Year: 1874

spruce beer, of which he Kept a caSk
always on tap in his private cabin.


Before he had been on board many
DAYS Jeffery's proficiency as a smith
was discovered, and he was made ar
morer's mate. So that there was Il
fair chance for his making his en-
forced trip pretty comfortably, and,
returning after few months to his
native place, with a pocketrul of
money after all. But an unfortu-
nate group of circumstances got in
the way. The Captain was not the
only thirsty man in the ship; his ar
morer's mate for example, OCCASION
ally had drought upon him, which
was considerably aggravated by the
extreme hot weather and the small
allowance of water served out daily,
for the ship was running short of
that treasure which we never prize
while we have it. During this state
of affairs, Jeffery was sent to exc
cute some job in the Captains cabin,
and, being left alone with the barrel
of spruce beer, he began to ogIe it.
There was a drinking cup which had
been used, lying very handy; the
Captain was on deck; no one could
see him; he was very thirsty! He
snatched up the cup, and desisted
from his work moment to draw off
half a pint and toss it down. Very
good it was, and very refreshing; if
stolen waters are sweet, what must
purloined spruce beer be? Present
iv another drink was taken, with
equal success. A third, however,
was spoiled by the thick and wrath
full voice of his Captain, who had
come below unheard, unnoticed, in
time to witness this outrageous act
of daring presumption. 1t would
burn hole in the paper to write
down Capt. Lakes remarks upon the
occasion. Seventy years ago all
gentlemen swore a little; naval Of
ficers swore, very much, increasing
in vehemence AS they rose in rank;
men in liquor swore, as at the pres
ent day hardest of all. You may
imagine, what the language of a
drunken sea captain must have been
when he saw his beloved spruce-5 beer
flowing down the throat of COM
mon armorer;s mate! That auda-
cious wretch was clapped in irons
presently, while his infuriated COM
mander, having refreshed himself.
returned to the deck, which he pac-
ed with unsteady step, revolving in
his mind what punishment would be
sufficient for crime so henious. 1t
ought to be something unusual,
startling, appalling as the act which
it avenged. Suddenly his eyes
caught sight of small island, now
turned into a jewel by the rays of
the sun, which was sin';ing in the
west, and the inspiration came.


"Lieutenant!" he cried.


''Sir?"


''Man the gig, and send for that
fellow l have had confined"


1t was done, and then, to the Lieu
tenants horror, his superior officer
ordered him to take the prisoner,
land him on the barren rock, and
leave him." I'll have no thieves on
on board my ship" he said.


The Captain was evidently the
worse for drink, and his Lieutenant
hesitated.


'eDo you hear me, sir,?" thunder
ed the astonished commander; and
discipline prevailed. Deeply as he
loathed the act, the Lieutenant had
no option but to obey; the crew
though they murmured, did not mu-
tiny, and Robert Jeffrey was put
ashore without food or drink. He
had his knife, and one sailor gave
him handkerchief, and another
long stick which he had thought to
throw into the boat as they showed
off, for the deserted man to signal
with. By this time the sun had sunk,
and when the boat returned to the
ship it left the poor fellow behind,
alone in the dark.


He fully believed that the Captain
only meant to frighten him, and bore
up pretty well through the night
with that idea. But when the morn
ing dawned the Recruit was a mere
speck in the. distance, which slowly
but surely passed away beyond the
horizon. Then the unhappy man re-
allied that he was a cast away.


The Recruit, indeed, had caught
a favoring breeze, which carried her
quickly to Barbados, where she
Joined the squadron under Admiral
Sir Alexander Cochrane. Here of
ficers and crew, mingling with those
of other ships, spoke freely of the
affair, which presently reached the
Admiral's ears, who sent, for the
Captain, questioned him, and, find
ing the story true, severely repri-
manded him for his brutality, and
ordered him back to rescue the man.


The Island upon which Jeffrey had
been so barbously left was one of
the Leeward group, a desolate rock
called Sombrero, and the Recruit
got back to it just a fortnight al
ter the event. A careful search was
instituted, but all that was found
was pair of trowsers not Jefrey's
and a tommahawk-handle, no trace
of the missing man being discovera-
bic.


This result being reported on the
ships return to Barbados, Sir Alex
ander COchrane felt satisfied that
the man had been rescued by some
passing vessel, and let the matter
rest for the time. But a good many
formed different opinion, and sus-
pected that Jeffrey had come to
some violent end; and when the
squadron returned TO England the
affair was taken up by the people at
home, and made so much noise, that
after two years had elapsed, the
Captain was brough to a court
martial, condemned and dismissed
the service. This, however, instead
of appeasing the public excitement
only infamed it the more, by the
authentic details which were brought
to light in the course of the court