The man-o'-war's-man's grudge
A ROMANCE OF THE REVOLUTION. BY NED BIN'TL NE, 1F $ NEW YORK: E R I C A. B R A D~Y, NO. 24 ANN STREET. F R E D i 4' page: (3)[View Page (3)] THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S &RUDGEO ( I OIAPTEf I. SINRoDUCTIoN. Let me introduce you, my friend, to one' of expected discharge of a pistol in the hands of the bravest heroes that ever drew a sword in a younger brother. He then made a voyage defonee of American liberty-JoHnA BARsEY.- to Cadiz an-I Genoa, and in 1775 sailed for I am about to weave a portion of his life into Italy On this trip the mate was disehargred, the web of romance; and if, spider-like. I can and Barney promoted in his place The cap- inveigle you tato the web, I'll strive to keep tamn beingtaken sick, thenavig4tion and whole vonrthere until you acknowledge that Amen- charge of the vessel devolved upon Barney, can history and romance can be so blendid as who was then oot quite sixteen years"of age. to keep alive the fire of patriotemn in the In July, 1775 he went to Alicant where his i breasts of all true Americans. vessel was engaged by the Spaniards in the And before I hailthe romance tacks ahoari, transport service, they neing engaged in an I will say a word in regard ti) the birth and expedition against Algiers But the expedi- early prestiges of my hero. He was born in tion failed and he returned hoie. On his Baltimore, in 1759 His father was a farmer, arrival at the mouthi of the Cnesapeake bay, iis and lived near that city He received a plain vessel was boarded by an officer frsin the lirit- English education. and at the early age of ish corvette King Fisher, and there. for roe " eleven was placed in a retail store in Alexan- first time, he heard of tie Battle of Bunker dria, but he was "like a fish out of water" in Hill, though he was boarded on the first of such an employment. Uoline some of our October, 1775. Tue ship was searched, her modern counter-jumpers, he bad a soul above arms and letters taken from her, and Barney ribbons and shoe-laces In 1771 he returned was grossly insulted by the Englian officer, to Baltimore, and insisted upon going to sea who called him n a, brat of a Yankee" From For several months he cruised in a pilot boat, that tinte he bore a grudze against John Boll sailed iy a friend of his father, and learned a which he never forgot Immediately on laud- good deal of the coast, especially around the ing, he sought a berth on hoard the sloop ior- Chesapeake and Capes of the Delaware, gain- net, Captain Stone, and having received a ing a knowledge which was of immense benefit flag from Commodore Hopkins. the first to him afterward. His father, finding teat ever raised in Maryland, he beat up for r.- nothing would break his inclination for toe ern its, and in one day got a full crew tr the sea, apprenticed him in a brig to a Captain vessel Drysdale, woo rade a voyage from Ba'timore - No er, having given you a star-ing point so to Cork- Their passage was rough, but they far as my hero is- conerned. I am re.y to ari-ived sare, and soon after the vessel was I make sai on-the course of my 'story. And sold. Btrney returned to Baltimore, where, having got my hearingsgs" taken " distancee soon after, he had the misfortune to lose his and departure' " I11 open a fresh chapter by father, who was accidentally killed by the un- way of an anchorage / page: 4-5[View Page 4-5] 1) ruAn"_uAP'S-~MAN'S GRUDGE TILE M AN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. CHAPTER IL THE CHASE. It was October, 177 .. A heavy gale was blowing from the northward. Two vessels- one was a ship, the other a rakish fore-topsail schooner, both armed-were standing off the coast, leaving the Capes of the Delaware. Both were under reefed sails. Tue ship contained Benjamin Franklin, then boundon his mission t Fran ;e -the schooner was the gallant little Wasp to which Barney had been transferred from the Hornet. It was singular that his first experieiee in armed vessels was in these sting- inz 1irds. as Paddy called the bees. The Wasp convoyed Franklin's ship until slei nas well beyond the line of cruisers w hieh infested our coast at that time, and then her Captain, Charley Alexander, put about to return to the Delaware. It was a clear morning when they re-sight- ed Cage lenlopen,and at the same time made out seven 'r sail lay ng in the roads on that side of th-' i. "Oiita kind of craft do you think they are, Mr lh r ue y * 'isked the captain, as the former, i 'is perched on the foretopsail yard, l-e id at them through a spy glass. - 'ii inin o'-war, sir. Blast 'em, I owe te h- m " irt kirvi of a grudge !" replied - are- tiy heavy vessels ?" - ar-I 'in sure one of them is a large fri: i'r and the other is a frigate or a large 3509 t ar " " T heavy for us--I'll stand off. and then try th+ ('ape May channel," said the captain. The breeze was pretty fresh, and hauling more to the eastward now. But the gallant little Wasp staggered along under a whole topsail, mainsail, foresiil and jib, and soon was up abreast of tie Cape May channel. 11cr head was now laid for the entrance of the bay. But she was not to slip in without notice, or an attempt being made to bring her to. Tne British vessels bad evidently, from her rake and rig, discovered her character, and were under a press of canvas standing across to cut her off. 'She must bear the topgallant sail," mut- tered the captain, as he saw that his clanc to slip by the enemy's cruisers was slim SShe'll stand it, and the squ-resail, too, sir," said Barney-" the wind is well on our quartr'r The aiditionui sail was added, and with the bows fairly huied in foam, the little schooner stood bravely on her course. The British ships, covered from the deck almost to their trucks with canvas, were coming up. After about two hours run, the leading vessel luffed up, and a cloud oi smoke was seen to puff out from her bow. Then the spray from a shot, as it struck the water nearly a quarter of a mile short of the schooner, rose in the air. "Too weak winded," muttered Barney. Then turning to the captain of the Wasp, he said : "If you please, sir, I think our Long Tom could measure the distance a little better than that." "Try it, Mr Barney, if you like," said the captain. "Thank you, sir," replied the youthful offi- cer, "I owe the beef-eating rascals a grudge." Carefully sighting the gun, which threw a thirty-two pound shot, Barney applied the match. Although the leading ship was full two miles off, the effect of Barney's shot was to knock her foreyard in two close to the slings, and to deorive her of the use of both the foresail and foretopsail for a time. "Splendid, Mr. Barney, splendid! 'cried the captain, in delight "Shall I give her another, just by way of compliment, sir:?" "No, sir-not until we get further up the bay. Every shot we fire will deaden our headway-they are too heavy for us, and I see there is a brig larger than us standing out too. If the wind should die away, their boats, with so many men, might give us a deal of trouble." Toe three British vessels, new finding itim- possible to cut off the schooner before she would place a middle-ground between them ove: which they could not pass, for they were provided with tory pilots, now stood up the ilInlopen channel, pressing every stitch, of canvas which they could set, determined to overhaul her before she could reach a point of the river protected by the American batteries. But a stern chase is ever a long one. The schooner had a little the advantage in distance, but they had greatly the advantage in canvas, for all three carried studding-sails, and the schooner had none On-on dashed the Wasp, like a deer before the hounds, still keeping just out of gun shot until nearly night. Then, as the breeze began to die away, the enemy began to gain. "It would be accursed luck if we were taken at last," muttered the captain. 5 I 4 1" L1 '-'' - " ~ ~ ~~ We will not be," said Barney, calmly. side on ; and if they want to come in with their "How can we help it if they close with us? boats, we'll tale the old grudge out of them Ty have one forty-four gun frigate, one of with a little grape and canister." twenty-eight, and that brig has eighteen. "Your ideai good,Mr Barney-wilf- There is but one way-we can run the schoon- low it.dsir,"continuedBarney, after we er ashore, escape in ,bget in we can send word up the river by ex- "There is another way, sir," said Barney, press to the galleys, and they can comenthey "I'd thank you to point it out, sir," re- lay at anchor till daylight." plied the captain, less assured than his young "True again, Mr. Barney," said Ca~ptain p officer.Alexander. We are within three miles of Wilmington In a short time, inder histskillful paoag creek, sir; I know the way into it, and there Barney had the Wasp insi t a is plenty of water for us, but not enough for a posture for defence. The British vessels, as them. We will be protected, in a great mena- he had predicted, anchored outside. An sure, from their guns by the trees growing at express was also sent immediately to Corn- the mouth, and after running up a little way, modore Hopkins, who was further up the we can takein sail and lay the schooner broad- Delaware. . S 4 1 page: 6-7[View Page 6-7] . i a r f I; i G3 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S.MAN'S GRUDGE. CHAPTER III . ' THE FIGHT. All that night the crew of the Wasp lay on j Acting under Barney's advice, aad by his t'eir arms on deck, ready for and expecting a assistance, Alexander now had the schooner boa. attack Neither Barney or the comman- warped to the mouth of the creek. der closed an eye. They knew that if not at- The officers and crew of the brig were oc. tacked at night. they would be, most probably, cupied in returning the fire of the galleys, and in the morning, watching their attack upon the larger vessels, But the night passed without an alarm, and and were not aware of the proxicaity of the before the gray cf the coming dawn, thewind, schooner, until a thirty-two pound shot crash- whieh had been so strong, died away into a ed throughtheir bulwarks, dismounting one of breeze so gentle that it hardly lifted the short their carronades, and killing and wounding night pennan t at the masthead. nearly a dozen men. It is about as comfort- Suddenly the boomof asinglegun, evidently able to be caught between two fires as it is for of very heavy calibre, came thundering over amarried man to be caught by his wife kiss- the water. In a few moments it was repeated, ing a girl whom he has been courting under and shortly gun aftergun opened loudlyinthe the pretence of being single. If he isn't under morning air- two fires, who is? "The Commodore is down withthegalleys, In less than half a minute, another shot I expect sir, 'said Barney. "With your per- from the saucy little Wasp crashed into the mission, l'il take a boat and pull to the mouth brig, hitting her just above wind and water, of the creek. and see what is up" and knocking a hole in her large enough to "Do so, Mr Barney, but hurry back." said have shoved a man through. At that moment the captain; "if there is a chance, I wish to a gentle land breeze began to ruffle the leaves improve it" in the tree tops. The commander of the " Not worse than I do-my old grudge never schooner saw it. will be satisfied," said Barney, as he ordered ' Aloft, men, and loose the top sail !" he a boat lowered, that he might proceed to re- cried-" loose the topgallant-sail, too. Mr. connoitre. He was not gone long, for ere the Barney, clap the canvas on her--we'll board first gleam of the rising sun had reddened the that fellow." eastern sky, he returned and reported that the "Good! That's the tune I like, sir. One galleys, in full force, had attacked the vessels, more chance to take out my grudge for John- which were anchored in the river a short dis- ny Bull, and show him what 'a Yankee brat' tance below the mouth of the creek. The two can do," shouted Barney, himself springing larger vessels were some ways out in the river, aloft to hurry the men in their work. but the brig lay close in shore, having follow- Before the commander of the brig knew ed the schooner the night previous much that a breeze was springing up, the Wasp was nearer in than the rest. cnder canvas, and standing down upon him in Tnere was not breeze enough to enable the a course which enabled her to rake him fore veasels to get under way, and the galleys and and aft, without his having hardly a chaneeto gun boats, propelled by oars and sweeps. were return the fire. The gun-boats, seeing the enabled to chose their own position, and to do schooner come out, now centered their fire on considerable execution. The British vessels the larger vessels, and left the brig to be han- got springs on their cables, and prepared to died by the Wasp. make the best defence they could, but their "Stand by to let everything go by the run, chances were precarious without a breeze. and grapple as I lay her aboard !' shouted "Can't we bring the schooner into action, Alexander, as he bore down. "Mr. Barney, Mr. Barney ?" asked Alexander, fuming with you will head the boarders." impatience, as the rapid discharge of cannon- "Ay, ay, sir," was the cheerful response. ry and rising clouds of smoke told him how "Strip to the waist, men-we've got work to busy they were outside. do," he added, as he threw off his coat and "Easily, sir-by warping," replied the bared his right arm, with which he sustained young master's mate, who was acting as first a keen and heavy cutlas. officer under the commander; "and it we Tne next moment, amid the rattling of pis- could only lay the brig alongside we could tols and musketry, and'the yells of maddened take her. Stauding off, she is too heavy metal foemen, the hulls of the two vessels crashed for us." together. In an instant, sheets and halliards I 3 , I 1 K 7 were let fly on board the Wasp, her sails came leader the British eased to resist, and hauled down, her grapnels were east, and, like two down their colors. huge giants, clasped in a deadly embrace, with The breeze had now freshened, and the ene- hundreds of struggling pigmies above them, my's other vessels were under way, and stand- lay the long, dark and shattered hulls. ing down the river. When they saw that the Barney, followed by his men, yelling and brig had surrendered, they opened fire on her fighting like so many demons, sprang upon and the schooner for a short time, but.dared the brig's deck, parrying the points of board- not try to retake her under the fire of the gun- ing pikes, and cutting down a foe at every boats, which, in smooth water, with their long sweep of his blood-stained blade. The ene- pivot guns, were more dangerous than large my, who had met them on the forecastle, be- vessels, for they exposed so little surface that gan to fall back toward the quarter-deck. At it was next to impossible to damage them, this moment, Barney recognized an old ac- while every shot from them told iii the. hulls quaintance in the commander of the brig. It or rigging of the Englishmen. But the breeze was the officer who had so grossly insulted soon carried the latter out of fire. him at the mouth of the Chesapeake. Barney was busy in getting the prize in or- "Stand out, you beef-eating scoundrel-- der to go up the river, when a barge rowed stand out, and see what 'a Yankee brat' can alongside, and the gallant Commodore Hop- do now !" cried the young officer. "I owp kins sprung on board. you an old grudge, Johnny-give me aehance " I congratulate you, Captain Alexander, on to take it out !" taking so valuable a prize. I have been a wit- The recognition was mutual, and the ness of your gallantry," he cried, grasping the British officer, who was, fighting desperate- hand of the commander of the Wasp. ly at the head of his men, did not avoid "Mr. Barney deserves all the credit, sir," the chance which Barney sought. He was said the gallant and generous officer; "he ad- a large and powerful man, and a thorough vised the attack, and led on the boarders." swordsman, wherein he has the advantage "Ah! I met you in Baltimore, did I not, of Barney, who, as yet, had had but little sir?" asked the commodore, recognizing Bar- opportunity to improve himself in the science ney,~who was spotted with blood and black- of arms. But he did not lack strength or ened with smoke. courage, and so impetuous was hi attack "Yes,, sir - I had the ho- r of being ap- that the Englishman at firsa fell back under pointed a master's mate by you, on board the the rapidity of his blows, contenting himself Hornet." with parrying and not returning them.. But "Yes, I remember. You drummed up a he was only "feeling his man'" A moment crew for-her in one day. You are an honor more and Barney's entlas flew from his hand. to the service. You shall rank as lieutenant He never would have struck another blow had from this day. Call on me, to-morrow, at not his foot slipped in a puddle of blood, which Philadelphia, and you shall have your eom- brought him on his knees, and his adversary's mission and a command--you are worthy of sweeping blade passed over his head. Quick it. The sloop Sachem is fitting out, and will as thought he drew a pistol from his belt, but suit a dare-devil like you to a notch." before he could use it, an old seaman-a quar- The young officer blushed at the unexpeet- ter gunner from the Wasp-sprung before ed, yet gratifying, compliments,, and did not him and drove his eutlas up to the very hilt hesitate, when invited by the captain, to join in the Englishman's breast. , the commodore below in something "warm to "Blast your eyes, you infernal scoundrel, take." what did you do that for!" yelled Barney, The next day Joshua Barney received, from rising to his feet, and shaking his clenched the hands of that noble patriot, Robert Mor- hand in the seamen's face. "That man ris, the President of the Marine Committee, the was my property. Towed him a grudge, promised commission of lieutenant, although and your cursed interference has spoiled my only about seventeen years of age. But, chance !" thrown so early in a position of command, "I reckon he'd have spoiled your chances obliged to depend upoh his energies, he seem- for all time to come if i'd let him had another ed much older than he was. But youth's fol- lick at you," growled the grim old seaman, lies were not entirely dead in him, as the next resting on his cutlas, for with the fall of their chapter will prove. THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MAN S GRUDGE. page: 8-9[View Page 8-9] THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. CHAPTER IV. THE BAFFLED SUITOR. There was a jolly party, on the second evening after Barney had received his commis- sion, at the sign of the "Spread Eagle," on Market street, Philadelphia Reeves, the bur- ly landlord, assisted by his son Clem, had their hands full to attend to the numerous calls made for Jamaica rum slings and Hol- land schnapps, the two most fashionable bev- erages in those days. In the large, old-fashioned parlor, some fif- teen or twenty perons, mostly officers in our young navy, were gathered, and many a patri- otic toast was given, many a song sung not at all complimentary to King George or his loyal subjects. Young Barney was the hero of the evening, not only in consequence of his recent good conduct, but also because he was "wetting his commission," or, in other words, giving tae entertainment. While these light-hearted and gallant gen- tlemen are enjoying themselves, reader, we will avail ourselves of a mantle of invisibility, and visit another scene which was occurring only a half square or so distant from the tavern. A very lovely young lady was sitting in a handsomely-furntshed room-a parlor, appa- rently. She was rather above the middle height-her figure noble and full, her features classically regular. Her complexion, though clear as the thin rind of a pomegranate, was of a brunettish hue, the rich blood often mant- ling up to her very brow at the slightest ex- citement. Her eyes were large and dark, as if they had been condensed from a night-cloud, with a tiny diamond of blazing light put in the centre of each. These were fringed by long ebon lashes, which hid that light if they were but cast down. At the time which I take for her introduction, she was sitting calm- ly on a chair by a centre.table, one of her hands toying with one of the glossy ringlets which fell upon her white shoulders, the other resting on marble less white than it was. A look of cool contempt was expressed in her face, which well became her haughty, queenly appearance, as she gazed upon the other occu- pant of the room. He was a young man, very richly dressed in the extreme of the then prevailing fashion. But be bore the marks of dissipation, and his face, though it would have been called hand- some by some, had not an expression which would impress a stranger. His figure was elegant, but God had written villain on his brow!t He was striding to and fro in the room, his face red and convulsed with passion, his hands clenched, and his form quivering with rage. At last he paused before the lady, and, in a voice low and husky, said, as he bent his. gleaming eyes upon her: "So, Miss Cora Bedford, you refuse my hand-refuse it with scorn and contempt?" "I do, Mr. Elliott 1" replied the lady, neither blanching before his angry look, nor avoiding the glance of his almost bloodshot eyes. "Am I not wealthy ?" he continued. "The world thinks you are," she replied, with indifference. "Am I not young; as good-looking as any of your admirers?" "You think so!" she responded, in the same tone. "Is not my family, am not I, respectable? Stand we not at the topmost round of aristo- cracy?" "No!" responded the beautiful girl-" no! not of the American aristocracy ! Your father is a detestable tory, and you are a contempti- ble puppy !" As she spoke she rose, her queenly form towering, and her face flushing with indig- nation. "Were you not a woman !" he muttered, between his grating teeth. "Were I a man, I'd scourge you from my presence, you dastardly coward !" she said. " As it is, Mr. Elliott, all that I can say is, that the atmosphere in this apartment would be much more agreeable to me if it was re- lieved from the pollution of your presence. I hope you will understand that hint, sir, and not oblige me to ring for a servant to expel you !" "By the God who made me, you shall suffer for this, proud girl !" he muttered "Swear by the devil ; God never had any- thing to do with such a wretch as you are!" was her scornful reply. "You shall sue on your bended knees for a favor from me yet!" he cried. "From this hour on, Cora Bedford, I devote myself to your ruin 1" "I defy 'on, you pitiful reptile-and mark me ! the next time you dare to address me, I'll make my father's negro servant scourge you from the door, or horsewhip S ou in the street, if there you speak to me!" "You will?" I THE MAN O'-WAR'S-MAN S GRUDGE. r^k "td 1 1 i 9 " I will, Henry Elliott, as sure as I live l" "Then hear my threat, Miss Bedford, since threats are the order of the day-and I will keep mine. I will kiss you the first time I' meet you in public !" " Make your will before you try' it !" re- sponded the spirited girl, opening the door and pointing to it. With a curse upon his lips, the baffled suit- or departed. We wi 1 now return to the jolly party at the "Spread Eagle," then the most fashion. able hotel in town. It was getting late, and their imbihations had made them pretty warm, Barney had just finished a rousing sea song, when an addition was made to the numbers in the room by the entrance of several young men in citizen's dress, but fashionably appa. reled. They took a table near where the offi- eers were seated