhaul that
second cutter, sir; for think there is
rum aboard of her."


Tom knew he was playing desperate
game, but liberty was to be the result Of
success, and he hinched not hair.


"Ha, the vilainsw uttered the lieu
tenant. Cup to their old tricks again.
Go down corporal, get down into the
boat, and if you do find rum in her they'll
catch it,"


Tom started quickly forward, but just
as he got abreast of the fore hatchway
he saw the simon pure corporals head
rising above the combings. The marine
assembled no higher; for with one blow Of
his fist Tom sent him back from whence
he came, and then sprang quickly out
through tho port upon the swinging
boom, and having reached the place where
the second cutters painter was made
fast, he hauled the boat up and jumped
into her. The flood tide was setting up
the river strongly; and quick as thought,
Tom cut off the painter and rapidly
dropped down stream.


aHelpl helpp shouted our hero AT
the top of his voice, "The boats got