Year: 1865

vet. Mirrors, of enormous dimensions, re
fected the occupants at full length on every
side. A lamp hung above "a rack that look
ed like dazzling pyramid, so rich were
the polished sword blades and ieweled
hits, the silver scabbards, the varnisheC
pistols, the steel sabers and the guns, touch
ed with the highest finish that skill coulC
give them. Flower vases, flied with beau
tiful exotics, where fastened to a stand
diffusing an agreeable odor through the
cabin. An old man, with snow-white hail
and thoughtful brow, sat in an antique
chair of carved OAK fashioned after such q
luxurious pattern that one might have
lounged his life out in it, and never grow
weary. A girl, the daughter Of the old
man, with such a sweet cOuntenance as can
only belong to pure mind, and with lips
as tempting as her own rOse-buds, was
reading when he entered. The prisoner was
brought before the hardfeatured veteran
and the officers arranged themselves about
a respectful distance.


Young man." said the old commander,
with severe frown and penetrating look,
remember it is the truth of what you shall
say on which your life depends any at
tempt at deception in my presence will
cause you to be hung Immediately to the
yard-arm. Who are your"


"a soldier of the American army"
And what duty were you performing on
shore 2"


"That of sentinel, to watch for the ap-
| proach of the numbering British"


Bride your insolence, young man you
did not perform your duty so well that you
can boast of your occupation"


"Ask your servant which was the hard
est, his head or my gun-stock. could not
dissolve the night, but l swept away the
cobwebs that clouded the stars before his
| eyes"


Sir" said the veteran, in a voice hoarse
with anger, which he strove to conceal,
what is the force assembled this night in
Portsmouth, and if you deceive me you
shall die at day-break"


"This morning it was proclaimed that it
numbered thirty thousand, and they have
five hundred cannon in town, ready to blow
your old hulks out of the water, like cookie
shells, if you are so fortunate as to float
after the forts have the sitting of you"


The old commander clenched his fist, his
face grew white as his cravat, and he would
have ordered the fearless soldier to instant
punishment for his bold reply had not his
daughter, who had stolen to his side, press
ed his arm, and breaking into tears, whis-
pered mercy. An angels tears will melt
iron, or at all events an iron soul, and his
countenance lost its sternness as he gent
ly put her aside, directed that the soldier
should be secured and guarded on deck
for the night.


AS he left the cabin, the girl, unseen by
her father threw her arms about the soldiers
shoulders, and he, touched by such unlock
ed for kindness. murmured fcrvent bless
ing on her young heart.


The night grew darker as the minutes
glided by. The mist was so dense that it
was impossible to distinguish even the out
lines of an object six feet distant. and it
seemed as if the clouds rested on the waves
and enveloped the ship.


The hands and feet of the prisoner were
then ironed, and he was lashed by a rope
to guncarriage. The watch that was set
over him walked the length of the deck,
momentariy passing and repassng, thus
rendered escape by his unaided efforts i'm
possible. Ned, having again climbed on
board, had observed them fasten the prison
er, and waited a fit time to spring and res
cue MIN and it was when the sentinel
passed him to go to the bow that he glided
to the prisoner with thrust with a knife
he severed the cords that bound him to the
gun, lifting him in his arms as though he
was an infant, hastened to the stern and
swung him into the boat. AS for life, they
piled their oars, but they had scarcely left
the ship when they heard the alarm given
upon deck Calls for lights, and shouts
that the prisoner had escaped, followed
Lanterns flew through the ship, and all was
confusion. The bold fellows in the boat
saw all, and felt in that deep darkness that
it was impossible for the British to overtake
them and, althouh within pistol shot,
they were unable to restrain their Joy, but,
with that fearlessness that characterizes
American soldiers, rested on their oars and
gave three hearty cheers. Scarcely had
the last hurrah left their lips when stream
of fire shot out from the ship, and the deep
boom of the cannon awakened them to their
folly Though fired at random, they heard
the ball whistle by very near them. The
boatswain's shrill call to quarters rose on
the night, and the sailors, expecting IN at
tack every moment rushed to defend the
deck.


Our heroes reached the shore safely, and
the sentinel, released of his shackles, was
ready to resume his arms and his duty
The night passed heavily and in suspense,
and the sun rose from its bed looking cold
as an icicle. The sea was blue but calm,
and every ship was gone, and not a spsck
dotted it from the shore to the horizon.
The British had given over all attempts on
Portsmouth, but whether refrained by the
crafty story of the sentinel, or the valiant
cheering of the men in the boat, will per-
haps ever be point in dispute.


The SECREr.-'1 noticed" says DR. Frank
lin, "a mechanic among others, at work on