in a circle, and, although they seemed by their actions to have already taken aboard a pretty heavy cargo, called for a bowl of punch. . The officers evidently considered this as rather an intrusion, but, as they were in the public parlor, and not in private room, made no remark The punch was brought by the attentive landlord, and the gasses of the new-eomurs were filled. "Here's that you may win your bet, El- liott." said one of the party, draining off :." bumper. "What was the bet. Tom ?" asked another ; "it was made before I came in." "Why," responded the other. "Elliott there made a wager with Sam Wilkins that he d kiss Miss Cora Berlford in the public street be- fore a week has passed' "Whatt the lovely daughter of Alderman Bedford-the belle of the city?' "Yes-an1 I'll bet a guinea that he wins it !" replied the other. Another voice-not from the party-joined in the conversation. It was that of young Barney, whose eyes flashed like sparks of fire as he heard the young fops speak thus lightly of an insult to he premeditatedly offered to a respectable lady. "The man who would make such a bet is a scoundrel, and the fellow who would take it is a fool !" he cried. "The first ought to win a broken head, and the second to be ducked in a horse-pond !" "Do you mean me, sir ?" shouted Elliott, the same whom we recently saw dismissed by the lady. "I made the bet!" 8 " Then I mean you !" replied Barney, coolly. "You are a scoundrel, sir-I will have sat isfaction-you wear a sword !" shouted El- liott, rising from his seat. "Yes, but I only use my sword on enemies worthy of my steel-on the foes of my coun- try. In regard to the term you applied to me I have but one response-what do you think of my bootmaker ?" As he said this, Barney most unexpectedly applied the square toe of a heavy sea-boot to that portion of Elliott's person which had last been in contact with the chair. The latter, backed by his friends, made a blow at Barney, which the latter parried, and then with a tre- mendous right-hander he visited Mr. Elliott's frontispiece on the equinoctial line between his eyes, causing him to take a celestial ob- servation from a reclining posture. The fight now became general. fcr all hands had plenty of combative fluid aboard, and the ears of the staid Quakers of the vicinity were shocked by the shouts, yells and curses of the parties. The noise awoke several watchmen from their slumbers, who rushed to the scene, and after the parties had got through the fight-te citizens having knocked under to, or rather been knocked under by, the officers--made a general arrest of all those who were well whipped, taking the words of honor c f the others that they would appear at ten o'clock the next morning before his worship the Alder- man of the district. Elliott and the most of his companions were ingloriously lugged off to the watch-house, havi' g had very little self inotive left in them, though they were "fast boys." Barney called for the bill, to which, at his request, the landlord added the damages of both parties, and promptly settled it, "What made you pitch into that fellow o quick, Josh?" asked one of his compaonlud, as the party were departing for their rooms. "I felt a grudge against him the moment t saw his face, that I couldn't exactly account for; but when I heard him speak ofinsulting a respectable woman, then I remembered that I had a mother and a sister, and I boarded him! I couldn't help it-I only wish he was an Eoglishman !" "He's worse--his father is a blasted old tory I only wonder that he is permitted to live in the city," responded the other. "But good night, Josh-I'il see you at the Alder- man's ' in the mornit g. You'll be all right there-it was his daughter that the puppy bet he would kiss." s r z i i page: 10-11[View Page 10-11] THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MANS GRUDGE,b TUE MAN 0 W ARS-MAN'S GRUDGE. CH APTER V. AN ALDERMAN OF THE OLDEN TIME. It is almost impossible to find a fair repre- sentative of 'an Alderman all of the olden iume" now-a-days One whose head is filled with wise saws, grave morals, much law, and t et not incapable at times of uttering an offi- ei.l jest, or stiking a culprit into a sense of iter nothingness by his frown. One with t'e as radian'r as the sun seen through morn's sil' ery mist-" round belly with fat capon mel - and eyes capable of looking over the ,flicial spectacles rather than through them- 'yes capable of telling at a glance an honest tm in from a rogue. Such a man, for instance, my octogenarian friend Binna, the patriarch tat her of the aldermanie tribe in this section. On one occasion, when he demanded bail for the' appearance of a man at court, an indi- 'imlual aepped forward and volunteered to be- come surety for the accused. I can t take you, sir," said the Alderman, the mo =ment he looked at him. " \Vh% "''asked the would-be surety, indig. - I in Fma freeholder." - t don't care.' said the Alderman-"you'd seal it you had a chance " The 'tian went away in high dudgeon, but, etngula t"- say. on the very next morning be wa. arrested in the very azt of larceny, and hr ug ht h-fore Alderman Binns. ' Didn't I say tou'd eat if you had an opportunity V" said the AIderman. as he made out a corumitment for him ut I'i yawing wildly off the course of my story pardon me, reader, and l'll haul my tacts aboard and come by the wind again. On the next morning after the battle des- cribed in the last chapter as occurring at the -- Spread Eagle," a visitor to the office of his worship. Alderman Bedford, would have seen that gentleman, attended by his clerk, who was none other than his lovely daughter, enter the room from an inner apartment of his house, for his office was in his dwelling, with a satisfied air of importance on his counten- ance and a huge volume of statutes under his arm The hour was exactly fifty-five min- utes after nins, by the huge old-fashioned gold watch which, with a pound, more or less, of seals attached, rested in a fob over over his truly aldermanic paunch. I need not describe him-in fact, I did so in the commencement of this chapter. It took him about five minutes to seat him- self in the well.cushioned armchair behind his desk, arrange his spectacles, etc.; then care- fully brushing the shiny summit of his bald head with a silk bandanna, and addressing the beautiful girl who, pen in hand, had seat- ed herself by his side, he was ready for bnsi ness. But not an officer entered the door un- til precisely ten o'clock, his hour for opening court. At the moment when that hour arrived, Mr. Elliott and his companions were ushered in by the guardians of the city's peace, all of them looking much the worse for wear. A look of malicious satisfaction crossed the beautiful face of Cora, as, in the battered and bruised face and tattered and bloody garments of El- liott, she recognized her discarded suitor Maddened and humiliated, he cast his eyes down, biting his lips till the red hlood tric- kled from them. In a few moments, Barney, in his neat uniform.,cleanly appareled, an looking as clear and fresh as a son of temper- ance and half as handsome as an Apollo ap- p~eared, attended by his companions, who, bay- ing had a night's rest and the advantages of lavation, looked as different from Elliott and his woe-begone crew as daylight from dark- ness. " Who have we here? What is the charge? have those dirty-looking rIffians been caught in some nefarious action ?" asked the Alder- man. Then turning to his daughter 'and pointing to Elliott whom he did not recog- nise, he said: "Mark that fellow, he has the vwry look of a thief. Cora 1" - Yes, father-be looks as if he'd been rob- bing a hen-roostI" she replied, speaking loud enough for him to hear her. Tue captain of the watch now advanced to' make his charge. "Your honor," said he. ' last night, about the hour of twelve, while these gallant young officers were having a quiet little time all by themselves at the 'Spread Eagle,' these here chaps with the battered mugs-and ugly mugs they have, as your worship might see without even looking through your worship's worshipful spectacles-these here fellows went into their room and called for rum punch, of which they'd had more than a full allowance already. Then one of 'em said something that offended this gallant young officer, who had just got his commission for fighting so well the other day down the river, and taking a brig from the d-d Britishers--.-" I I "Stop the-e!" said the Alderman to tne e ep- tain, in a tone of offended dignity - You said d--d Britisbe'es, Mr. Crabstick. I hate the British as bad as you do, sir-hut, mark me, they mustn't be d'-d in this court. Anoth- er oath, sir, and I fine you! Now go on with your c rarge !" you ebeg pardon, your honor," said the abashed official. "As I was saying. that 'ere bang-dog looking fellow (pointing to Elliott.) wrathy, and so he up fist and darkened his peepers. Then a general srlmmage com- meeced, and we went in and ' pulled' the worst of these fellows, and here they are. The officers acted so like gentlemen that we took their words of honor for their appear- anc , and they ar' here to a man." Woat did you strike that fellow for, sir ?" asled the Alderman, addressing Barney. 1 astruc him hecause he struck at me, sir ---hut had just kicked him. I commenced the affray, and if your honor would let him off I an willing to pay the fine. I ve dark- .ned lie top-lights and stove in Ike ivory fe cwork about his head-rail, and he's been pretty badly punished I'' I'm to be the judge of that. sir!' said the ma'iat.rate, with a tone of dignity "Why didvou kick him, sir?" B-cause he spoke disrespectfully of a vir- t'mou' hdy, sir-an! in my presence made, a wrager that within a week he would kiss her inibh-street; cad, sir, though I did not know it then, and never had seen her-it' I had. I you'd have knocked his head clear off his shoulders-I am much mistaken if it was not the lovely lady who sits by your side. The name which he bandied a'out amOng his dis- ' solute and drunken companions was that of Miss Cora Bedford !" "D-n him! did he? I'd have knocked him down myself !" cried the excited Alder- man. "Kiss my daughter in the street-my Cora-the d-d villain ' "Father, father, you are.swearing !" said the fair girl by his side, smi'ing, though her face was suffused with blushes, for Barney's eyes were fixed admiringly upon her. "True, my child-true-the court is in err'r. Tie court fines itself ! How many times din I d-n him?' "T"Twice, father," replied the fair clerk "That's four shillings-d-n him again! Now make it six, and charge it uainat me on the docket!" This act of justice disposed of, the Alder- man turned to Elliott and addressed him : "What is yonr name, where do you be- long, and how do you make your living? Speak up, you vagabond !" My name is Henry Elliott, and you know very well that I'm a gentleman, Mr. Alder- man BedfordeI" said the fellow, looking as fierce as he could through his half-closed eyes. eysnry Elliott-what, a son of old Elliot, of Mulberry street ?" "Yes, sir-and a visitor at your house!" "Until I ordered him out of it for ,isult- ing. re!" added Covet i You are a pretty looking gentleman-you and your companions there. If I meted out fult justice to you, I would commit you to prison, and cause you to travel'a few days on the treadmill. It is a pity that whipping and ducking are abolished! Ae it is, I fine you, Mr. Gentleman Elliott, five pounds and costs, and each of your companions one pound and costs ! You can pay it now, or stand com- mitted until you do !" Tne mortified villain paid his fine and hur- ried away, amid the sneers of those who were present. "pave 'we any fiues to pay, air?" asketi Barney. "No fines, but you are not to get off with- out punishment, lieutenant! The court sen- tences you to dins with it at three o'clock to- day. Cora, you need not eater the sentence, but don't forget it!" "I'm sure I shall not, sir " ,said Barney, again glancing at the beautiful girl. As their eyes met, both blushed. What could be the cause of that? There being no other business before the court, it adjourned, and the Alderman, at the urgent request of Barney, visited the Sachem, the new vessel which was being fitted out for him. 10 page: 12-13[View Page 12-13] THE MAN.O'-WAR'S.MAN S GRUDGE. CHAPTER VI. THE TORY AND iS SOS. A large, pompous-looking, red-faced gern- tleman was pacing to and fr9 in a room which, from its pictures and welIfided book shelves. seemed to be his library. He held an ooen letter in his hand, which he had jest been reading. A servant entered and asked : "])id you ring for me, sir?" "Yes, Francis ; where is my son? I wisht to see him." "He did not come home, sir. last night. ' said the servant, rather confusediy. "Not come home, Eht? 1) 'you ku.W where he is ?" "Not exactly, sir-but I heard-or th it is --the butler told me that he heard when he went to market, that-" The servant stammered and paused. Well. go on, you fool-what are you hesi- tating fort What did the butler hear?' lie heard, sir, that Master Henry had been in a fight last night. and got put in the watch- house" In the watch-house '-mnijsonin the watch- honse By the blood of the Plantagenets I'll hay- atistaction for that!-I'd see my friend Bedford! ' You may save yourself that trouble, sir your friend Bedfoi d has just fined me five ponnis for getting beaten by a naval officer, who made a quarrel with me," said the son, who was no other than Mr. Henry Elliott, who that moment entered the room, and heard the latter part of his father's remarks. Heavens, Henry ! is it possible that that is you, my eon?" It don't feel much like me, but I believe it is all that is left of me, sir!" "How in Heaven's name did you get beaten so? who did it? and what for?" "It was done by a young officer, who got offended about something that I said aboutold Bedford's daughter. She did me the honor to refuse ag offer of marriage, yesterday, and it made me mad." "Refused you 7 She, the daughter of a fat Alderman, who hardly kno*s who his grand- fkther was? She refused the son of Plantag- enet Elliott, who can trace his pedigree back to the Norman conquest, and has an income of ten thousand pounds a year? Impossible ?" "Nor im possible--but actually true '" said the son "I'm glad of it. Tne balance would have been far her-eath you. And no he fied you! I sup"' se he imprisoned the brute who beat yon so " 'N', cir--he invited him to dinner I" 'B y ihe blood of the Plantagenets, this is i rue'w u rale ! I'll go and curse him to his face ' Do--he'll fine you for very oath you utier "then I won't. He shall not have that mech satisfaction out of me. But I'll be re venged upon him and every cursed rebel that I can. 1 have a letter here from Lord Howe, my son ; he offers me protection to myself and property, and a commission for you, if I will go to New York. I have been thinking of it for some time, and have converted the greater part of my property into ready money." "1'il accept the commission," muttered the young man, "on condition that I'm not at- tached to any permanent corps, which will keep me away from one object. I am bound to have revenge, both on the officer who beat me, and on old Bedford and his daughter, I've sworn to humble her pride, and I will. She scorned to be my bride, but she yet shall be my mistress ! And the sooner we leave here, the better. I will not go into the street to be sneered at after this disgrace!" "It will take some time to remove those marks so as to enable you to be fit to appear." remarked the father. "Francis, go and tell Dr. Minturn to come hereinstantly. You had better retire to your room, Henry. I will re- ply to Lord Howe--his messenger awaits, and I have other news to send him. These ac- cursed rebels will soon be crushed, and we will be amply rewarded for our loyalty. I wouldn't be surprised if I were knigh-ed-I ought to be, for the blood of the Plantagenets runs in my veins !" This statement of the old tory was true--- the blood was illegitimate, in consequence of a lack of virtue on the part of one of his female ancestors. Henry now retired to rest, and received chi- surgic care, while his father attended to his treasonable correspondence. 1 ; if . , f.' e THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. CHAPTER VII. LOVE AND DUTY. Delightful was the punishment inflicted by You cut down that British captain when he "the court" upon our friend Barney. Not was my property I" only was the Alderman'a table laden with "If I hadn't put my steel into him when I every delicacy-of the season, which, to a sailor, did, your honor, you'd have never livedto get whose luxuries consisted for the most part of this pretty sloop!1" salt beef and pork, and hard bread, washed "I know that, you rascal; but I owe you a down with bad water qualified by rum, was a grudge for taking that job out of my hands. treat, but choice and generous wines sparkled But what favor do you want 1-speak it outI" on the board. But this was not the only "If your honor would only be so good, I'd charm for our yonng hero at that table. Tae, like to be transferred to-your vessel. I've fol- dignity of "the court" melted in the convivi- lowed the-sea, boy and man, for forty years ; ality of the season and place, and the Alder- and any of 'em can tell you that old Jim man related many a merry jest. And Barney, Thompson is no labber!" told Wny a tale of his adventures, in reply to "I know that, my good fellow-but why questions from his host, unto which the fair do you wish to leave the Wasp-isn't Captain Cora listened as attentively as did Desdemona Alexander a good officer ?" to the tales of the noble Moor. T.he chief "Yes, your honor, every inch of him a charm at that table, however, for the young sailor, from truck to kelson, but he don't fight lieutenant, was that same young lady. She as fast as you do, sir ! I'm getting along in said but little, although her eyes spoke years, and I want to make a fast run of it volumes. When she did speak, her voice while my spars last. And then, you're honor, sounded like music from heavenly spheres, to if you please, I've got eight other substantial his entranced ears. reasons." They were seated long at table-that is the "Eight other reasons ! Why you are as full Alderman and Barney, for after the dessert of reasons as a lawyer is of gab. What are had been removed, and cigars brought in, the they?" lady, of course, was excused-and before they "Why you see, your honor, the other rea- arose, "the court" was almost in a state to sons are not all my fault, though I suppose its fine itself for drunkenness. It was late before all. right that I should father 'em. You see, Barney left the house that evening, for the about four years ago I felt lonesome like, and lady joined her father in pressing him to pass I fell in with a snuggish sort of a craft that the evening there. He, of course, could not had four tender little tenders in tow, and as I refuse, especially when she promised to sing, thought she had pretty hard work to make at her father's request. fair weather and keep off of poverty rocks W~hen he left tee house, he too was intoxi- with 'em all, I took her in to w. Since then cated ; not with wine, but with love. "llori. she launched three more o' the same sort, and ous creature-I'd agree to be knocked down a as they have to be kept in grub and rigging, dozen times for a willing kiss from her nee- why, I'd like to sail where I know the most tarine lips !" said he, as he passed down the prize money'llcome in; and from the speciment street with her sweet "'good night" still ring- I've seen of your honor's work, I'd rather sail, ing in his ears, and his veins still tingling with with you than anywhere else. And besides; if the gentle pressure which he had distinctly your honor would let me, I could pick up felt as he shook her hand--the dear hand some lads that I know of, that would go to the which he so longed to kiss, and would have devil with your honor if he led the way ?," given a world to possess. "So you married a widow with four ehil- * * * * * * * dren, and have got three more, eh?" The next morning, the youthful lieutenant "Yes, your honor, and, another on the was busy in superintending the rigging of the stocks." -vessel which he was to command, when an old "Well, I'll see about your transfer.- But seaman approached him, and touching his hat, remember, I owe you a grudge for killing my said : game!" - "May I be so bold as to ask a favor of your The commodore and several officers now honor?" approached Barney, and the seaman departed, "Yes--what do you want? Your name is well pleased with the result of his interview Thompson, isn't it? You sailed on board the. with the officer who owed him a grudge for Wasp-I remember, I owe you a grudge I saving his life. I is 12 page: 14-15[View Page 14-15] 14 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE.G CHAPTER VIII. MIsTRRSS AND SERVANT. " What do you think of that young officer "Yes, ma'am--shall I put it in the parlor, who dinedl with father to-day, Eliza' asked ma'am?- Cra f it ford of her dressing-maid,as she was "No-you may give it to Toomas, and tell p'r'ari.g her long dark tresses, and making him to take it down to the sloop Sachem, for iwr mbi.t toilet before retiring, after she had Lieutenant Barney, in the morning when he pat to rim Barney, taking good care to invite goes to market. Tell him to be sure not to i m to call a;an, before she said good nigt tell who sCott it." ie lous like a man. Miss Cora-not like "adn't 1 better take it myself; ma'am? . - -p.min-shanked, silk -tockinged, ruffled- Them riggers is 'tupid." hooma adteoes thatstrut through the streets "As you like, Eliza. Perhaps you may find wiri ra- tae in their hands. ie'd make ahus- a substitute for Corporal Drill, on board the v'l rr h ats iog if I was only a lady, I d sloop " ,,, ; } ,"iuce, if he'd only offer to marry " There you are again, Miss Cora, tantiva ' 'tiue me about tat loister-back "l e -ry y-ung yet!" said the lady, Toe girl departed, and in a few moment, r. r .vat it hide the smile which rose at sweet Cora Bedford was asleep Pernaps she t'e- hoieet e rnestness of the manner in which was dreaming of the young lieutenant Qufen tti- sziil ex pres s d her opinion. sabe ? - Nt itoy going to make a good husband !" It was not very early on the next morning sail the girl.' " I've earn tell that them as when Cora awakened, for it had been late nacrr aes voong, bte fre they know what it is to when she retired, the night before. h a l aol wild, always make the best sort of Eliza who wa not a bad-looking girl, was r, r E n '". ~ up, lr,' si-l as neatly as a pin. i 'ior , v asv sadoi are very incontant " Your cheeks look as rosy and fresh as the -.,--'a '-sietlheart is every port!" inside of a- watermelon, Eliza," said Cora, as ' L-a'i- Mi's Cora, you don't believe all she woke. "Have j oir been out's"' 3iu ,hA'r ! For my part,1 like sailors they're I 1"Yes, ma'am-I was up before sunrise, and always s o july and free-hearted. I wish I had picked the flowers before the dew was off." one for a liver lied get lots of prize money, ' Dial you carry thine down to thu vessel ? and 1'd drees as fine as a lady, almost?" and dii you see the lieutenant?" Suppose ie should get killed in action l" "No, mia'arn, hui I left the flowers with a " 1 d cry my ey es half out of my head, Miss boy, who sati he'd give 'em to him as soon as Cora " he iurnd out.' "" And then get another one to wipe them " Turrud out! What does that mean 5" away etb. Eoiza ' " I don't a nhw na'arn-I suppose it's itome " La me-Miss Cora, how you do like to thing in seafishiotogy. ' tease in. I ain't one of them croquettes. as " Fo hiology ! You ieanphrascology, do you they call 'Ctru! If I had a beau, I'd be as true not"' ail---""' I don't htnow, Miss Cora-it-s tome kind You were to Corporal Drill!' said the of olo /, though " voung lady, laughingly finishing the sentence " % iii. lid you find a substitute for Corpo- for her ral Drill?' "La me, Mils Cora, there you are again, "No, ma'am-but I had juet four or five tuasing rme about that lobster-back. When he worse .iih a riman that said his 'same was Jim pair his distresses to me, there wasn't any T'l'h rn-mpn. lie said be was waiting toses the war You know I'm too good an American lheuteouant. I liked him for one thing, though to love one of my country's foes. In I had he waso reitther s young or handsome. lIe seid tt here I'd scratch his eyes out-I'd as- he ha'd '-d tlihlieutenant's life by sticking sasi.neate him with the carving knife, so I a i itis 'flier that had his cutlash raised to would!" kill iu lhen le was down on the deck " Well, I have no doubt you would, Eliza. Yri d ought to have heard the sailor tell how But you can go, now; call me e irly ; and, e did it, ua'ar-it was so romantic. IIe said Eliza you can ptck a very handsome boquet he sinet himt ight in the gizzudi, just as if in tle m. ruing Let it be of red moss roses, he'd he- u pig - blue violets, arid white lilies. Put a bunch "Well, ihe' ri! do-you can help me to ni foriget me nets in the centre" "dress noi, Eliza." A CHAPTER IX. THE BOQUET. "When will you have your craft ready for sea, sir?" asked Commodore Hopkins, when he approached Barney. "Within four days, sir-possibly in three." "You have been in a hurry, air." "I have, commodore I owe the English a grudge, and I want to be hammering away at them again." "Well, sir, you'll soon have a chance. They are ranging all along our coast. I hope your good fortune will continue, and that you will soon bring in' some more prizes." "Thank you. commodore. If Capt. Alex. ander has no objection, I would ask afavor !" "I would refuse you nothing, my dear fel- low," said the last named officer. "One of your quarter gunners, Jim Thomp- son, wants to be transferred to my command. I owe the follow a grudge, for be killed the captain of the brig, you remember." " Yes, and saved your life. That's a strange thine to hold a grudge against.a man for." S'' Well, it was a matter of precedence-the officer was my game. But can I have the man, sir ?' ' .' "Certainly ; he is a good seaman, and I'll spare him to you. And now, comrmodore, if you and the officers will have the kindness to step into the little cabin of the Sachem, I will.. produce an excellent fogmatie in the shape of some fine old Jamaica. It must he good, for it was imported expressly for our use in the brig whichthe Wasp captured the other day I" The officers of course would not injure the reputation of the service by refusing an invi-- tation of that kind, and soon were in Barney's snug little cabin. "Ah, Mr. Barney, here's a signal that you've been within hail of some other craft than the British brig-brought her to, maybe, for Isee you've captured the colors!" cried the com- modo're p iming t' a bouquet, which, for want of a flower vase, was stuck in the neck of a porter bottle "The colors are red, white and blue. com- modore, and shallnever be struck to or by me, while I live. That nosegay was sent to me from shore by some one, I know not whom-- but a patriot I suppose, from the choice of colors." ' And one that wants a place in your mem- ory," said Alexander, pointing to the forget- me'nots. "Some favored fair. Be careful, lieutenant, that some of the handsome Quaker girls don't win you over on the peace question. By-the- way, some one mentioned to me that some of you young officers thrashed some of the citi- zens night before last; how was it ?" ',I only punished a puppy for insulting me and threatening to insult a lady, sir.- It wasa trifling affair, not worth mentioning," said Barney. "Perhaps so-but you must be cautious about offending the citizens or getting into difficulty with them. Our navy is in its in- fancy-if people become prejudiced against the child, it will be fed badly, and will grow slowly." "True, sir-butI was provoked into this quarrel. The parties who forced the trouble on were very heavily fined." " And were you not punished ?" "Yes, sir-I was forced to eat an excellent dinner with the magistrate, who keeps the best wine in the city I" "I shouldn't mind receiving such punish- ment occasionally myself," said Alexander. "I think, as St. Paul said to Timothy, I could 'take it for my stomach's sake." "And 'thine often infirmities,' added Bar- ney, with a laugh. "But, gentlemen, this isn't the rum. There it is, 'in the original package,' as other importers say; here is some sugar which came from the same market, and those lemons were also consigned to us by his Britannic majesty's brig Tender. Help yout- selves." Soon the anti-fogmatic, prepared according to a recipe .of the celebrated Phineas Car- buncle, was mixed, and success to the Sachem and her brave young commander was drank. Alexander, who only wanted a good excuse to repeat the dose, proposed the health of the fair iucognito who had sent Barney the bouquet. This brought a blush to our hero's cheek, and a second.glass to his lips; then he excused him- self and hastened to his duty. "That young man will be an honor to -the service I" said the commodore. "He has got just enough of the devil in him to get him into scrapes, and is cool enough to work his way, out of them. I only hope he won't make a fool of himself by falling in love? A fellow in love ia't worth much aboard ship i" "Permit me to disagree with you, commo- I TILE MAN-0'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. page: 16-17 (Illustration) [View Page 16-17 (Illustration) ] THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN S GRUDGE. dore !' said Captain Alexander. "I don't care how much a fellow is in love, provided he don't get married, and knock the romance of the thing overboard. While he is in love, he is ever ambitious to distinguish himself, and win the admiration of her whose affections he would secure. He is anxious to outdo all others, often almost rash and desperate ; but I agree with you that after he is married, he is careful of his life, apt to be homesick, and rather a shaky stick I" "You may be right, sir," replied the old commodore, "but all that I want my officers to do now is to love their flag and do their duty. But we will pay a visit to the Wasp now, and see how she looks." The officers departed, not, however, without again complimenting Barney on his skill and promptness in getting his craft ready for sea. r 4 ?i - ft ,Fya - 7.7 i 4 f T +k ,t . 1 ' 777YYY i r P t CHAPTER X. THR MORNING CALL. } f[ 3 { 1(( t F i r r i r } t Jim .Thompson-that is, only one of 'em; I gave him a bachelor's button, just to see what he'd say !" "What did he say, Eliza?" "Why, he said, ma'am, that posies was well in their way, for them that liked them, but he liked the smell of fresh tar better !" "Was that all?" "Not exactly, ma'am. He said my cheeks looked like thesouthern side of a couple of big red apples, just ripe and fit for eating !" "Well, what answer did you make-did you tell him to take a bite I" "No, ma'am-for just then the lieutenant came on to the wharf and made a bow as po- lite as if I was a lady. I curtsied clear to the ground. 'Are those flowers for me, my pret- ty maid?' he asked. 'Yes, sir, they be,' I said. 'Then you are the fairy messenger that brought me a bouquet yesterday,' he said. 'I be,' I said. 'There is a guinea for you, my pretty maid,' he said-' and now you'll tellme who sent them, will you not?' 'I can't,' said I-' my mistress told me not to!' 'I saw you at Alderman Bedford's a couple of days ago didn't I?' he asked. 'In course you did, sir!' said I." "Then you let the cat out of the bag, you stupid girl !" cried Cora, half in anger. " Lawks, no, ma'am, I didn't-I hadn't no cat. nor any bag either-though I did think, before I started, of taking the old gray cat's litter of kittens down and drowning them, they're a mewling around in the way, and aren't of any use !" "Did the lieutenant say no more ?" "Yes, ma'am-he asked if you were well. x 16 z s i .' C Another morning had arrived. The sun, audacious dog, had just peeped in through the delicate curtain of the eastern window of Miss Cora Bedford's chamber, and had actually caught her in a lovely undress, making a morn- ing toilet ; but not having a tongue, though eyes he surely hath, he could not reveal the secret mysteries by which the sex make them- selves so angelic in appearance in the morn- ing. A man generally gets up drowsy-eyed and yawning, comes forth with frowsy hair, not always with "unwrinkled front," espe- cially in the linen line-looking for all the world like a Dutch doll washedin dirty water and badly ironed out. Miss Cora had not quite finished her toilet, when, with the freedom of a petted servant, Eliza, her handmaiden, entered. "I've seen him again, Miss Cora !" she cried. "I thought i'd promenade a little in the. staluberous air before you got up, so I picked a bunch of flowers and went down to the side of the river, and there I met him a singin' such a nice song-it was so grand, all about Sandy the oysterman I' "Who, the lieutenant. Eliza?" "No, ma'am--Jim Thompson-him that stuck the British ossifer in the gizzard and paved the leftenant's life." " Ah ! your new substitute for the poor late lamented Corporal Drill!" "There you are again about that lobster- back, Miss Corn! I do wish him and his memory was sunk in the depths of Elysium, where there is gnashing and wailing of teeth, as Parson Sternhold saya. But I saw sone one else, ma'am. I didn't give the flowers to f s ' Y E r { s { t k j j jSj}(3 i j{ j{{4 f { f 3 M page: 18-19[View Page 18-19] # t I! P T HE MAN-O'-WAR'S and said if you were disengaged, he'd call and see you this evening. for he expected to sail in a short time. I told him I didn't think you was engaged, for I knowed that you'd give more than a dozen chaps the mitten that had come insinervatin'their distresses 'round you." "Stupid fool !" "There you go again, ma'am-ahusin' me when I did my best to do right. Wish I was dead, so I do I" "Never mind, Eliza-I know you meant all for the best, but in future rememberand never speak of me to a person who is almost a stranger, Come, dry your eyes-I am not angry with you !" "I didn't mean to overstep the line of maiden perspicuity, ma'am. I'll never con- glomerate a mistake again, ma'am. I'll go and tell him you are engaged if you wish me to!," "No, save yourself the trouble, Eliza; such matters willnot interest him-he cares nothing for me !" "You would think different, ma'am, if you could only have seen how anxious-like he inquired after your precious health!" CHAPTElF XI. A AN AGREEABLE TETE-A-TI ?S. It was evening. All the cares and business going got stretched and whity, the sails mill- of the day was over; at least as far as con- dewed, the planks a bit worm-eaten, and the earned our friend Alderman Bedford. Seated colors faded, if you don t paint and dress her in his favorite arm-chair, his feet encased in up soon, she don't look as if she was " worth slippers worked by the hands of his petted shucks" in the market daughter, his rotund form encased in his flan- "Is there anything new out this evening, nel-lined dressing gown, and a pipe in his dear father?" asked Cora, as she seated her- mouth he looked as comfortable as the man self near her sire. who didn't care a darn how soor the world "Nothing. except that the blasted old tory, '-broke," because he didn't owe him any- Elliott, has shown his colors et last. ie has thing been selling off everything he could for some Miss Cora was there--her dark hair dressed time, and to day ihe cleared out, hag and bag- with unusual care, and in it placed a single age, with that precious son of his." cluster of '"forget-me note." Her graceful "Gone to New York to join the British, form was robed very neatly, in a manner to hasn't he father ?" display modestly its every beauty, bit she "So it is reported to-night. It is said that wore no ornamer' to Beauty like hers never the son is to have a connission in the English requires any. A women is something like a army." vessel-tnen a craft is new, everything fresh "I'm glad of it, father." and brrtnt-nulls. spars canvas, rigging, ban. "Wby so, child?" ners end all, she requires scarce a touch of "Because, he'll be caught by some of our paint to rnke her look well. But a'ter she gallant officers, and he 'aught to dance the has been banged about for a while g ne a few traitor dance, with a beam o wood over him, rough vsy ages, and met a few storms, the rig- and nothing under himl I wish-" MAN'S GRUDGE. 19 "Well, go down and see how near breakfast is ready-my appetite is in a healthy con- dition!" "So is mine, ma'am, the atmosphere is so bracing, and the breeze so staluberous !" said the girl, leaving the room. "Can it be possible that the brave, hand- some young officer thinks anything of me ?" said Cora, when she was alone.' "I fear that if he does, Eliza, so forward and impudent, will make him think me weak-minded and for- ward too. A conquest easily made is never valued. If he comes, I will be reserved and distant, though the fluttering in my heart when his name is mentioned seems strange. I like him-I dare saythat to myself--I like him ' better than-" "Breakfast is ready, ma'am-can't you smell the beefsteak and the ingyuns? aren't they delicious ?" said Eliza, popping her head in at the door. Under the circumstances, reader, not wish- ing to intrude upon the matinal meal, we will close this chapter. f 6 t a t i g E t 4 ' 4 9 7 a E f s i t 1 i t jp3 M Y. page: 20-21[View Page 20-21] TUE MAN)--WA I '-MAN S GRUDGE. 3 f 4 t 21 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. "Did you issue a warrant, father?'' asked "You'll visit us again before you sail, will Cora. you not?" asked the Alderman. "oa, my .irl the tailor said his wife was " Certainly i Do come before you go" d- a shrew and a drunkard; and I told the fool ded Cora, warmly, forgetful of the resolution that if I settled the case I'd award a compen- of chilliness and reserve which she had made action from him to the barber for carrying her in the morning. off. So he has gone elsewhere to get legal 'I will try and do so," said Barney, "but satisfaction. Asd now, Cora, if you'll order my duties confine me durngthe day." up a bottle of wine, and some cake. of your He now made hi n a Cr own mttltn, we 11 take a little comfort." had noticed his delicacy in mentioing her. It was a pleasant evening which Barney flower gift, and appreciate h d his modesty. passed, and a cloud of sadness rose upon his How she felt when she retired that night, we face when the old-fashioned clock admonished cannot say, of course, but it is reasonable to him that it was time to retire. infer that if she dreamed, he was a subject. "Lienfenant Darney wishes to be denoune- Belf' at home;- I'll be bac son n el n eyisbaed," sail eut~rin a tat moment. brak a bottle of old port!" continued the Anin iw 'l.1. o'c s/tu1'! Show him in," Aldermen. said Cara, hiLhiiti: as ntis name was uttered, .. Will you not need your clerk, father?" "Ah, lieutenant, most welcome ! We are asked Cora. glad t 1 ee oi-1 felt rather lonesome !''said "I reckon not, my bonny girl--'ll call you the Adrihn, riin and warmly shaking if I co Stay and kcep the lieutenant from hands it his visit°)r. goinc to sleep till I come back,!'' "I don't see how you could be lonesome "No dan o f . t ftr ahter by your side !" said company !" said Barney, blushing at his own Barney, returni~i. the shake of his hand, and temrerity in paying so open a com liment to bowin.4 to ti ti usilci; gi. her.p "N Lt ery, my young friend-the girl is h"Ten you are to sail in two dayslieu vain enouL;h, now As to beiog lonesome with tenant?' said Cora.yi her au-, wny I have h-r by me, you see, all es . s Bd ford - I the ui n''. and hve got so used to her com- i so cannot rest easy pany-- usdt e while our coast is blbekadled by those haughty "'r t yi wou'd mi her very much if she Britons. I owe them a bitter grudge 1" was aste!'vaddedharney( You seem t owe almost every one a a i r atp-l shruly Igrudleu " sail rhe, laughingl. Sb 'i .o's au t clly when " Not my friends ! Miss Bedford ; though I a ! t r kdotbeyrdge your fahr one thing !" he stam- th'e - n.t.'l ,ie'o in ti'city, and knows more ic rd, blushing to the very temples. hav , . .r '- ne' twe brHseutenant t y father! What is that ? hi3 office as "I h r l, ir. that lieutadntE an Alderman ?"asked Cora,'ith an arch look. men- . a.a ockdr.ithit a squadron of English t"No, Miss Bedford ; it is the possession of Dew ir 'm ocadiown the mouth of the the love of such an angel as you are ' d 'r ..~o --a'ti si down in a couple of It was now her turn to blush and evince 1oa. .'"of roiyold grudge out of confusion- h,;i i cman catch one away from the B -:rneyt man r1ey having totlmt) the breakers A voo r i ole vessel 9 ' asked thought he would fl sunder throng h. ' e only a rough sailor, Miss Bedford," rorete-th he continued; "but I" e got a tecir;, and I be- ' h"vetoo,,ord o aeitetter than three oeve it is stowed in the right place. I cannot or 1ic hive too large a force to op.italk as some of the well eduested, poetry- ou N .i an readog abore-chaps may. but t.:e annotfeel ow r '5 K ti we cii. pounce on sons more than I do. Please forgive roe for saymg w . ou all But,Alderman, as much as I have-i could ar help it. I nave T h a s wh,u nlupred r mt led t.only one favor to ast, and II never trouble 'T f,,i ulnm-Th1l c-he von again until you teil me t yourself. Just , ' itr tirhave fled to give nie one of your dai k tr eies of hair, to T i - ' a ie iott, I eo m a. wma 1 Co yermy heart in the b-,ur cf b ine, and ;" ndedi ' iBa s " on. win ever etcive to be worthyi f our esteem, ( ' f ! iihl is dBanye n if I love att hopelss of a rerunn." Sa es were ir her darce'--. ahtherm o .. , r t ifnext, tiurnImeet him I coini'id ;'er-tc o'f yors, h.,, 15 10' ih'iom the t'e cit g a outr of a traitwrm'e of human nature "rahls sme tr tell " :tt. iis tie gr we him. " 'igedlfie e t tide. Aud hier white hand tVoe iad ho1e .o awillcstrn him. I lit e tembhd as, without utterina word, she took to ee iii anr his cled father strung up by the a pair of scissors from a t 'he ny her ei e, and heels tI ''e . i uel to like tlihe oau- ' 'ririg a glossy ti'( 55. aPediito n he was v'ery fon- of capons, and an arnaz- He oresrse trasnded it tasun good jit'tr" of wine !' mr 'eiUruy to hii lies as "Mr IM frd.tbere'sFOver ei'wasigitof olden lime kzr the favor Mr B-f 'rI the e's rnie wisitations at of his ladyde faire," aird r c e'i oeod it in his the der that wmnt to have an interview with los in. Hardly hrl liedontientdinhr. your honor in the office." si Eit done ibis atid par-. yo thdoior if the oidgr iz , corning tidl y regained his composite, before the Al- to tihe door cit thee ittIcg-room. (hrman returned. " Tf 1( thl m i11l be do wn direct? --it'anreurnd. Time fo o hi I I downdiectl ' no kneww they wouldn't call for mea at this time for court p a rat I wonder who they can hour for anything worth noticing r. Tue ninth be-p'rta1fs a warrant is wantedora lae r- hart of a man, a tailor, wanted inc to get out rest ot some io r devil for stealing a loaf of a warrant against a barber (~r luuinii g away bread-they generally take night time to with his wife. I advised him to setl thy bother ue on such important buqines !" affair according to the rules of hne wthe growled the Alderan, as he rose from his easy. their professional weapons-shars against chair e razors, the goose against the curling tongs I" 'i3Make yourself easy, lieutenant; feel your- he maid, laughing heartily. gug r 'iF {{ * te -.1 it if I' i IF 20 ' ~a -j ii * Sc CHAPTER XII. READY F R SEA'. . The Sachem was ready. Her armament, Jim Thompson acting gunner, although he re- one long eighteen and eight twenty-four pound minded. him when he did so, of the grudge cannonades, four on a side, was mounted. She which he owed him. his crewdwas made up was supplied with muskets, pistols, cutlases, mostly of that daring andI hardy e ass-"-the battle axes and boarding pikes for a crew of Chesapeake and Delaware bay men-who tire severity men. On the evening of the day on almost born en, and always brought up on the which he had promised to have her ready,when water, in the fishing, oyster and maret sloops Ce sn was yet two hours high, the national and' chooners ihich throng those waters. ensign and pennant were hoisted, and a salute And no better men for a service like that re- fired. She was in commission. Both of Bar- quired at that period, could be found or desired. ney's lieutenants were older than himself ; but After the salute was fired, and the "main this was an advantage rather than otherwise, brace spliced," according to custom from time for they were tried and experienced men, cal- immemorial, Barney caused his vessel to be elated to aid him with advice, and assist him hauled off into the stream, to keep the crew in the hour of trial. on board and prevent anxious friends from dis The oldest, Seth Yarnall, his first officer, was heartening them with farewell sighs and tears a genuine Cape Cod Yankee ; slow',,but sure; and forbodings. After all the boats had been methodical as a clock in his habits ; of un- hoisted to the davits, with the exception of his daunted courage, and a man of exceeding own gig, he had the latter manned, and saying foresight and forethought. You could never that he would be back early, and would sail mention anything that he hadn't thought of with the first of the ebb tide at daylight in the before, nor could anything occur that he hadn't morning, he pushed for the shore- foreseen. He was a tall, dried-up, muscular Giving the crew of the boat a few shillings man, without an ounce of superfluous flesh on to drink his health with, be bade them wait his large-boned body. iHe was fond of an oc- for his return, and hastened up to the house of casional glass of "spirits," but they never the worthy Alderman. disturbed his equilibrium. He hated an That worthy gentleman was rejoiced to see Englishman with fervor, but a "parlez vous .,him; and though her tongue was chary in its frog-eating Frenchman," more than he did an expressions, the eyes of Cora beamed a glad Eosgiishman. welcome to the visiter. The second officer, Mr. Yates, who also "Were those your bull-dogs which I heard acted as sailing master, was an active and cx-' barking a little while before sundown,lieuten- perienced New Yorker, who knew his duti ant?'" asked the Alderman- bnth below and aloft. Barney had also two sir," repliedthe officer, they were t dpup- Xnater's mates allotted to him. He had madesireldthofcr,"eywe sep- i page: 22-23[View Page 22-23] (I THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. k f R r t . i , i . . - ; , , r t c THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. pies which make the British lion howl as he shrinks off with the nails torn from his dlews1!" "Teir bark was pretty sharp !" said the Alderman. "Their bite will be found sharper and harsher than their bark," said the Lieutenant., "as I hope to sail in the morning at sunrise!" "So soon ." asked Cora. turning pale. "Yes, fair lady. I merely came on shore to bid yopreelf and father farewell, and to thank you for your kindness to me. Also, 10 say that if ever the arm of Joshua Barney can render you any aid, it and his life are devotedly at your service. Times are perilous - the chances of war are precarious. Although I have sot the slightest doubt that the ultimate result of this war will be our independence, and it recognized by England and all the world; et long and bloody may be the strug- gle. We are weak in numbers, in munitions, in money, in friends; strong only in the justice of our cause. New York is already in the hands of the enemy. With a powerful army on shore, and an immense fleet afloat, they will probably turn their eyes to this city, and, though we can make them pay dearly for their conquest, they probably may take it. If so, you must fly to the interior-they never will dare to force our countrymen to battle in the forest and amid the defiles of the mountains. If they do, we will slay them as the hurter does the deer, by thousands. My duty will be upon the ocean, the bay and the river. If I live and ever can serve you, depend upon me!' "We will, Mr. Barney," said Cora. "but you paint a gloomy picture. Let us hope for the best, and most especially will my father and myself pray for your safety" "Yes, it is a gloomy picture," added the worthy Alderman. "Bring up a bottle of port, Cora, darling, and let us see if e cannot rigaten the colors a little l" It was a sadly pleasant evening which Bar- ney passed, and, at an early hour for him, he arose to retire. Tears were glistening like diamonds in the beautiful eyes of Cora as she bade him farewell. Nor did she withdraw the trembling hand which he pressed to his lips. "Good bye--God bless you, lieutenant! I wish you good luck and plenty of prize money, without a scar to mar your good looks !'' said the Alderman, as he warmly shook his hand. "have your boat ashore at daylight. I want to send you a few dozen of wine, to keep us in memory while you are gone! ' p I do not need the wine to cause remem- brance, my dear sir! '' said Barney, glancing at Cora-" but the boat shall be sent'g Another lingering look-once more the sad farewell repeated, and then the young officer hastened to his vessel. o' one thing he felt certain--if Cora did not exactly love him, she felt an interest in him, a very friendly interest, and took no pains to conceal it. Another thing he knew. ie loved her! t (4 Hif 1 r P Y . tt T ff1 i 1} his E t } f i t { 3 f4 f r 3 r CHAPTER XIII. THE DEPARTURE. The sun arose, and, from a sky as cloudless ney knew how necessary it was at once to pro. as the face of young innocence when it plays pare his gallant crew to meet a skillful foe, amid sowers, looked down upon the dimpled whose boast was that "irtanuia ruled the body of the Delaware, which, ruffled by a gen- wave." tle breeze from the northward and westward, Had the gallant and ill fated Lawrence only flowed past the city of Brotherly Love. The did this, and drilled his green crew oefore he cable of the Sachem was hove short; her sails went out to engage the Stannon, with her were loosed, and Barney only waited for the picked men, well disciplied and prepared, we boat which he had sent on shore. Soon, im- never would have had to regret the loss of the spelled by six sturdy oarsmen, it left the wharf, Chesapeake, nor would he in his dying agony and in a few moments was alongside. The have uttered in vain-" Don't give up the coxswain sprang on board, and handed Barney ship." a beautiful bouquet and a package. He knew Yarnall, who was every inch a mn, was as from whose dear hand the first came, and also busy as an eel in a frying pan, encouraging the second, when he unfolded it, and found it one, darning another for a booby, crying out to be a beautiful flag. that "practice makes perfect," &c. He instantly ordered the banner to be His temper never got the better of him. hoisted at the fore--and as its silken folds Even when one of the greenest hands aci- opened to the breeze, nine spontaneous cheers dentally stuck nearly an inch of the point of sprung from the lips of the gallant men who a boarding-pike into that not too fleshy por- stood beneath it, and the long eighteen gave tion of his body which he ddnomisated his voice in a tone which echoed like rattling "latter eend," he only said, as he rubbed the thunder along the broad streets of the city, afflicted part with his hand- Atthe same moment a white kerchief was "Darn ye-I knowed you'd stick that 'ere seen waving on the wharf, and Barney did not boardin' spike inter soon fool or 'nother !" need a spy-glass to discover whose hand held With the exception of the time occupied by it. the men at their meals. the day was mostly "Get under way at once, Mr. Yarnall!" he passed in exercise. Night drew its mantle said-"the tide' serves and the wind is ri- over the bosom of the ocean just as the open sing." sea could be seenfromthe deeaof the Sachem. "Yes, sir," replied the first luff," I foresee She had no stars to button the mantle up a cap full of wind before night!" and obeying with ; dark clouds, which had been gathering orders, the pretty craft was soon shooting all the afternoon, had thickened overhead, and down the stream under a full spread of can- there was every appearance of a nasty night. vas. Tis Barney did not regret much-the "We're going to have luck this cruise, darkness, at least-for several white specks eap'n !" said Yarnall, as the vessel stood gal- in the offing reminded him of the blockade, lantly on her course. "I foresee it I I dreamed and he wished a chance to slip out and gain of prize money, all night, and when I woke sea room. He had intended to make a cruise I had the taste of sperits in my moth !" toward the West Indies, where he stood a "Perhaps you took a nip just before you chance to pick up a valuable prize or two. turned in !" The wind freshened after the sun went down "I reckon I did-it's my custom, as a gene- -so much that they had to shorten sail. ral thing; that is, when its tew be had." "Didn't I foresee that= this was coming ?" "Well, suppose we take a nipper now, just said Yarnall.. "I knowed it ! Before morn- to bring us luck." ing we'll be lyin' tew waitin' for it to mode- "It runs again my grain to refuse, cap'n- rate down-see if we arn't !" sperits and my constitution always did agree. "We'll have to keep a bright look out for Mr. Yates, I resign the charge of the deck tew the enemy's ships," said Barney. you, while cap n and I go below to look at the "I always dew-I sleep with one eye open chart," said the lieutenant, in his usual dry reg'lar," said YarnalL. way. He never smiled-would tell the most "We had better put out every light on laughable story with a sign of humor on his board except one in my state-room and the bluish looking face. one in the binnacle," continued Barney. After "the chart" had been duly examined, "I was jest a going' to have it done," said Barney and his first luff came on deck. The the thoughtful lieutenant. "Ned Yarnall is men were called to quarters, and for hours ex- up tew snuff, I tell you, cap'n. When a John- ercised at their guns, drilled at small arms, ny Bull gets the weather gauge of me, I'll taught to board and repel boarders, de. Bar- agree to go without speritsfor a year." _- ( . 1 . R " . .;t+ +3 r c - 28 22 page: 24-25[View Page 24-25] THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MAN'S GRUDGE. CHAPTER XIV. Twit INTraiViEW AIiD C COMMISSION. . #. ' i :- . i J. I THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN S GRUDGE. General Howe sat in his private apartment at his quarters in the city of New York. The table before him was covered with papers and maps. A look of care and aoxrety pervaded his countenance. lie had just dismissed a council of officers, and was determining upon a plan to force Washington, with his ill-fed, unpaid, half-elothed and discontended army, into a a general action, by which at a blow he could crush him. He was, in fact, plan- ning the movements which, by the activity, restless daring and consuniinste skill of the American chief, were foiled no te plaius of New' Jersey--which were displayed in his movements as lie retreated towedr' Morris- town, &c. Although the general hme bien successful in his advent, capturio Ne w York, and defeating the American army on Long Island, he had done nothing Sirce, and ex- pected to be superseded. an orderly announced Plaatag' net Elliott, Esnjuire, and son. admit the gen lenen at once," he said. Then, as the orderly retired, he added, - The very persons I wish to see. They probably will know all about the range of country on the Delaware, and the strength of the rebels. it is singular, that 'wi ran army of veterans we have so much trouble in subduing a dis- organized mass of raw militia. Their Com- mander-in-chief, too, was not bred a soldier, while I have been reared to toe study and practice of military rnanouvres.-' Elliott and his son, the later much im- proved in his appearance since we last saw him "in court," was now ushered in- I am glad to ses you, my loyal friend," said the general, as he arose and warmly wel- comed the base tory. " This is your son, eh? A fine looking young man--has he concluded to accept a cormmisiou in his Majesty's ser- vice % ' le has, general- -I am "oud to say that he is as loyal as myself." " Then I am sure of his loyalty, my good friend. He shadi be commissioned immediate- ly, and I will place him upon my staff" General, you are very kind. We are bound to y ou by a thousand obligations" Do not speak of it, tir. Elliott. Your loyalty and devotion to King George shall be well rewarded. And now, by the way, I wish to ast yourself and son many questions, on points wher in I find it difficult to obtain re- liable information. I propose shortly to make a descent upon Philadelphia." ". [25 r CHAPTER XV. THE ENEMV IN SIGHT. K # iI Ii Ii t I .f :, t t I i The eyes of the younger Elliott flashed with joy as he heard this. "The city is not very well guarded, is it?" asked the general. "The city is not, general," said the young man-" but the river below has several pas- ses which are strongly fortified. If the city was once captured by land, by a force march- ing from here, or landing frorm the Chesa- peake, and crossing over, then the rebels might desert their works in the river." " True, my young friend-you seem to have some idea of military movements. Would the citizens of Philadelphia e apt to resist the occupation of the city very strongly ?" "Very many of them, general, are Quakers. aid of course non-combatrants. Were thtu assured of protection to private property. ani no warike interference, they would remain. if your movements v er secret, and you could seize others whom I could point out as influential men, by holding them as hostages you could control a large portion of others, who will n.t desert their business if they eii help it, and who have not yet taken up arms on the rebel side, although they lean that - way. "You seem to take a right view of things, young man. I deem myself fortunate in se. curing you as a member of my military fami- ly. Of course you are well acquainted with the section of country within the limits of the states of New Jersey, Delaware and Penn- sylvaniar "I am, sir-I have traveled or hunted over every part of those states." "You will be invaluable to me. Your com mission shall be made out at once. I will or- der my own staff tailor to call and measure you for your uniforms. You are under paty from the date of your father's letter acceptin' my propositions." " Thank you, General. You will ever find me loyal." After they had withdra wn from the audi- ence, the younger Elliott no longer concealed from his father the joy which fitted his breast as he heard Howe reveal his intention of taking Philadelphia. "My day of revenge is not far distant" he cried. "I'll make three hearts bleed. They shall rue and remember the day when they humiliated Henry Elliott!" "That's right, my brave boy l" said thd father. "You have the blood of the Plautag- nets in your veins." "I knowed it! Didn't I tell you last night, eap'n, that we'd he lyin' tew beforedai light I" said Yarnall, as Barney came on deck on the morning after the Sachem bad left the Capes of the Delaware. ' Is there anything in sight!' asked the young commander. Nothing but clouds and water, both of 'em as rough as a Christian's road tew glory," re- plied the lieutenant. "It is cold and raw this morning," contin- ued the commander. "I was jest a thinhin' it was. I don't think a glass of sperits would hurt a chap's innards dreadful bad this mornin'-dew you, cap'n ?" "No, I think not, Mr. Yarnall; I'll take charge' of the deck while you go below to try the experiment" "Thankee, cap'n ; our decks won't need washing thisnirning ; the salt water has been pitchia' intew 'em like fun for the last three hours." The lieutenant now shook himself like a great Newroundland dog, for his shaggy pea. jacket was covered wit spray,.end then he descended to test the chemical properties of sugar, Jamaica rum, and a slight dilution of water. He bad been gone but a short time, when the man at the mast-head, stationed as a look out, sung cut: " Sail ho I" "Where away ?' asked Barney. "Broad on the weatherbow, sir." "What is she?' "I can't exactly tell, sir, she and we are heaving and pitching so. She is square rigged, though, and lying to on the same tack that we arc, "A sail in sight, eh, sir?" said Yarnall, coming on deck, with his color slightly im- proved. "I cale'lated on seem' one jest about this time o' day. If she drifts more than we. do, she'll come within hail before night. I foresee that" "I wish the water was smoother-in fight- ing and working condition, at least," mutter- ed Barney. "It will heAafter the blow is over-I cale'- late on that sure," said Yarnall, looking very wise. To one unused to the ne aat this time the prospect from the deck of the Sachem would have seemed terrible. But to a lover of the grand and magnificent ; to a sailor with poetry in his heart ; to one who can recognize the power of God in the tempest-in the sky-kiss- ing waves-in the wilderness, as it sways to the unseen hands of the mighty winmd-aswell as in each lovely hue, each tender vein of the frailest flowers which beautify the earth, it was glorious. The dark blue waves, shadowed by the rushing clouds, tipped and crested with foam, like great snow-capped mountains, rolled very high. The vessel at one time seemed to climb their precipitous sides; then again, with rapid plunge, she would dart down into the deep water-vales, seeming as if she was about to dive to the unknown depths of the ocean. The wind sung through the rig- ging, playing, as it were, "on a carp of a thousand strings," and straining ta little can- vas which was exposed to its fury almost to bursting. This was no day for exercise at arms Toe battery was secured with extra tackles, and carefully housed wilh tarpaulius; the hatches were battened down, preventer braces and stays rove and taughtened-everythiog done, in fact, which consummate seamarsip and prudence dictated Fortunately the wind was blowing off shore, so that there was no danger under their lee. There is nothing which a thorough sailor dreads more than the prox- imity of land when a gale of wind is blowing or coming on. As the day wore on, many an eye was turned toward the sail which had been diseove first after daylight. She evidently.drfted faster than the Sachem, for by three o'clock in te afternoon she could be seen from the deck of the latter, and her rig-'-that of a brig-distin- guished. But colors were not hoisted by either vessel, for it lIlew rather too hard to show bunting, and entirely too bara for ves- sels to attempt toelose with each other in any thing like hailing distance. When night came on, the vessels were not more than six or seven, miles apart, the brig being on the weather beam, instoud of the weather bow, of the Sachem . "I reckon that's a cussed Englisher," said Yarnsll, as he took a look at her just before dark ; "and I foresee that if she keeps on drifting, she'll be just two miles on our lee quarter in the morning." "Well,,a go9dtook-out must be kept for 1 her, especially if it lulls during the night. She might edge down on us before we were ready," said Barney. "I foresee that she'd catch a tartar, it sha i i L 8 { page: 26-27[View Page 26-27] .26 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. " tried to come that dodge," replied Yarnall. him Jesse with our long eighteen, if it was "Never you fear, cap'n--old Ned Yarnall only a little smoother I But it will be bye-and- always sleeps with one eye open." bye. I foresee that I'm going to taste a glass The night wore on, the first lieutenant stay- of sperits out of his hold before the sun sets.' ing on deck until midnight, when Yates took "I hope so," said Barney. "But she is the mid watch, from twelve to four. armed. At the latter hour Yarnall was againcalled, "Yes, sir, she's got eighteen carronades ; and when the gray of dawn began to appear, but we've got the weather guage, and can he had Barney awakened, according to the di- knock her intew kindlin' wood with our long rections of the latter, given the night before. eighteen; as soon as the sea is jest a leetle As the darkness sunk away to its caverns, slicker. If she drifts further, we can edge and the ocean waves were lighted up by the down jest a leetle at a time, like a feller shyi' rosy smile of day-for the clouds were break- up tew a gal when he's bashful, jest so as to ing away, though the gale was still high-the keep her in range till the wind slacks down-- strange brig was seen nearer than the night I calc'late it'll do that soon, for it has blowed beforehand on the lee quarter of the Sache in. its hardest, and must be e'en a'most out of "Didn't I know she'd be there 1" said Yar- breath." nail, pointing to her triumphantly. "Have you freshened the nip this morning Show our colors, Mr. Yarnall," said Bar- yet, Yarnall?" ney. "Let us see what she is." "No, cap'n, I haint tech'd no sperits as yet. The American flag was at once hoisted on though I don't think 'twould be very danger- board the Sachem. Ia a short time the cross o u to try jest a teaspoonful." of St. George was seen at the main gaff of the "Well, go below and mix your grog. I'll stranger. take the deck.' "Right again Old Ned Yarnall never is "Thankee, cap'n-you're right human in wrong. Didn't I say last night that she was a your ways, always thinkin' of the sufferin'," cussed Britisher " cried the first luff, in ecsta- said the first luff, as he disappeared down the cy. "And we're tew windward of him. Oh, companion way, in search of spiritual corn- punkin sass and s apjacks, wouldn't we give fort. ppp''' br Y f ' T r' ' I CHAPTER XVI. THE FIGHT. ,a + !, r i , , t 1 t t t , a 1 f and a guernsey shirt-he wore a silk handker- chief wound tight around his head. a his waist belt were stuck a pair of bell-mouthed long brass pistols, which would have carried over an ounce ball, but which, for better effect in a crowd, he had loaded writh buekaot,-a handful to each. A large butcher knife, in a leatnern scabbard, was also stuck in the same belt. He held in his hand a weapon wheh he had christened his "patent amputator, ' a cut. las which had been made to order expressly for him. It was baestet-nilted,straight, double- edged, and weighed at least fifteen or sixteen pounds. In his powerful grasp, it was, indeed, a terrible weapon. With ius blueish, passion- less face-his cool and calculating air and peculiar dress, ne formed a picture worthy even of a more minute description than I am giving. The crew were now all ready, the magazine opened, and every one at bi' post. " It is about time that th'e ball opened, Mr. Yarnall," said Barney. "I was jest a thinking so, cap'n," replied the lieutenant. "Shan't I step below to see what time it is, so tew enter it on the log? I foresee that we'll take that 'ere Johny Bull in one hour and fifteen minutes by the watch." "Time her if you want to," said Barney, laughing, who suspected, and not without rea- son, that Yarnall wanted to pay his respects to his favorite "sperrits " before going- to work. Edging down until within about a mile of the Englishman, who, under her fore course, two topsails, main spencer and jib, was wait. ing for them, Barney hauled up on a wind and hove the Sacheim to. "Now, JimThompson, I want to see what you can do with your long Tom, there i" he cried to his gunner. "Try not tohit the spars of the brig, I want them to stand, so that I can take her into port, but pitch the iron into her hull. Try and dismount some of her guns." "Ay, ay, sir," said the brave old seaman, slowing his gup around on its pivot, and ela. * vating it for the range. After it was carefully sighted,-he applied the match, and with a an len and spiterl roar at "spoke out," and sent its whizzig messenger across the water. The day wore on, and after the sun had reached its meridian, the strength of the wind perceptibly began to decrease. The British brig, evidently much heavier in tonnage and metal, as well as more fully armed than the Sacem. showed no disposition to escape or avoil a'combat. As the sea began to go down with the wind, Barney hoped to be able to en- gage her before night ; but when the sun went down the sea was still too high to attempt to do anything with the battery. As soon as it was dare: the British vessel hoisted a light. )erertined not to be outdone in politeness, Barney did the same, giving orders to keep a vigila'it watch upon the movements of the other. It was an anxious night with him. The wind was rapidly sinking, the sea falling in height all the time-a prospect, yes, a certainty, of a desperate struggle with a powerful foe as soon as h nere was light enough to work with advan- tage. He did-not retire at all, but, wrapped in his sea cloak, paced the deck during the entire night, often glancing at the light which rose and fell upon tae heaving waves so near tohim. The cre w had their usual rest, being on watch and watch. At last, the welcome light of day appeared, and Barney saw that the wind and sea had sufficiently fallen to enable him to engage his opponent At sunrise, his colors were hoisted, and replied to by the enemy. But'determined to give his ruen every advantage in his power, ne gave them ample time for breakfast, and. advised by the thoughtful Mr. Yarnall, doubled their ration of "spirits." It was between eight and nine o'clock when he beat to quarters and cleared for action. Tne brig was so close that her drum and fife could be distinctly heard as she followed the example. Her commander had evidently taken matters just about as coolly ss Barney had i Sail wag now made upon both vessels, and the Sachem began to edge down upon the brig. She had the advantage only in being to windward, and being thus enabled to choose a distance suitable to work her long eighteen to the best effect. Yarnall was in his fighting rig. Hi1 long. gaunt form was encased in tight pantaloons q F i f $ $ ( a 7! 1 3 3 3 p t THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. page: 28-29[View Page 28-29] 28 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN S GRUDGE. t 6 f +jrt k t k t i k t f t r i 3 1 i k F ttt" " t f e i t i - Barney watched the result through his spy- gla's. Depress your gun a trifle; that shot went two feet above hu hammock nettings, and through the foot of his foresail," said Barney. At this moment, a range of smoke and fire belched out from the side of the brig, and the thunder of her whole broadside was heard. But it was poorly directed-the guns were not sufficiently elevated, or fires in range. Only one shot came near the Sachem and thatstruck the water close to her, and ricocheted clear over her hull, making a hole in a sail. The spray from it, however, took Yarnall in the breast and face, as he leaned over the lee bul- warks looking at the brig. "Darn 'em!l" he muttered, "I knowed they'd go to splashing a feller all over with saltwater. if id my bran new uniform on it would have been all the same tew them,!" Thompson had by this time re-loaded his gun, and, having measured his distance, he sent his second shot crashing through the bul- warks of the brig. Well done-you've begun to stir themup!" said Barney. "Keep the game up. Mr. Yar- nall, you may open with the lee battery ; be careful not to throw away a shot.'' "No fear, cap'n-1 never was brought up tew waste iron. I'll be as keerful as I can." The action now became general. Although tue carronades were not very effective at the dioin:ce, the long uun of tle Sachem told with terrirle fiect-splinters whitened the side, of the Eeoglist brig every time that it was dis- enar 3 arnall was here, there, and everywhere- i w siehting a gun, then applying a match, now kicking a powder-monkey for not hurry- ing up the ammunition, then helping to move a wounded man out of the way of the guns, making all the while, in his own dry way, quaint remarks, which, even in that exciting and terrible hour, brought peals of laughter rom the men. A shot from the enemy having shattered the head of a poor fellow near him, who had often annoyed him by his stupidity, and covered him with blood and brains, he remarked, as he cooly wiped his face: " Who'd have thought that Bill Jenkins had brains-he hardly knowed enough tew keep himself out of the fire 1" The smoke now became so dense, as it swept down upon the brig, that she could scarcely be seen by the men on board of the Sachem, R ho, however, kept up a fire at the flash and report of her guns. Barney now began to think of bringing the matter to a decision by closing up. Bidding the boarders to prepare for work, under cover of the smoke of a heavy broadside, he squared away, double shotting his larboard battery with grape and canister, intending to 29 ThE MAN-O~WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. l k no vrd it! It is jest as I said 'twould the signal officer is ever allowed access to the be. We'te taken her in one hoar and a quar- boot. It is always bound with heavy lead ter. laelxg jest tew minutes, by the watch !" covers, so that in case of imminput danger of 110 e is your arm? you are wounded," said capture it can be cast overboard and sunk in Bar e the ocean. 'Aei e-it'll get over it though. [ jest Barney now secured his prisoners, and put- poured some sperits on it," replied YarnalL. ing a prize crew on board the bug, under And took some inside, too, didn't you?" charge of Mr. Yates, he ordered her to sail for "Jest a teaspoonful, tew keep me from feel- Philadelphia. Of course be sent despatches g fain ish" to government, and another letter was entrust- ar1ey found that his prize, so gallantly ed to the officer, and a package with it. The won, was very valuable. She was wel' armed letter was to Alderman Bedford--the package and munitioned, had a large stock of provi- contained the ensign of te captured brig, and ionsetc. ; and, best of all, her commander the trophy was directed to the Aldermain's had felt so secure of victory, that he had failed fair daughter. t3 destroy hia signal books. le also had in-° By noon on the day of the battle, the brig portent des1tattes from -te nomne govern- was standing inforthe Capes of the Delaware, . ment, which fell into Barney's bans. Yites, having a copy of the signals, beiag in- No'one but an officer in war time can appre- structed to use every precaution to get his ciate the value of possessing the private sei- prize rafely into port. als foe day nd night of an enemy. So carp-' The Saceem was now headed on a course to fully are they kept that on board of all our ! intercept homeward bound West Indiamen, national veaseis none but the commander and ; and on it we 'will leave her for the present. run athwart the enemy, rake her with a run- ning broadside, and then, rounding to under her lee, to lay her aboard. Every thing met his plans to a charm. He was close aboard before the commander of the brig saw his intention, and it was toe late for the latter to entirely evade the raking broad- side. however, he put his helm hard up the moment that the Sachem's sails loomed out of the smoke, closeaboard; butthis only brought the sooner in contact as the Sachem luffed up. The instant that their hulls crashedtogether, Barney ano Yarnall, heading their men, leaped on board the brig. They were met by the officers and crew of the brig with a determined front, and a terrible struggle for the mastry ensued. The clear shout of Barney--the hoarse cry of Yarnall, as he literally mowed a swathe with his huge cutlas--rung high above the cheers of the combatants, the yells of the wounded, and the groans of the dying. The deck was slipperywith blood.' The smoke rose like a frowning storm-cloud above the combatants, for steel was to decide the battle now. Theimpetuosity of Barney's crew drove the English back to their quarter-deck, but here they formed; and with a bristling row of boarding pikes madd a hedge of steel. Yar- nail's right arm at this moment was disabled by a shot. Until now, he had not seemed to think of his huge mouthed pistols. But losing the use of his sword-hand freshened his me- mory, and drawing them in succession with his left hand, he fired them in the faces of the close clustered men. The heavy loads scat- tered death in the ranks. The commander of the brig and two other officers fell. "Darn ye, I thought that 're hail storm would bother ye !" shouted Yarnall, drawing his butcher knife, and plunging into the melee again. "Quarter 1" yelled a seaman, into whom he drove the long blade up to the wooden handle. "Why didn't you speak sooner, you tarnal fool?" he cried, as he drew forth the reeliag weapon just in time to parry a pike which was within a few inches of his breast. "Keep your tarnal fish spear to yourself !" he said, as he sprang inside of the reach ofthe man who held it, and, with a kick from his huge foot, hitting the man in the pit of the stomach, made him double up and yell as if. he was mortally wounded. The English, having no officer to encourage them, were now completely disheartene Their cries for quarter reached the ears of Barney, and seeing that their flag was i'a - I down, be at once bade his crew cease t' r terrible havoc. The moment that it was over, Yarnali wr-et on board the Sachem, and descended into 'he cabin. He returned in a few momenta say- ing, in a triumphant tone : Dark and dis Etrous clouds overhung cur nation . w aaptoton, wh bad so long toiled and edece'd 'iYe e nemv in their aims a'. Pnia- eelphia tmade a desperate stand upon the b1o' .ef the lr.m aywne, but was detected, w i the los of many of ie brave and devote troops 'ibe enemy, ei couraged and flushed 'witru victory, gave the shattered coluniLs of tOe Anrie:in army no opportunity to re-fbm, but pushedl on, and within fifteen days a'ter the diaauirous battle, occupied Philadelphia. Terrible w as the news to poor Corn Bedtord when she heard that the enemy was approach- ing-verv terrible, for her lather was con- fined to his bed by illness too serious to permit a thong ht of L.is removal. Yet terrible as it was, tle did she dream of all that was in store for her. She had some topes of being permitted t o remain quiet and peaceable under her fatter a roof, for the Britieb general had caus= d a proclamation to be cireuiated offs r- ing protection and kindness to all who bad rfratnd from bearing arms 1n the war, and who would remain quietly in their homes. She had offered to permit--more, she had advised her father's servants to retire into the interior Ween she propose d this to her own maid, the tairhful Eliza, the latter felt quite hurt at the h What! in the time when danger comes threat xni' death and distraction, me leave you, thaCoran-and your poor father sick, too ! No-I'm not a high born lady, but I've got a eoirt that would scorn to' leave ySou when trouble was coming, like the clouds of an elementary storm, to make everything dark as a rebus, as Parson SternMoldisays, over you. No-I'm only a poor gll, Miss Cra, but I'm above that I" -Tank you, my faithful Elizahut you' know not what dangers may threaten. In war times the soldiers are rough and reckless-. they sometimes commit dreadful enormitis 'and excesses.'' X ain't afeard of 'em, Miss Cora--they shan't put none oi their distresses on me- rR bk J [ '4 1 $4 t " l " .f ,th 1 i CHAPTER XVII. rIIILAD tLPHIA TAKEN-CORA BEDFORD. 1 page: 30-31[View Page 30-31] 80 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. I've got nails and teeth, and a butcher knife, and--ob, Lord? he's come!" " Wno ?" cried Cora, as she saw Eliza, who was looking out of the window, turn pale as death. "Oh, its Corporal Drill! I wish that Jim Thompson was here, or your lieutenant Lord ha' mercy on me, a sinner! they're a coming right across the street, a whole dozen on 'em, with an ossifer at their head!1" Cora turned pale, too, for she had recog- ntzed that officer, and in him an enemy whom she had last seen under far different circum- stan cets, What his feelings and intentions were might best be inferred from the fact that, without paying the slightest respect to the rules or courtesy, he entered the house without per- mission, or even knocking at the door, and in a moment, followed by twelve armed men, he entered the drawing-room, in which Cora Bedford stood, not pale now, but red with rage. "What means this intrusion?" she asked, and her dark eye flashed like fire as she spoke. "You know me, Miss Bedford, do you not?" said the officer. "Yes, Henry Elliott, I know you as a tory and a villain. a traitor and a puppy--know you as the liveried servant of a base tyrant I" You had better be sparing of your abuse, my fair and haughty maiden. You are in my power now "Never, wretch, while I hold my own life in my hands!' sue said, bitterly, her proud form swelling in queenly pride as she spoke "We'll see !" tneered the cificer. "Where is your father? My business for the time is with him. Your case shall meet my earliest attention after I dispose of him!' "What do you mean, vile monster, in re- gard to my rather? Ie is sick-nigh unto death's door! ' Not so sick but that he can be removed to prison, 1 expect " said the fiendish brute "To prison ? Oh, God, Henry Elliott, you dare not!" "I dare anything. Cora Bedford ! I am the favorite aid of the British general, and have my own way in regard to matters !" "But my father is helpless--to remove him from his room would be instant death if he must die, kill him in his bed, and stain your coward hand with my blood I" "On, no--I shall reserve you for a pleasant- er fate, Miss Corn; I have not forgo ten my love S et !" said the villain, with a look whien made tbe poor girl shudder wi'h horror. "If your fattier is too ill to be removed at present. it will not prevent my putting a guard over him ; and as 1, am peruitteu to choose my own qiiar ors, I shall become your guest., though p,-rbaps rather an unwelcome one, for the time "Most unwelcome ; but if you are so base and dastardly as to force yourself under this roof, I can confine myself to my poor father's sick room !" "As' you please ; but remember that you will not be permitted to leave this house with- out my permission !" "I shall not leave my father's side, sir!" said the maiden. "Corporal Drill, you with your party will take up your quarters in this house, and see that none of its inmates depart without my permission." "Yes. sir," said the corporal, giving the soldier's salute as he drew his stiff bode up to its lull height, and brought his musket from a "shoulder 'to a "carry." "My duties at headquarters deprive me of the pleas re of remaining in your company at present, I iss Bedford," said the officer, with monk politeness-" but I will return at an early hour this evening, and hope then to find you in a more amiable humor!" Toe instaut le left the room. Cora hurried to her father Eiza was about to follow, when Drill, who had laid aside his musket, stretched our his arms as if to embrace her, and said; "Eliza. old sweetheart: don't e know me- yours to command, Timothy Drill, first cor- poral in his majesty's sixty-first foot?' "Yes, I de know you, you old lobster-back, and I don't know no good of you, nor your vile audacious master neither!'' "Why, 'Liza, you ain't agoin' to file off and turn the left shoulder on me, your own Timo- thy, are your!' "Yes, I be! I despise you! You're worse than a gorgian monster, so you are !" "Whew! I smell powder t Some one has been foraging around the camp since I was here. You ve found some other lover, eh?" "If I have, he's a better lookin' man than you be, and if he was here now, he d 'nihilate you to atoms, so he would! if you've got to stay in this ere house, you mas keep your tongue to yourself-I won't have nothing to do with you "Well, you'll introduce us to the cook, won't you? Ws musn't starve in the midst of plenty'" "Yes, I'll introduce you to the cook. She's a Digger, and '11 just suit you. I hope she'll pizen your wittles !" "No danger of that--we'll make her eat a part of all she cooks ' Do-she's just fit to set down to tale with a lot of mean grinoramuses like you!' cried Eliza, as she darted past the corporal, and fol- lowed her mistress. "Your old sweetheart, that you've been bragLimg of, is as sour as vinegar!" said one or toe sildiers. "She used to be as sweet as honey !" said Drill, wirhasigh "Women is like powder: if you doa't lake care of it. it's dead sure to spoil. Then agin, women, in another sense, is like powder: they'll go off with a spark at any time. Then, agin, women is like powder, for git 'm mad, and there's a deal of brimstone in 'em, and lot's of saltpetre. Then, agin, women is like powder, for when they blow a feller up, they damage him awful. Then, agin, women is like powder, because they're dan- gerous to handle. Then, agin, women is like powder, for if they git damaged once, they ain't good for much afterwards." After this lengthened opinion, the corporal glanced toward the sideboard, upon which, as was usual in those days, stood several decan- ters of liquor. "As we're quarterod here, it's wrong for us to suffer thirst !" he said. And, to show that he really believed his statement, and spoke conscientiously, he at once filled a large tumbler, and drank it off. "wThat's old Jamaica, and has the real smack I" said he, as he put the glass down. "So has my hand!" 'cried Eliza, as her palm came in contact with his cheek, for she at that instant re-entered the room. "Oh, if you wasn't a woman I" muttered the corporal, as he rubbed his stinging cheek. "If I wasn't a woman, I'd be a man, and I'd kick you out of doors !" she cried, as she went into another apartment. CHAPTER XVIII. CRIME AND MISERY. A female sat in a miserably furnished room miserable looking little thing, yet it was too n a rickety house near the banks of the Dela- helpless to be hated by a woman. If I was a ware, in she lower part [of the city. She woman, I wouldn't hate anything but apuppy. looked as if she had once been very beautiful. The door was opened, and a crippled and Large, brilliant eyes burned within sockets horribly deformed negro entered the room. far sunk under a pale and shining brow. Her "Did you take the note to him, Cato?" cheeks were thin and wasted, as if she r ad asked the female. bern accustomed to hunger. There was a "Yes, missee. But ole nigger had drefful look of utter desolation, of all-absorbing woe, hard work to git to see him. Mass Harry's in her face, which was painful to behold. Her got to be big ossifer now." sharp features, worn into angles by the rough "I know it-I know all!" she said. imp. hand of poverty---her thin form, scarce half tiently. "But what did he say? Did he clothed, told a touching tale. Upon the floor, ask how I washo e looking up at her with a half idiotic gaze, was "Fust when he broke open de letter he a pale, squalid child of not more than a year swore damn, acid look black as tunder cloud; old. It had a crust of bread in its hands, at den he axed old Cato where Missee Carline which is had been apparently nibbling in vain. lib. and den he said he'd come yar afore soon; Upon the hearth a few old barrel staves, ap- and den he gib dis ole nigger a hick and a apparently taken from the gutter or the river shillin'. Dere's de shillin', missee-old nigger side (for they were water-soaked), smoked and kept de kick for heseif!" steamed and fizzled. but did not blaze. Desti- "No, Cato, keep your money-go and get tution, penury and want looked from the something to eat with it. You are the only dirty walls, the broken windows, the latch- faithful friend I have on earth--I, who once less door, which was closed by a stick of wood had so many---so many kneeling at my feet, being propped against it. only to catch a smile from my face, a word "My messenger is a long time returning 1" from my lips, or a glance from my eyes t Keep she muttered. "li EMUsT see me, and that the money, good, true Cato!" cursed proof of my mad folly and his treache- "No. missee, dis nigga can't spend dat sil- I"lin'. It's been gone two days. and you hain't As she spoke, she looked down at the child had nuffin to eat, and den de baby---" -not as a mother looks, but with a look of "Speak not of the brat!" she cried, fierce- hatred and disgust. There was nothing win ly. "It is his child, and he must feed it!" ning, it is true, in the dirtily clothed and A knock at the door was heard. THE MAN-0'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. 81 page: 32-33 (Illustration) [View Page 32-33 (Illustration) ] TIE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN S GRUDGE. "tOpen the door, Cato, and if it is him, stay outside till I call you.'' The negro obeyed, and an officer attired in a gay uniform, entered the squalid apart- ment. Tue lady did not rise from the broken backed chair in which she sat, but her pale face flsheld as she looked upon him--who was none other than Henry E tiott. "My Godl, Caroline! you here, and in this a station ?" he exclaimed, in a tone of surprise. Why should you be astonished to find me here, and in tVis situation ?" she said, in a bit- ter tone. ' You, who left me alone and pen- niless--me, the wretched mother of your idiot child-when you knew that for you I was an outcast from friends and home" "But, Caroline, I was forced to leave sud- denly, and since I have had no chance to send to you. this city has been in the hands of the rebels, and 1 hold a commission in his msjetv's service." " kuo .v it, base tory ! You, an Ameri- can ho-n, ede v ii America's foca But it is your nature to be fake and treacherous-- Judas was an sn arl compared to you. You need not frown---l know you---know all about you: how, wmlie you were pretending still to love and I nc, whom you had ruined. you knelt ai w libed and wept as you sued for the benrI of pure, noble, high-minded Cora Bedfor I :how she spurned you as the would a reptie from her feet; how you were justly ehasu-d by a crave young officer for tureat- ening to insult her ; and how, to escape the sneers of every one who knew you, you sneaked o' ilke a whipped dog, and sold your- self to t e Britisti General !" "Have you done, Caroline?" he asked, in a cold and natter tone. " -No-sit down the re on that etool, near that half-spar vo!l brat of ours, and listen to me! ' "1V I im! t :.; I unles you speak more tempe ylv. Ciroline!' he replied, seating himself "I oil nut comae here to be abused by you !' "Wi ', lii ou come for? Did not your covarcl iart tell you that you deserved more tia mniere abuse at my hands?" I e imie ere, Cairoline, because you wrote to me---I e an ihre to aid you. How have you sub -i t ,1' "By tie' labor of my own hands, and the work of t hat poor, faithful negro slave, who was true to iii iustre:s when all the rest of the world deserlte- her. But you say you came to relieve me. Or course, you will never fulfil your pro:i-ee to marry me. The hope of that diy 1n i , mao-perished the moment that, lint d byour treacherous vows,. I yielded ttat which never, never could be called back aamn--vir ue! But will you take me from this wretobed hovel, clothe me at least decently once more, and prove that there is a vestige of humanity left in you?" "I shall have nothing more, personally, to do with you?" he replied. "But there is money !" he added, as he threw a purse of gold into her lap. "Get what you require, and trouble me no more! "The price of treason!" she muttered, as she regarded the money. "It is fitting that sunken virtue and the offspring of guilt should live on it ! Raising her dark eyes again to Elliott's face, she asked: "Have you seen Cora Bedford yet?" "I have," he replied, as a gleam of triumph shot athwart his face. "I have taken up my quarters in her father's house, and I'll teach the proud girl a harsher lesson than you have ever learned. She shall yet envy the position I but now found you in. But 1 must be off. Now remember, trouble me no more The officer did not wait for a reply, but arose, and abruptly left the room. "Quartered at Alderman Bedford's, eh? Poor Cora is yet to learn a harsher lesson than I have? Not by your hand, Henry Elliott, if I have to slay you myself !" muttered she. "I will befriend the poor girl : lost and ruined though I am, I may yet save her-save her from the dark intentions of that hell-spawned miscreant!" She paused, and seemed for a time to be lost in thought. The negro entered the room. "Can't ole Cato do nuffin' for you, misse? " he asked. Her eye glanced at the purse in her lap. "Yes, Cato," she replied. "To-night, after it is dark, I shall go from here and get some other clothing, and secure a better lodging. 'To-morrow we will leave this wretched hovel." "You're not gwine to send poor ole nigger off'. missee ? " "No, Cato-you have shared my poverty, and worked for me--I will not des;e't you now that I have money. You shall still be my servant." " Tankee, missee. Ole nigger'd drown he- self" if missee send him off I'I "Cato," continued the lady, "to-night I shall wrap that dirty bt'at up in a blanket, and put a card on it, stating who its father is. Thank Heaven, it looks so like him that it will be useless for him to deny the parentage. You must manage to have it left at the quarters of the British General, so that he will be sure to see it !" "Yes missee : 'spose you put him in a bas- ket, den put mass gin'ral's name on basket. and I take it and carry it to him quarters, and say him a basket ob fruit my missee send to him!" "Yes, that will do. Bitter fruit it is, and accursed the trre which bore It! Now, Cato. take some of this money, and buy me food and a bottle of wine. I must have strength to car- ry me through that which I shall undertake." I i 32 , r " , qq3 '6 ( a, t, A ... .t+e .r f , s s C , " 'ra a : c t . - 7 K t r l t S. l" I page: 34-35[View Page 34-35] THEI MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRi "Yes, missee-shall ole nigger get some "Now for milk for de baby?" track the villa "No-curse the brat!" she said, at first; then, mention. I'll checking herself, she said: "Yes, get it some- betray him get it plenty. It will sleep then, and not mar aim, if I lose my plot by crying while it is in the basket!" feel how a The negro took-th money, and left the room hateI" to obey her orders. CHAPTER XIX T HE FA TE or WAR;. When Cora entered the room where her sick "Never! fatherlay, after her interview with Elliott, she Herebyou in vain tried to conceal her trouble and anxie- or here die ty. -vflhim toghistg "What troubleth thee, Cera?" he asked, in rudeness, he a Feeble voice. "Have the British entered the woman's han town to . "God bled "They have, my father. I wish yo were said the old wel enough to be moved from it." myself onee "Fret not about thy old father, my child, my strength fThie Blritish, though they are enemies, are yet " Feel eas sikeavyodsanandhs aylls adn"la;tect a Christian people and will not do harm to a soon as you Ala n twat h aer, it is n o t th e B ritish th a t I c a n re m a in i fear I I wish the brave Lieutenant Barney was from the lan itere " "lfear m "It o be ill for hi, without he had that time, mn heavy odds at his back, my child-but what ington is for fearestticu?" hopes of the "Anything-everything, father1 That vii- England, ba lain Elitwith a British uniform upon him, Hesse, will p has been here and placed a guard at thy door! our raw mii He has quartered himself and twelve men in "Our armi this house !" with success "Witiout thy leave " does not desp "Without my leave, of course, father! We have ye Think you I would for an instant willingly We have Jon harbor the wretch?" ing here and " No! Now, by high heavens, this passes striking whe patience ! Child, get me my pistols-I'll- " Hast th I'll-" -child ?" The face of the sick man grew red with pas..- "Not sine sion-he tried to rise, but he had no strength. sent me the fl He felt it, and as he looked uponhiu fair child prize, with ti he moaned in anguish. been moved " I have your weapons, my father-they are will doubtles near to my hand if the worst comes, and I do But so long uot fear to use them!I" she said. " Do hot fret God shield h now-I will be firm and cheerful." " Amen, I " Hadst thou not better hie away from the ton'?' city, Cora? Under cover of night it will be "Encampe possible." miles from th UDGE. 35 a disguise," she muttered. "I'll ain ugh every plot of his in. ruin him in his own camp-I'll in the other-I'll foil his every my life in the attempt. He shall heart that has once loved, can father-never will I leave you! side I take my post-here I live, ! If he insults me, I will report eneral--if he dares to offer me a shall learn to his cost, what a d can do indefenee of her honor." ss and protect thee, my child !" man, feebly. "Iwish I were but more-but this fever has taken all away 1" y,and try and rest, my father. As gain strength we will manage to y, and find some place where we n safety until the enemy is driven d." any a long day will pass before y child. When the noble Wash- ced to retreat, then feeble are the nation. The veteran armies of eked by the hired ruffians of grove but too powerful odds for tia to cope with !" iy in the north, father, has met Hope is not lost. Washington air. He is gathering another army. t many a gallant vessel afloat. es and Barney and Barryswoop- there like eagles, over the sea, n they are least expected." on heard from Barney, lately, e he wrote to thee, father, and ag he so gallantly captured. His he galleys and other vessels, have up the river, but, if not destroyed, s fallinto the hands of the enemy. as he is free he will do his duty. im from captivity !" my child! Where is Washing. d, report says, twenty or thirty Le city, and gaining recruits every page: 36-37[View Page 36-37] 86 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. day. If he only had money and arms and clothing for the troops, the clouds which sha- dow his path would lighten up !" True, child, and willingly would I give our little all to the good cause 1" "Ifothers would do the same, then our gift would be felt," said the patriotic girl. "Oh, how I wish that I was a man 1" "Thou wouldn't wish thyself a woman again, if young Barney was by thy side !" said the old man, trying to smilsi "Be them red-backed lobsters going tostay here, Miss Cora ?" asked Eliza, indignantly, as she came in the room at this tine. "They have the power-we have no way to force them out, Ehza," said Miss Bedford, sadly I'll git 'em out !" said Eliza. "I'll funni- gate them with brimstun, as they do rats in the shi ps !" .I fear wa should suffer from the funniga- tion, as much as they !" said Cora, with a smile. 'But can you not keepthem in order? I see your old beau, Corporal Drill, is among them!" "?My old beau! He's just had one remind- er from me-I slapped his face for stealing liquor from the si aboard. I only hope he'll try some more. I'll fix a dose for him ! He my beau ! I'd rather have a bear or a Choc- taw Indian, than him !" "Well-get along as easy as you can, Eliza. Do not gin the ill-will of the men if you can help it. We may need the friendship of a dog, yet, for we know not what may happen. Ido not fear them as I (1o the villain who brought them here You may direct the cook to feed them and treat them kindly ; and if you can, Eliza, be friendly with that Dill. Possibly, by maroeuvrimg well, we may yet make him useful, at least for our protection. And if there is danger, by dissimulatig we will find it out the easier." I 11 do as you wish, Miss Cora, but it goes dreadfully against my stomach. I predomi- nate that Drill more than I do a Tottenhot !" "A Hottentot, you mean, I suppose, Eliza I" "Some knd of a hot, or a tot, I don't care what, so long as it's hateful!" said the girl. "There's the parlor bell ringing-I suppose some of the lobster-backs want to be waited on !" said the girl, going out. She returned in a moment, and said : "It's that hateful story lieutenant, miss. He wants to see you." "Tell him I am ousy-I am with my sick father " "I did, Miss Cora, sad the ordatious wretch said if you didn't choose to go there, he'd acme in here!" "I will go there 1'' said Cora, with her eyes flashing. "I've that which will protect me I" and, as she said so, she showed tue hilt of a dagger which rested in her hosom. "So have I-I've got nails and teeth, and if he offers to consult you, Miss Cora, I'll make him think bedlum's got loose !" "For my sake have a care, child-I am weak, and illy able to defend thee !" said the old man. "Fear not, dear father. I put my trust in God. The wretch dare not go too far ! I am not entirely in his power. God help me if I was !" She shuddered as the thought sped across her mind. Then, accompanied by her maid, she went into the room where Elliott was seat- ed. "Am I wanted for anything special ?" she asked, haughtily, as she stood confronting him. "Yes, Miss bedford--but as our conversa- tion will not be very brief, you had better be seated." " It must he brief on my part, sir, and I prefer standing. My father requires my constant at- tendance. Say what you have to say, and permit me to retire." "Really, Miss Cora, that look of anger, and your heightened color, becomes your style of beauty remarkably well." "If you only sent for me to insult me, sir, I will leave you" "KNo-no ! Have the kindness to remain a moment. I have some written orders from my general; which I wish to read to you." 'They do not interest me, sir-obey them for all I care 1" "Bat they do interest you, haughty lady, and I shall obey them! Tie first is an order to keep a strict armed surveillance over your father until he recovers sufficiently to be taken to a safer prison. The second assigns quar- ters for myself and guard in this house. You are aware, of course, that in war time we are biletted on the enemy 1" "Well, sir, have you done ?" "So far as the orders are concerned, but now that I am a guest, even though an unwel- come one, I hope my lovely hostess will not deny me the pleasure of a few moment's con- versation occasionally, to remind me of the past, when I was more welcome than I am now. I can only say to her. that the more agreeable she is to to me, the more pleasant it will be for herself and those who dwell under this roof." "The less I have to say to you. sir, the bet- ter. I both hate and despise you!" "Here, ditto!" said Eliza, following her mistress, who left the room ' By Jove, I'll soon tame that pride !" mut- tered Eiliott, as he went to the sideboard and drank toe contents of a glass filled to the brim with brandy. "Bus I must get her away from here, and not push things too far in this house. If I did not so hate her now, I won d force her to a marriage, for the old Alderman is rich, and she is the only heir. But harb, my fel- lows are carousing in the kitchen. I must give Drill his directions." A i } A CHAPTER XX. 'A sTARTLING suRRisL. "Your Philadelphia trees grow singular 1 considered a hoar, sir !".said the British gen- fruit, Lieutenant Elliott !" said the British eral, again bursting out in a laugh, which was general, on the ensuing morning, as he enter- echoed by every member of the staff, who ed the quarters oi that officer, finding him, as were in duty bound to laugh at every witty usal surrounded by the members of his staff. thing which passed the lips of the leader. "It There was a merry twinkle in the general's is a very good likeness--a palpable duplicate eye, and a suppressed smile on the faces of the i miniature s" ,. officers, which Elliott could not understand. "Who has played this famous trick upon " In season, the fruit in this section is very you, general?" fine, general," he replied. "Some one whom you must have tricked, I "Fruit of the kind I allude to is always expect, lieutenant. But, as the fruit evidently seasonable, but not always acceptable I" said came from your garden, and I have no use fo the general. "But I will send for the basket it, at least until it grows into suitable size for, of fruit which was presented to me last eve- his majesty's service. I beg that you will take ning-you probably being acquainted with charge of it; and also let me request that you the species, canbest inform me whether it is will take steps in future to preventmy inspeode Again that half-suppressed snile was seen ly will convey the basket to any place which on the faces of the officers, and their eyes were you may direct." directed toward him. He felt embarrassed Pale with rage and mortification, Elliottleft and uneasy, though he knew not whys the presence of the general, the soldier follow- The general now bade an orderly bring a ing with the basket. He had but just entered basket of fruit from a certain locality, which the street, when his eye fell upon the negro had been left in the care of a sergeant's wife, Cato, who had evidently been on the watch to precisely as it had been left for the general, see toe result of the affair, and who was now the night before. hobbling away. In a short time the soldier returned and "Here, you black seQundrel!" he shouted, placed the basket on a table. "stop-I want to speak to you i", "Do me the favor to uncover it, lieuten- Cato first looked as if he intended to run- ant," s id the general, "and tell me what you for, in spite of his deformity, he could scram- think o the fruit!-, ble over a great deal of ground in a remarla- With a nervous hand, Elliott lifted the cloth bly short space of time. Then, however, e from txhe basket. As he did so, he started altered his mind, and, coming to a stop, wait- back, for the stupid, lack-lustre eyes of his ed for Elliott, who, with the orderly, approaoh- idiot child looked up in his face.', On its ed. breast was a card, upon which was written :-- "Where is your mistress? Speak, you "This ill-formed, sin-begotten cub, cursed in devil's pup.-where is she ?" heaven and accursed on earth, belongs to a "Ole nigger don't'know, massa. She's done perjured villain-his name is Henry Elliott! gone and drown sheself, I tink. She went on Since the British general has provided for the an' cried arter you went away las' night;' and father, ir is but just that he should take care o den she gib me money to git sumtbin to eat. the son !" and when I done git back she was gone. All As Elloit recoiled from the basket and its I find in de ole house was die bit o' paper- contents, the British general burst out in a maybe it tell you sumthin', massa." d roar of laughter, an example which; was in- Elliott snatched the paper from the hand o stantamously followed by every officer in the the negro. It was a note directed to himself, room.- and unsealed. It read as follows : I do'&'t wonderr that you are surprised-I Huang Eor: As you desire, I shall trouble you o was takf'u rather in chek mself, last night, more I go to a distant land to hide my sorrow and wfmy shame. Farewell--and my curse remain with won on the r, ceipt of the fruit !" said the general. now and forever! CAROLINE OsneBY. "I am u .d to strange presents in a hostile "Did you carry that basket to the quarters country. but this is a day's march ahead of of the general, you scoundrel?" asked Elliott. any fav' "that I ever re ceived before 1" "What basket, massa ". "It is a'i infamous hoax, sir 1" cried the mor- "The basket which that soldier has in his tified lieutenant. hands." "It bears too much truth on its face, tobe "No, massa, ole nigger no carry basket to T$R MA;N-a' WAR'S-MAN'S t RUt ThL 87 page: 38-39[View Page 38-39] THE MAN-0 -WAR'S4IAN'S GRUDGE. rnssa gin'ral. What for.Cato do dat ? No. body send him. Ole nigger been loogin' for he missee all night--down by de riber an' up in 1e town. Guess she drown sheself an' de baby I" '-No-the brat is in this basket. I wish, It and her were drowned ! Take that basket and carry it to her!" "IKi, massa ! 'Fore God, old nigger don't know where missee is t" o "It may be true that she has gone I-' mu - tered Elliott, after regarding the negro in- tently a moment. "It will not do to leave the brat in the street, fir since the expose at the general's head-quarters, if I do not eonseal it and hush the matter up, the whole town will ring with it. It will cost me a wine supper to get the silence of the staff on the matter!' "Where shall I take the basket, sir ?" asked the orderly. "Give it to that negro there---I will give him his directions. You can return to your poet." "Ki, massa! what can ole nigger do wid de picaninny ? I got no house, no nuffin'." "You must find some one to nurse it. Here is a guinea-go and hire some wench to teke care of it and feed it; then come to me at Alderman Bedford's house ; I want a servant, and you'll do well enough for the present." ' Ki, massa I ole nigger isn't fit for sarvant to smart young man like you. No can run fast-eyes mos' blind-teef all wored out so hominy grit, taste hard now I" "I care not; yo11 d. at present to black boots and brush clothes: I'll pick up a smart. er one by-ana-hy. Take the basket, and march; and mark you, S on imp of darkness: obey my orders, or you'll catch a dressing that'l whiten your hide for a week or tuo!" Toe negro took the basket and departed. A half hour later he was in the presence o his mistress, who was now well dressed and in decent lodgings. He told her every par ticular of the conversation between himself and Elliott. A smile of satisfaction passed over the face o the female as she listened to him. Everything works to a charm !" she mur- mured. "You will 'bey his orders to the word, Cato!" "What, and be his sarvant, miesee !" "Yes-.-obey his orders, and if ever you see me, pretend not to know me. I shall not be far from you-it is to serve me that I sendyou to him!" "What will I do with the baby, missee ?" "Take the brat to some poor woman, give her the guinea, and tell her to feed it, and she shall have a guniea every month as long as she takes care of it." "Yes, missed."' "And then o to him. Remember, when- ever or Whereer you see me, unless we are alone, do not dare to act as if you know me S" Yes, missee." The negro now departed with his basket. f4 F E+ _ Y z{dui 4 S ez LC c .4. 5 Ff f 5 k F f.iy 4 . t " f r P I 4 FsJ AI THE MAT-O -WAR S MAN S GRUDGI 89 CHAPTER XXt. TEE CRUISE or THEA.HEM. For some time our friend Barney has been lost sight of; but do not deem that he, with his daring heart, ardent spirit, and towering ahirionhas been idle. Four months had gone by since he had passed the Capes of the Delaware, bound sea- ward, and many aprize had been taken by the Sachem. At last, however, the news that Philadelphia had been occupied by the enemy reached his ears, from an outward bound ves el which he had captured. h "I knowed they d have Philadelphy ?' said Yarnall, when the news was communieated. "By heavens, they won't keep it long !" said Barney, in much agitation, as he paced his deck after hearing it. "Do you mean to try to retake it with the Sachem? 'asked the first luff, in his dry way. "If you do, I forsee some trouble." - "If I can do nothing by way of ret'akingit," said Barney, " I can collect a squadron which will help to starve them out. If Washington will only blockade them by land, I'll do it by water. But, Yarnall, I'm going to look: inte the bay ; I'm bound to visit Philadelphia, if it costamy life i" "Or liberty! I knowed you would! Darn the women!" muttered Yarnall. "What do you mean, sir?" asked theyoung commander, sternly. "Why, ap ,there's no use of your fiarin' up about it-I didn't go for to rile you-but ever since them poises or nosegays come aboard at Philadelphy, I knowed you was in love there. I've watched'you many a night a w akin' the deck, and a lookin' at the stars, and a talkin' t yourself or somebody that din't hear you, and I foresaw matrimony looming up atween you and t'other Bend of life. So now you want to put into Delaware Bay and up the river, like as not when it's as thick covered with British ships as the Chesa. peake is with canvas-backs in December!" "If you are afraid, you need not go with me, sir " "Me afeard, eap'n ? Did you ever see me beck one inch from anything human, inferna or divine? By jingo, it's time that I left when you twit me with being' a coward! I didn't foresee that!1" "Forgive me, Yarnall; I didn't mean to in sinuate that you were a coward. There's my hand on it. I have ever found you the braves of the brave!"- "Tarnal Jerusalem! I knowed you'd sa3 that, cp'n ; and now jest head the craft right for Delaware Capes, and see if Ned Yarnal banks an inch from youe. Jitmnpin' Moses,7 know what it is to be in love myself. I love a gal down on the Cape once---loved her worse than p'isen. A Dutch Jew pedlar got ier, though-bought her off from me, after she'd promised to share my fortin, with a sixpenny calico dress and a string of gold beads, and cheatedher at that, for the gold turned green afore she'd been spliced a week. I hain't had notbin' to do with women folks since then. They're like a coral reef' in smooth water- mighty deceivin'. If once you run ashore on . it, you're chawed up in a hurry. The 'Ca'pes, by our last observation, ought to bear about weet-nor'west-distant about one hundred and fifty-odd miles." Yes, you can keep her away. Our course will keep the wind on the quarter. If the breeze lasts, we can slip in in the night, or a little before daylight at least.' " Yes, sir ; but wouldn't it be well to go in shabby like? We ve got enough cargo in of -the right sort to pass as a transport, if any of the Engliehers should overhaul us. If we can get up the river safe, I know a creek on the Jarsey side where we can stow the craft sosafe _ that nothin' can find her from the water side, and nothin' be apt to come from the land without they like wadin' in the swamp. Ie up Rancosas." "We will try and get the craft in there, then. If the worst comes, and we are in dan- ger of being taken, we can run the craft ashore and burn her. Then we can join the Torces on land." "And make boss marines of ourselves, cap'n ? That would be jolly. I never rid a boss but once, and I got a h'ist then that I shan't forgit afore I stop chain' tobaccy. II kInowed I would afore I straddled the animal f -he looked vicious about the bow-ports and kickish about the starn.- But there was a lot of gals a lookin' on and gigglin', and one on 'em said a sailor couldn'r ride ; so I said, Hold on, miss, and take a turn with your jaw tackle, and Ill give you something to laugh at' And i did!" "Did the horse throw you?' l "Well, he kinder h'isted me, eap'n t I'd only jest got athwartsbips of his back, when t his bows went down like a log in the trous* of a sea, and in course his t'ott er eend went ,p. . I went up too, and when I some down thehose was about ten fathom ahead of me, and the t gals all laughin'and bustin' off their hookesand eyes at me. I've never, navigated on a hose since then." t The vee's oeuree was now changed, sail u crowded on, and she dashed through the water I at a rapid rate. page: 40-41[View Page 40-41] 40 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN S GRUDGE. "' CHAPTER XXII. LOVE'S STRATAGEM. A short time after Elliott had taken the ne- gro Cato into his service, he was called upon by a smart looking lad, who appeared to be a"out ixteen or seventeen, who asked if he did not want a servant. The young fellow was neatly dressed, and very good looking. his appearan ce rather prepossessed the lieu- tenant in his favor, although there seemed a lttle of the devil in his black eyes. "Why do you seek to enter my service?" asked E iliott. Because I have no home. Iam too young to be a soldier, and want to get an honest liv- ing if I can," said the lad. The answer pleased Elliott. who wished to vie with toe other officers, who mostly had smart looking valets. "What is y our name ?" he asked. "John Jones, sir.' "Were you torn here, my lad?" "No, sir-I cane from New York." "Your language and appearance indicate that you have been in a better situation than that of a servant ny lad.' No matter what I have been-I seek no high position now, sir." Can ou r-ad and write ?" Passably well, sir." "Do you kr.,w how to dress hair?" "I can dress my "wo, sir and, if'necessary, learn to dress yours." "What wages do you want?" "I leave that to your own generosity, sir." "Well, I will take you as a confidential valet. If yon write a good hand you can act as my copyist, for I have many orders and let- ters to copy for his excellency the general. I believe you can be trusted. You are young, yet you have an honest countenance. Some. how it seems as if I had seen you before.' "I have met 'ou several times in the street, sir." "That accounts for it. Well, you can enter upon your duties at once. I will show you some letters that require copying} also some orders." The youth whom he had thus taken into his service was slenderand gracefully formed. His complexion was rather dark, bronzed as if' from exposure, while in singular contrast with his dark eyes, his hair, which was curled thickly down his neck, was red. For a few days after he had domiciled him- self under the same roof with Cora Bedford? Elliott refrained from pressing himself much into her company, but in a short time his man- nor became more overbearing and insulting. Nothing but her threats to appeal to the gene- ral restrained him from proceedirg to greater extremities than he did. He had two reasons for fearing her resort to such a measure In the first place, the general was an ardent admirer of beauty, and as heartless a libertine as himself. Wit more power, ae might snatch the prize 'bich t' lustrul villain co- veted for himself. Am -n, ever eince the fruit basket expose he dread d to have the general, upon whom he depended for advancementeand favor, know anything in regard to his in'r- gues. Elliett was a iemorseless villain, but not a hold one. Cowardice went hand in hand with his treachery in his constitutional char- acter. He could lie, stealandsssassiate, but he could not face an open foe. As a low cr tninal he could have been a leader-as a oigh- wayman, he never would have had the courage to have robbed a priest. But though he refrained from actual vi. lnce for a time, be never for an instant devia- ted in his intentions, which he could not fully carry out before the Alderman recovered sif. ciently to be removed to prison, as he had originally intended to have him, procuring the order for his imprisonment by representing to the general that he was an influential and dan- gerous rebel. It need not be wondered, then, that be made frequent and anxious inqu riea in regard to the health of the old gentleman, show ig his aix. iety so plainly that Cora partially stspe ted the reason, and avoided letinag is pkne ted the Alderman was rapidly eonvale cia e- ing the latter to similate a er'rioo' citloe a to,- ever the tory officer den'raeo to e his pis owner. Perhaps the reader would like to know how Eliza got along under the struntoos of hr mistress, whih she said "tacitotionst her stomach" so much, in regard to the tratmhnt of Corporal Drill and his guard. To give en insight into that matter, it is only necessary to describe one scene between them Drill was seated in a sitting room back of the parlor, and near him was Eliza. Her face had anything but a vinegar aspect, and Eliza, when she looked smiling and pleasant, ws what might be termed a very pretty girl. Hen I 41 THE MAN-O-WAR;S-MAN S GRUDGE. figure was neat and tidy, and knowing such to be the fact, she did not neglect to dress it well. - On this occasion Drill looked well-decid- edly comfortable. As usual, he sat as erect in his chair as he would have stood had he been on parade-any other position would have byen uncomfortable to him. in his hand he held a brimming tumbler of hot ryim-punch- a concoction for which he had a great partiali- ty. That it had been mixed by the fair Eliza, may be inferred from the remarks he made on the subject. "Miss Eliza," he said, ripping the punbobat each pause-" Miss Eliza, I ve marched over a good deal of ground in my time, and one thing I've noticed-that is, that there's some one thing that everybody can do better than another. Now, as a drill corporal, there isn t a man that wears a chevron that can bring an awkward squad forward as well as I can. As a guide, or to cover a platoon, devil the better r man walks than me. But put me in command of a company, and I couldn't say a word. I'd double 'em up, give wicy wary orders, and make a feol of myself." "What put alithat in your mind, corporal ?" "This punch, Eliza-it is sweet as your lips-it sparkles like your eyes-it is as rich colored as your cheeks-it is a prime punch! If this war was over, and I had you for a wife, settled down in snug quarters, and had money enough to stand at ease with the world, and could take a punch like this once in a while and a puff at my pipe, I wouldn't eaange pta's-wimt Kig George" "There, you are again talking about having me for a rife-you know you don't mean it sorporal." "On my hoior a a soldier, I do." "You-a ove re if you wanted to marry "Don't I l've the ve'y ground you march upon? I'd rtther hear one word fromi your lips than ahalf a dozen of the liveliest marebe that ever came from fife and drum.' -"Actions speak more than words," replie Eliza, pouting. " If you loved me, you would not like to stand guard over me and my poo master and mistress. " "The only reason I like to stay here is be cause lI'm near you. And hesides, I can b kinder in my way thtn.some others would be. "You could be if you would, corporal." "Wby. Miss Etize, don't I disobey order ol'tu. Don't I let you go out and get letters and never taee them to the lietenant, as he or dred. And don't I let you do jest as yo like?" .But if my master'and mistress were abl to go away-that is, supposing. I say, not th it is so-would you not stop them with yon - T"'hat wouldbermy duty. I am on pea f, -and must obey orders." "Must obey orders, eh? Suppose, now-- merely suppose, not tt at I say it is so-thatI, Eliza Mullebleaf,.spibster, aged two-and-twen-, ty, and not ill-favored nor scrumptious in my manners, being genteelly brought up, should have saved two hundred and seventy pounds from my wages-" "Two hundred and seventy pounds? Fire and gun-flints!" " Don't interrupt me. Two hundred and seventy pounds, and should, in the ardent sper- its of my wirginous affection, say to Corporal Drill, I love you, and will marry 3oit-" "Me? me ?-marry met wo hundred and seventy pounds--bayonets and ramrods. "Oh finish your punch,and don't interrupt me ! Suppose, I say, that I should say to Corporal Drill, I usill marry you on con- dition- Never mind the conditions ; he'd do it." "Hear me out, will, you ; on condition that he s ould remove the guard, giverthem the countersign, and escort Mr. Bedford and his daughter beyond the 'English lines to a place of safety, where they could be freed from the persecutions of that story puppy. your mas- ter." "Bombs and explosives ! That would be treason-death the rules of war ! Disobedi- ence of orders! Oh, Miss Eliza, tempt me not -I love you, but tempt me nol!" "IE thought that your love was all words ; oh. how deceitful you men are. You'd make a girl believe you were a dyin' for her, and then all your professions come out catamount to nothing. Oh, corporal, to think that I dI ever be so weak-so supersiilyoos as to con fess my love, and then hear you ta k of duty F Your heart is as hard as the rock of Adaa's, aunt, that Parson Steruhold is ai way a preach-- ing about.' 'Don't cry. Miss Eliza-der Eiza, don't carry on so. I aint hard hearted. Make me r another punch, and let me tt ink for a day or stwo." " YesI will make yon anoher uch I'll I he good to you, though you are so cruel to me-. d Punch is all you care about. Oh! my poor r heart; I didn't think it was so weak and per- ceptible. I naeant to let ' concealment like a - bud in the worn, as the poet says, eat a hole e in it." The corporal looked very solemn and sad, and sighed frequently, white sr o was, with a. 'a scientific hand, mnixig the various ingre- s, ,ients of his favorite beverage. r- "There" said sne, hanolirg it to him,. u "take i, And in its helivions depths and evam. porating fumes forget your poor Eliza." le "May I be shot in the babin if 1 do. Eliza,. at I love you; there a no- rubbing it out, I ve ir you. One snile from you, and a ftsw suoh pounches, would make me right about face ands t, fight on other side" ' Would it, drar'Corpo'alfDrill?" page: 42-43[View Page 42-43] TlHE MAN-O'-WARS-MAN S GRTUDGE "On my honor as a soldier, dear Eliza, I'd rum. She and the old men once out of the comes ; wonder if he heard me ' ere e way, and then I'll have Cora where-- " Is this the wa de h m e A footstep, low, but loud enough to attract Ie tio the entered thePomde, om po l " his atteutien, caused him to cease spealiing, rum anid trailing to women servants ! T wizzing and turn suddenly. He confronted his valet, rout ar t;ie setoneomn thefroants To your who was advancing with a package in his post, sir; t e sentinel in the front passage is hand. He regarded him intently for an- drur'k. I suppose that is through your ment, to see i he could tell b y hf o nt_ on , oo ,' he added, angrily, turning nance whether he had been overheard or not. "I'd ha yu to know that Iu n, But there was no change in the look or tone -I'm a lady's maid,and don'tt care ifyouare and said:t as he handed him the pas age, a lieutenant, i'. Tory Elliott! I wasn't born "This is from .eadquart in the wo(d3 to be scared by an owl marked in has eera, sir, and i "'ou'd trer be eareiul of your tongue, or " Ah! orders for an advance and a eight I'll have su bucked and gagged," he cried, tack on the enemy's division under Wayeh ' turning pale with anger. ' said the tory gnin at the pder Wayne, "Mc ueked and gagged '-me, Eliza Mul- opened. he ws sganing at the paper which he len! You poor miserable shadder of a man! that be did no ntent inthe lookao, 'Yo lay a lhani on me, arid I'li screech till hatred with whihnotice' the intense hook of high heaven opeUs its ears and cries forbear-! nor the gleam of i the youth regarded him, Oh, you adriferous monster! Ms bucked and which shot acred intelligence and satisfaction gagged! W couldn't I ]ike to see you try it !" plan of the generals face as he overheard the Cease your infernal latter, and tell me When the officer raised how Mr. eldford is." expression of hatred and interest had pa she "None of your business! lie's sick--too away, and the youth snood,asnu!a passed sick t be moved--and that's more than waiting his o ssleneer enough for oi to know,' she replied, flirting " oWe m st r out of the room,'"besaid---- idwe, Jones--order the horses," out f te rombe said' I will be at the door by the time Thai woman must be got out of the way. they are ready." She has the wit of a man and the spunk of The youth bowed and withdrew, the devil. She is getting the men on her side, a moment after b the lieutenant. followed too, with her blarney and plentiful supplies of.i - r THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MAN'S GRUDGE. 43 CHAPTER XXIII. A SPY IN THE CAMP. "r- ;4 ,h i d } p S r+ 1 { { i :f f x L 1 Fr i t @ t t Z Anoiner day had passed away. The British general paced to and fco. angrily, in his room. An officer, spurred, his dress covered with mud, and hearing the marks of fatigue, stood un- covered before him. "You found the enemy on the alert, you say, drawn up and prepared to receive you?" ""Yes, general, and in advance of the posi- tion which they held when the reconnoisance was wade." "By heaven, there is some traitor in this camp-ay, I fear me, in my own staff, or close- ly, too closely, connected with my person ' My orders were only made known to my staff, the officers who were detailed for the duty. Time after time have we thus been foiled. The enemy gain, by some unknown means,'a fore- knowledge of every movement we make. Our foraging parties are cut off, supplies are inter. cepted, and, instead of being like victors in a captured city, we are more like a besieged army. If I can discover the means by which the enemy are apprised of her movements, neither age nor sex will deter me from execu- ting a fearful vengeance on the head of the offender." _ "If I might he so bold as to speak, gene- ral!" said the officer, who waited, and whose age and scars .ore testimony of long service. "What would you say, colonel.? Speak out y--anv advice just now would be of use." i' would ask your excellency of what benefit to our cause is the possession of this place? It is not so good a harbor, nor is it near so accessible as Baltimore. We are too near the inaccessible ranges of the Allegha- nies, whence the hardy ipountaineers and rifle- men can suddenly issue, sweep away our di. visions, and then retire beyond our reach. The country is such that we cannot forage for subsistence with any degree of sue- cess or safety-nor can we mnamnuvre a large force profitably. Their militia and ranging companies, knowing the ground, and used from boyhood to following game through the great forests, the valleys, over rivers and mountains, have the advantage of our best veterans." "True, Colonel. I have already thought of' evacuating this place, and seeking a more pro.- fitable field of action. If we could only get Washington to condense his army, and meet them at once on a fair field, we could crush him!" "If it is done, it must be done in a hurry, general The French will soon have a large army here." "Poh-I care not for the French. They are like the Hessians, they fight fo ar-but these Continentals and militia-me' tight for freedom, for their homes, their wives, and their little ones, and they fight lar' lto' ! "Yes, general I and my regirmet can tes- tify to that, to our cost. But if x'ur excel- lency is done with me, I wil retire " Do so, colonel-you've been toortcen or sixteen hours in the saddle--you tost be fa- tigued." The officer retired, and the ger'at again paced to and fro in the room, ap ertly ab- sorbed in deep study. His ateuo.iu was aroused by the entrance of Etliott "So, sir, the expedition of last iiht was a failure ?" said the general.- "I regret that it was, your exceileasy," re- plied the former. "And the failure was caused, ev ertlv, by the enemy receiving information frni some one in the secret " said the general crutiniz. ing the young officer closely. "So it would seem-yet few kne w w f it I knew that the orders sent to me wir, i'hivered in a safe manner into safe hands, y"-rr excel- lency ! "Well, the secret will out yet. ' -healkeep a close watch hereafter, and issue ne orders until it is time to execute them. I ,m sick of this inactivity. 'The government.'at home looks to have this accursed rebe li crushed at once, and we are scarcely holdine 'tr own, much l'ss caking head against the inemy I shall take the field again soon. It uropy to keep the troops here in idleness' "Does your excellency really ,ntend to evacuate the city ?" "I may deem it expedient to do ao' mmedi- ately. The enemy must not be showed to rest and gain strength, while we lhy ri+ and do nothing ! You will issue an omner br the commanding officers of regiments a+e' 'rigades to attend a special council, this evening at my quarters." "It shall be done, sir. Will youneed my presence ?" "No, sir. I wish nones but the officers whom I have named, present!" The youngyman bowed and withd rew, mut- tering to himself as he went : "this disagrees with my plans; what I do must be done quickly " I i sa 'i t f, page: 44-45[View Page 44-45] THE MAN-0 WAR'S-MAN S GRUDGE THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. V. CHAPTER XXIV. mIonT 'CENE IN PHILAneLPIZA, It was night-a cloudy, equally night. A "We did belong to the Polly, transport- eold and drizzling rain was falling. In a low but we're looking 'mt for a berth now." sort of a sal{ore bo irding-house several 'long- " Yes, I sec-well, if it's true that the troops shore men, and some boatmen, were sitting is goin' away tack to York you'll have chances before a huge wood fire, closely huddled on enough." the knife-scarred benches-some of them "Is there such a report ?" asked the other. Amnoking, others with a glass of cheap grog in "I hearn it to-night There's an old ser- their hands. geant that always comes in here of an evenin, The landlord, who looked out of but one eye, to bush a bit, and he said something that way, and that a vicious one-the other had been to night." gouged out in a rough and tumble fight--stood The conversation wasinterrupted by the en- behind the bar, with a face as red as his own trance of a young officer in the Brirish uni- brandy. His look was sour, for his company form. The youngest of the seamen started as was not a very profitable one that evening. he saw him, and suppressed an ejaculation But his face brightened up on th" entrance of which was on his lips. I:s agitation was nor two strangers, whose rough pea-jackets. sou- noticed, however, by the new-coiner, who bent wester hats, tied under the chin with ear-flaps, over the counter, and, addressing the landloid. and general appearance bespoke their vocation said, in a low tone : to be that of mearnen-old hands, who knew '"I want to see you alone, Tom ; I've a how to rig themselves to suit the weather. special job for you to manage--one that will Their face wire half hidden in huge, bushy pay !" wheisers, an.! they looked like old hands. "At your old tricks, eh, Master Harry? Taking a look at the fire and those before it, How well you look in uniform!" said the band- but not ' urn;r to c-re for a place before it, lord, winking his solitary eye. Willo thrny ehouk t~onisftvee -- or their jaek-ets have a drop of the old stuff. 'we iyo rat fl(- rr:eh af r he fashion of Newfound- the other room?" and Co-, anal brought up before the bar. "No; I'm in a hurry. Who are those?" he I.tve you got any Old Jamaica, landlord?', asked, glancing at the seamen, who had now a o-kd the lounger looking. sa t down near the fire, with their backs toward "" Some o' tire primest wet that ever was him. hnded whou rsoyin' duty !" answered this "A couple of sailors, just in from a transport. worth y o fth e rubient countenance. Alrgt" Give me a snifter, hot, then-make it nor- All right- nor-west! What'll you have Jim ?" The landlord now led the way into a hrack "The same sort o' lush ssits me i" said the room, followed by the office, who carefuy other. closed the door behind him. "Sit down. by the fire, won't ye -ye're The younger of the seamen rose to light his wet?" said the landlord. "Rouse up off that pipe, and then seating himself close by thin bench there, some of you longshoree loafers, door to the inner room, took up a book whici and let these ere men have a snuff o' the fire !" lay on the counter, and appeared to peruse its "Never mind-we don't want to sit down. contents; but, in reality, he was listening to a Mix our greg, and give us a pipe apiece," said conversation which seemed to interest him, for the youngest. he evinced agitation as the murmur of t'e two The gror was mixed and turned off. The voices reached his ear from within. youngest threw down a Spanish dollar and ' The landlord and his visiter remained about said : a quarter of an hour, andthen came out. Tthe "Never mind akin' the change, just now, young officer glanced uneasily at the seaman, landlord-we'll want some more grog, by-and- when he re entered the tap-room. The latter, bye, and, as we'e kind o' weather-bound, we however, seemed to be intently engaged with may want to berth here to-night." his bock, and did not raise his eyes from it. "All right. If 'Tom Riley can't swing a "You'll take a drop now, Master Harry-- clean hammock for you, never another one on or, Lieutenant,.I s'pose I oughter call you now, Shippen street can. May I ax you what ship won't ye ?" said the landlord. you come in?" a "Just a thimbleful of your old brandy-if [ P E, S. 1 you have any of the sort you used to keep for me when I was on a lark!1" There's some," said the landlord, handing from a back shelf an old dusty bottle, "that no king's officer-no disrespect to the button --ever bad his nose over before." The officer took a hearty "pull at the hal- liards," and turned to leave. As he did so, he, said i ma low'tone: "I leave all the arrangements to ybu, Tom -there must be no such word as fail. Re- member, a hundred pounds down, if all turns out right, and not a farthing if it don't." "Never fear, Master Harry ! I should think I'd done jobs enough for you, to show that I'm no green hand!" said the landlord, as the officer departed. "Yes, many's the gal-" he commenced saying, but stopped as he saw the eye of the younger seaman fixed full upon him, with a singular expression. "Did you speak ?" he asked of the seaman. "No, sir--ut I was just going to tell you to mix me another lot of geog," said the lat- ter, coolly. "Oh, was that ill?" said the landlord, seem- ing easier. "And mix another for my shipmate,;' said the first speaker, again bending his e Yes upon the book, which, had the landlord been able to read, he could have seen was held upside down, for the seaman's mind was anywhere but on its pages. The liquor was soon ready, and laying down his book, the younger seaman rose to take it, calling to his companion to join him After the glasses were emptied, he said to the land- lord : "Me and -Jim '11 go and take a short cruise, to see how the weather looks, and the like, but well be back soon-mind you save a place for us to bunk in." "All right, my hearties-I've room to stow a ship's crew-them 'ere chaps a loafin' afore the fire don't turn in reglar !" said the land- lord, winking his solitary peeper, and filling a glass of brandy for himself. The seamen now departed, after fishing and relighting their pipes. "It was a lucky thing that we went into that den," said the youngest, in a low tone, this companion, after they had gained the street. "Why, cap'n?' "You saw that officer?" "In course I did, sir, and set him down for one of King George's meanest monkies." "Well, he is one of the most infernal vil- lains that the devil ever hatched. I owe him an old grudge. I knocked his daylight itet darkness, the last time we met--and now, be- fore I leave the city, it'll he ten chances to one that I send him down to his master, the devil! His visit to the rascally pirate that keeps the den, who appears to be an old co-workeS in deviltry with him, was to arrange for the ab- duction of the very lacy whom I am now periling life an4 liberty to see. Thank God, I learned one thing from his talk---she is here, and as yet she is safe ! I must manage to see her-and between you and me, we'll knock his plans out of shape, and get her away in safety. If it is true that the British intend evacuating the city, we will h~ve to work sharp." "The sharper the better, cap'n--man and boy, Jim Taompson's been used "to sharp work forty years or more Keeping well in the shade of the houses, al- though it was dark anywhere, the couple hur- ried on toward Market street. On arriving at that streetthey paused before a two-story-and- a half brick house, of genteel exterior. The shutters were closed, and no lights visible. "It is not late," said the youngest; "not more than nine o'clock--I'll see if I can be admitted. Be careful not to call me by name -if we go in, remember we are two poor seamen, who want a little assistance " "Ay, ay, sir." Toe youngest now knocked at the door. "Who's there? and what do you want?" asked a gruff voice, as the door was opened, ant by the hall lamp a man garbed in the uni- form of a British soldier appeared, holding a musket with fixed bayonet in his hand. "Does CaptainJones, of the ship Argo, stop here ?'" asked the younger, with admirable presence of mind. " No-this is a sick rebel's house-one Bed- ford--and Lieutenant Elliott's quarters," re- plied the soldier, gruffly. "We're at the wrong house, then-we're looking for Cap'n Jones,"-said the other. "What is the matter? who is there?" asked a voice from within. " Onlya couple of men, lookin' for Cap'n Jones, lieutenant," replied the guard. "Tell them to go to the devil!'' "Much obliged !" said the first speaker, as the door was slammed ina'his face. "What's to be done now, cap'n? There's a way around by the alley-only a fence to climb! Once in, we can see how the land lays !" "No glass bottles broke up on the top of the fence, nor a big dog in tbe garden, I hope !" muttered Thompson. "I helped an officer to run away with a pretty gal, in Lis- bon, once, and between the glass on the wall, and the-dog in the garden, I suffered stem and starn!" "There is no glass, I'm sure ; they're not up to that dodge here yet!" said the officer ; ! "probably no dog !" We will now take a look inside of the house, and lee what is going on there. f1 4 44 46 F s F t t page: 46-47[View Page 46-47] THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MANS GRUDGE. CHAPTER XXV. L oVyE AND DUTY. "Corporal, is it true that the army is agoin' to evaporate the city ?" asked Euza, as she handed him a glass of punch, at about the hour of nine on the evening already described. The non-commissioned officer looked at his glass drained it at a single swallow, and heaved a sigh that seemed to come up from the very soles of his brogans. " Dead, Liza !" he said, with a melancholy sbake of his head. 'March is the word. I W istn the cursed war was over. It's hard to fight with people as speaks the same lingo. If they Was only French, or Dutch, or Spaniards, wouldd hie another thing. That punch was prime. Liza!' "Ill mix you another, corporal ; I not be unkind to you, dcar Drill, though you loveyour duty. as you call it, better than me!" "-D--n the duty !" said the corporal, with an ewp' afis that made her start. "If it wasu t thtt I'd be sure to be caught and shot for a d. erter, I'd let the service find sone other corporal in my place ; burn my primin' if I wouldn't!" "Dear Corporal Drill, oh! if you only would help toy maser and mistress to get away from the hands of that hateful lieutenant, I'd die for you, almost!" And Eliza threw her white arms around the corporal a stiff neck with a fervor that might have choked him had he not been protected by a leathern stock of the con- sistency of sheet iron, and kissed him with a smack that sounded nearly as loud as the re- port of a small r'istol. Visions of matrimony, with infantile accom- panmeints, and especially the two hundred and seventy pounds, flitted before the dazzled vision of the bewildered corporal. What he would have said we know not, for at that crit- ical moment the girl, whose face was toward the window, uttered a scream, and, turning as pale as snow, cried : 'Oh, mercy! I saw it! I saw a ghost! 1b rose to condemn me '" 'Who? what? Powderand ball ! what is the matter?' cried tie corporal. "Oh! oh' I saw the ghost of a sailor man that I met before you came here this times -it was looking at me right through the win- dow "Ghosts don't look through windows," said the corporal. "I'll call the guard and look for the ghost in the garden." He rushed out oftthe room to do this, and at the same instant the outer door opened and Barney and his companion entered - "Hide us quietly, my good Eliza, before that red- coat returns !" said the former. "Goodness gracious I" is that you, lieuten- ant? My mistress-" "Not a word now, Eliza, not a word, but hide us. and when he return get him out of the way as soon as you can. Then you can let your mistress know I am here," cried Bar- ney. "Quick, then-get into that cupboard, both of you, and make no noise." said the girl, com- prehending the ghost part now, as she saw the honest faces of the seamen bent upon her. '"Now be careful not to touch the crocker- ary I" added the girl, as she closed the small closet door on them, just in time, for before she could regain her feat, the corporal re-en- tered the room, attended by four of his men, and hurried out into'the yard to look for the ghost. Of course he sought in vain, and found not even a sign of a living being, much less a ghost, if ghosts do leave signs. "I think it must 'ave been a fat ey of yours, Mies 'Liza," said the corporal. "I don't be- lieve in ghosts, but I thought some chap might 'ave been in the the yard lookm' in at us-but there's never a feather of one there." "Maybe it was a fancy," said Eliza; "I feel nervous and highetrikey to-night. I guess I'd better go to bed ; we can talk to morrow, you know, dear corporal." "Yes, 'Liza, if tramp is not the word ; but there's no knowin' but what orders may come for us to move in the morning. and if they do, Il have to go with my company, and loss yours, without my master tapes you along with your lady, for her he has sworn to take. I heard him do it when he was talking to himself in his room to-night." "You did? Oh, the horrid beast! I'd tear his eyes out for five pins. But I won't go with him, that's flat." "But with me, dear 'Liza !" and the cor- poral put on an excruciatingly affectionate look. No, nor with you, nor any other red- coat that lives, as long as there's a true Americas blue jacket alive I" she said, raising her voice a very little, for wtat purpose a good judge of woman's character can easily determine. A6 G. I ci i I' i . r F V 3x : THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE..' Flints and ramrods, but this is a change in flat of his back on the floor, with a man's the marching order!" said the corporal, turn- knee on his breast, and a pair of rough hands ing as red in the face as his own coat. "Has clutched so tightly round his throat that he that sailor's ghost done this?" could not breathe, much less speak. "No matter what has doneit-I mean every "Don't choke him quite so hard," said Bar- word I say, and more tool" ney. who stood by his head with adirk drawn " Why, 'Liza, you was just as sweet to me in his hand. Then addressing his prisoner,,he afore you seen that ghost, as the sugar in your said: "If you open your lips or offer-to stir, own punch ; and now you're as sour as the your life is not worth a cent I'll drive this lemon you put in it !" piece of cold iron through your heart. Lowe "Very well, I thought you was agoin' to your whole breed a grudge, and had rather help to get my mistress and her father out of kill one than eat I" your master's clutches." Poor Drill looked rather crest-fallen, but he "Well, Ihaven't said I wouldn't since then, did not offer to move or speak, for he well have I?" knew, by Barney's tone and manner, that he "No, but you looked as if you wouldn't. was one who would keep his word. But no matter ; you go off to bed, or to your "Have you any rope? I must tie this guard-we'll talk about these matters to-mor- would-be lover of yours, Miss Eliza," said the 'row." lieutenant. "Well, give me one glass more of punch, "Will a piece of stout bed-cord do, ir?' 'Liza. I'm afraid going out there in the night she asked. air, without my cap on, may give me cold. One j' The very thing I" was his reply. glass of punch and one sweet kiss, 'Liza, will "There is apiece in the cupboard," she re- make me forget them words about my red coat plied, and hastened to get it. and the blue jacket." Bitter was the look which the corporal east "You shall have 'the punch, but when you upon her as she evinced so much alacrity in get the kiss, I guess you'll know it !" said the procuring the "material aid" for his confine- girl, as she hastily set to preparing the beve- ment. rage. In a short time the corporal's hands were "Women is strange creters ! Why, she was secureltied behind him, and his legs also a huggin' and kissin' me as if she wanted to tied and so drawn up by a cord around them eat me up, when the ghost idea popped into and over his shoulders that tie could not kick. her head. D-n the blue jackets ! I could "And now a piece of romnd wood for a gag, lick a dozen of 'em for her before she cou'd Miss Eliza." mix that punch!" "Will the cook's bread roller do, sir ?" asked A sudden crash was heard in the cupboard. Eliza, as she broaght the rolling-pin, which "Blood and gunpowder !" what's- that ?" was at least six or seven inches in circumfer- said the corporal, starting to his feet. enec "Rats--rats among the croekerary; the '|The coporal has an exceedingly capacious house is full of 'em! ' said Eliza, retaining her mouth," replied Barney--" must be a good presence of m'nd. feeder, but this will be rather too large for a "They must be big ones to stir plates that single mputhful--a piece a trifle smaller will way. ' I guees the eat is after .them,"said the answer !" corporal, iesuming his seat. "Ah, there's the pudding stick ; he is fond Eliza handed him the punch, remarking that of pudding !" said Elizp, glancing misehiev- she had made it stronger than before. ously at her fallen lover. * "But not so sweet; you haven' put any "That doesn't argue that he'll be fond of sugar in it, 'Liza." the stick which stirs it, any more than that a "No, corporal. Iemptied the sugar bowl school boy likes to be whipped with a birch when I made the last." rod after he has eaten the bark off it. But the "Isn't there any in the cupboard?" stick will do," said'Barney, with a laugh. "Not a mite; I got the last out to night, Poor Drill was now gagged and thoroughly and forgot to send to the grocery for more." secured, and the seaman rose and waited fur- "Well, there's molasses there, any way, and other orders. that is very good in old Jamaica. Never mird, -' Is your mistress up still, or has she re- I'll help myself!" tired?" asked Barney of Eliza. "No, no-I'll get it for you 1" said the girl, ,'"Up I think, sir; she seldom leaves her now terrified fully, as another crash of plates father's side. Shall I go and see ?" was heard. "I will go with you, leaving my man here The corporal had no time to make com- I uardothoporav ments on this eraph or her anxiety, for at the ingad ftec.prL eame time the cupboard door flew open, and . "Mayn't I mix him a nice glass of punch, the reality, not the ghosts, of a couple of blue- sir, before we go?" jackets sprang upon him, and before he could "Yes; do you think you can find the sugar utter a single word of alarm, he was on the now ?" , page: 48-49 (Illustration) [View Page 48-49 (Illustration) ] TUE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. "Yes, sir; there is plenty in the cupboard, own unsweetened glass, made strong on pur- and I am not'afraid of the rats now i" pose, only had to have a little sugar put in it Poor Drill would have gnashed his teeth to make it very palatable to the staman, who with ang-r just about this time, if he could put it to his lips and drank the health of her have only moved his jaws. It was rather hard who mixed it." to see the idol of his affeetion mixing punch Barnes Y ow left the room under the guid- for a rival in a blue jacket, especially as his ance of Eliza, and we will change the chapter. CHAPTER XXVI. A FIEND IN HUNAN SHAPE. Immediately after leaving the commanding general, as described in the twenty-third chap- ter, Elliott repaired to his quarters, and after writing off a single copy of the general order which he had just received, to summon the regimental officers to a council called his vol unteer valet to his side, and bade hint tran- cribe the necessary number of copies, and take them to the officers whom he named "And is it true, then, that the argry is to evacuate ithe city, sir ?" asked the young valet. "It is talked of; curse the idea 1" said te officer. You sec in much attached to the city, sir,' said t tevalet. "Not to the city, but to some one in it, and whom I must get ort of it if we leave. You seem to b- a lad of ready wit, I wonder the t you have nit discovered my secret crc tbia If by tihe secret, sir, you ro an your pa; aion for the lidy under this roof,it is io secret to me, nor ht r aversion to you Both I have already served ; but a still tongue hetolkens a sentile head, and keep my own counsels.' "Then, as you are so observing, and to dis- creet withal, know you not of a plan by which, if we move, I can transport her to New York unbeknown to the cilicers, and get her even more n my power than she now is?" "It is for 3ou to plan, sir; I am only your servant, ready to obey orders.' Tbe valet spoke calmly and meekly, yet bad Eliott been a good judge ofthumaui nat ore, his suspicions must have been aroused by the manner in which the youth evidently sough to learn his plans. "I have forced a plan, my good Jones, and I shall need some one to see it faithfully exe- cuted. You have been ready and faithfu), so far, in my service, and to you I think I can entrust the delicate mission." "Am I too bold, sir, if I ask the plan you propose ? ' " No ; it is necessary that you should know it. I have determined to remove her to a small vessel . hick I shall charter, and send it around to New York either before us or ac- companying the transport vessels. The ab- ducti;n from this house will occur in my ab- sence, and be so conducted that I shall appear to have nothing to ao with it." "But whom can you trust, sir? Not your drunken corporal and'his guard." l oy n means. I have a trusty fellow, one Tow Rifey, engaged, who has done many an odd job for me, and he will get good men to aid him. All that I wish you to do is to super- %ise toe matter, and then to accompany him to see that no harm befalls her, for among such a rough set there is no knowing what might be dr e." IHol Eiliott seen the lah which darkened the ceek, and the shuddet which shook the for u. of the outh, when Riley's name was menirned, 1e might have suspected danger, but he did not. " Wnat think you of the plan, Jones?" he cowinied. -' If Exertet as wtaiell as it is laid, sir, it can-. not fitl; but I must hasten with these orders." "True, my lad, and I will spend an hour with the fair Cora. It is a pleasure for me to tease Oer; the day is not far distant when I will bumble her rebel pride ; when on her bended knees she will sue to be my wife. hasten with the orders, Jones, and be secret." Certainly, air ; as recret as the grave," and the va'et at once commenced his duties. ELbiott now entered the parlor of the man sion. No one seemed to be in it; for though dimly lighted, his eye could scan every part of it. * "With herrebel father, I suppose, as usual," be muttered. " If she is not in soon I will ring for her impudent maid, and send for her." So saying, he cast himself down upon the old fashioned sofa. Hardly had he touched it, when a grunt so loud and unearthly came from underneath it, that he bounded at a singleleap to the centre of the floor. He was speechless " ' r; a m - r r ,: NN4j+ i a' 'F ' r- v i t Ly a# , xf, t },. " . , , li ". 2dr^i ;'Ta ( ' _ . fi 1 r t If 48 page: 50-51[View Page 50-51] TUFF MAST-O'-W AR -MAN'S QUUDG 1. 51 both with surprise and terror. At the same moment a black head with two great protrud- ing eyes stuck out from beneath the sofa, like the head of a ninety year old snapping turtle emerging from its bell. "The devil !" muttered Elliott. "Ki Massa, you a-most sqush ole nigger !" said a voice issuing from the head, and then the misshapen form of old Cato dragged itself into light. S"W hat were you doingunder thatsofa, you black rascal " "I creep in dere, massa, for try catch um sleep a lilly bit. Ole nigger no tink de sofa so low nasy bump he back." Well, never try that bunk again. Now go into Mr. Bedford's room and tell Miss Cora that I wish to see her on special business, and then crawl off your ugly careassinto the entry, and sleep on the mat if you want to." "Yes, massa, Ki, you a'most squash ole nigger dat time." In a short time after the negro left, Miss Bed- ford entered. Etuott a-ose and proffered a seat, wbich, with a gesture of calm dignity, she refused "You sent me word that you wished to see me on business, sir. Business matters require but fe w wo t3s " - "Yet, fair Cora, mine requires many ; nay, turn not away, this may be the last conversa- tion that we shall ever have in this city." If I thought such would be the case, I should listen to the last conversation with pleasure." replied the spirit ed gill. "It probably will be. Our army is about to evacuate the city." "It is? Then our hole Washington is ap- proaching. He yet will conquer." "Perhaps; but now, Miss Bedford, you will sit down and converse with me for a little while, will you not ?' " Yes ; but ,I hope that on this occasion you will forbear your usual insults, and endeavor to act the man, if not the gentleman.-I would not be sounreasonableas to ask you to attempt the latter character," continued the lady, as she took a chair at come distance from the sofa. "Ever cruel, ever satirical, beautiful Cora,' said the uilicer, trying to assume a calm and gentle tone, w ich his every look belied. "You had better proceed with your busi- ness, and forbear your disgusting and fulsom flatteries, w bich come to me like the exhala tions of a hennel." - "My husitees! Cora Bedford, I have bu one business--one thought: I love you- madly love ' u. The more you hate me tb moreI love you. WinyouI will; if by fai means, 'ell,, f got-" " Well, sir; if not?" "Tben, by Heaven, I care not how foul thi means are, or a hat Oeeomes of the casket after I have once won and worn the jewel which i contains. Once more I ask you, will you marry me?" "No ; a thousand times no!" "Would you not if I would desert the king's cause, and east my sword and influence on the side of the rebels r' "Would you do that? Would you be a trai- tor a second time, and doubly perjure and damn yourself?" "To win you I would do anytfdg, say, shall my sword and influence be the price of your hand ?" "No, you poor poltroon, no! One is weaker than the wooden truncheon of a fool, the other more valueless in a good cause than dust in the air." "Will you give me your reasons for this scorn and hatred 1"' "Yes. First, you are a coward-an imita- tion of a man-destitute of principle honor, truth, everything which can enforce respector win regard.. You are a low tory, a black- hearted s'dueer, a contemptible libertine ! -Marry you! sooner would I clasp the'fout fiend of hell to roy breast than cali you husband !" "Cora Bedford !" cried the officer, his face purple with passion, and his voice husky with rage, "you have sealed your own fate. You are now in my power-never shall you escape from it. Trink you 1 was serious when, but a moment since. I asked you to lwcome my wife? No, I did but taunt you with my words. Within one week you shall be my--" He arose, bent his mouth to her ear, and, in a whisper, hissed the word wbich lie scarce dared to speak aloud. Quick as the flash of a warrior a sword when it cleaves to a foetan's skull, her small, white hand swept through the air, and smote him so shortly upon the cheek that lie fairly reeled herieath the blow. In a moment, his hand was upon his sword She quailed not, but rose, and, with folded arms, looked him in the face, and cried: "Strike, you coward! You, who dare-not face a man, asrikel" He paled before her indignant glance. He did not draw his sword,'but, with a bitter look, he said: "To-morrow, proud girl, you shall sing another tune. This night rest, if you can; I , shall, for I am wearied ; but mark you now, your fate is sealed. Neither heaven nor hell - neither angels nor fiends. %an save you ?" e He turned and departed, and she listened tr - his heavy footsteps, as he i'etired to his sleep. ing apartments, and slammed the door to, se- t curing it,.as was his wont, with more pleasure - than she had felt that nitht. But after he was e gone, her calmness, her courage, her haughty r pride gave way, and she sank upon the sofa, and, bowing her face in her far, soft banda, wept bitterly-sobbed as\ if her heart waa e breaking. r A step-a hand laid upon her shoulder-her t name, breathed softly, aroused her. 11 page: 52-53[View Page 52-53] THE MAN-O'-WAR'S.MAN S GRUDGE, CHAPTER XXVII. A WELCOME VISITOR. She raised her head, and a scream of joy and have effectually secured the corporal, by con- sur rise \,':l I e escaped her lips, had not fining him, secured as he is now, in some dark Fins hianul r _- ti hr mouth, his look cautioned turner of your cellar, I shall return with the her Lot to ik Ludly. But she kissed the trusty man who is now guarding the soldier, hanl wli', 1tl 1.1,1 to her lips, and when lie to the low tavern where the plot wai prepared, r. L rv ilced his arm around her ard endeavor to so ingratiate myself into the W3t.'h a- ,, ri1-lanudord's good graces as to beenme a partici I vcts.nerIn.Oh, you pant in they abdi etion. If I flail in this, fear i : itl jril, dear Barney ! not; my vesuel, filled wih daring men who V.. -t( ira. I know all,' replied our for my sake, would rush into any danger, is* 1. nrd to all that has hap- niar, well concealedl, and with thensi Jcan cut p t' :t im -nce he sent for you. I my way through the whole fleet, or, at the a r moment to aid you ; but, worst, bear you in safety to the American r ire, you were an over-match lines " fir i . .. I could hardly keep from But the corporal will be missed in the iai feri openly." morning, and will not that put Elliott on his .fearful danger here, within guard ?" " m"mies? "Not at all. Desertions are not infrequent r lies in the battery of in the British army now, thank Heaven, so fear 1 1 iallnt seaman, not. And now, love, a sweet farewell--I shall htle did you pass the be ever near you." - i completely environed "And ever, dear," she responded, nor did she blush with anything but pleasure when his dIto boarding, and yourr lips were fondly pressed to her own. Bidding The corporal is bound, her to return to her fahe r, and not by sign, a . nilni i ard."look or word reveal a hope which' might put l g ' '-' . " Elliott on his guard, Barney returned to the uIi' m ire here, and has returned to room where lie had left Thompson and the hei g croi eurj oral But, dear Cora, we corporal. have }r ' nt niatters to talk about. lie found the latter bound as he wasleft, but A ht c I Ii' heard in detail, is already looking unutterable things-things which he form. .t -a.1mhun for your abmuction, to- ' could riot have spoken, eveni if he had not been iu-i rra .. I can and will rescue you, tongue-tied, for there wrs the hated blue-jacket but rot, I f. ir, before you are removed from 'drinking another glass of his favorite rum this Lo ane I earnt muster force enough to punch, brewed by the hand of the faithless risk a fight here, where thiestreets are full of sol- Eliza, whose attentions to him were by no die-s lut it is the villain's intention to have means equivocal. The hopes of the two hun- you taken aboard a vessel. From that, with dred and seventy pounds had withered in the my brave crew, I can easily rescue you-in bud-the hopes of matrimony and its delight- fact, I hope to so manage it, as to be one of ful subsequents had vanished, even as that your abductors. When the attempt is made, punch was disappearing down JimaThompson's rma e -mri - :ce. I shall be near, and, throat. deaueat, whbi'e I live you shall be safe." But the severest cut of all was yot to come. IHow did you learn this plan?" When Barney asked Eliza if there was not h I everhearl it from the lips of the villain some dark, still place, where the corporal himself, while lie was engaging a man to exe- could be stowed for the next twenty-four cute it. In this disguise, I was seeking infor- hours, she, without hesitation, mentioned the motion to enable me to approach you, when ash-hole in the cellar. fate threw everything into my hands. After I "No one ever goes there except to empty ,, } , ,,, ° THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MAN'S GRUDGE. 53 the ashes," she said, "and I'll do that myself to spite the poor lobster-backed sojer, but to-morrow, for I shall want to see how he gets she up and tells me, right afore his face, as how tonmonrowlor nots.' she'c been in love with me ever since I met Drill looked dnggers, st it was of no avail, her on the wharf the morning I shipped aboard and, by direction of Barney, he was shouldered the Sachem. I wanted to sheer off, and tel by Thomson and carried down into the place her my reasons why, but I was afeard I might designated. make bad work, and run afoul of some of your "There's a few rats in the cellar-not the honor's calculations, so I belayed my jaw- kind there was in the cupboard-but as they tackle, received her salute, and re don't eat raw pork when they can get cheese, again in the same way." I guess they'll not hurt you, dear," said the "How else would you b, Jim, under the commiserating Eliza, by way of consolation, circumstances?" as she left the corporal. w"Right up, like a man, and told her as how After arranging matters and signals for use, I had a craft already, as hailed under my name. if required, Barney now retired by the way he It's all very well for these shovel-nosed land- came accompanied by his trusty friend, sharks to go- swiminn about among women "Ca'n." said Jim, in a low tone, after they under false colors, deceiving every poor gal had cleared the wall, and were in the street that comes in their wake, btatu ere "I feel kinder dubersoine and bad, some way." sailor would almost as soon turn u sojer, and "What's the matter, my lad? I thought no he'd quit rum and tobacey afore he'd do that. dangerhol mfrightenou where I led the It went agin my natur, cap'n, and her kisses way." kind o' scorched me. I felt like a mouse in a "You didnt lead the way in this 'ere dan- tar-bucket, and wanted- to get out." ger as troubles mc, cap'n. You see ther's "Well, I guess you won't get in the serape nothing' so troubles me as sailin' under false again my lad but be on your guard now. colors where a woman's consarned." Forget that I'm your officer, and rough it with "I don't understand you."a .'. me as a sh-ip-mate. We're close aboard of the "No, sir! Then I'll tryto make it plainer tavern where we engeged lodgings. I want to you. You see, arter that woman, or gal, that to get the old codger to engage us for a scrape. you called 'Liza, came back from pilotin' You let me do the talking-side in with every- you where you wanted to go, she sheered right thing I say or do." alongside o' me, and smacked a kiss right "A ay, sir. aboard of my chops. At first I thought it was r it Gl J r t " i_ page: 54-55[View Page 54-55] 54 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. CHAPTER XXVI. THE ARRANGAMENT OF ABDUCTION. " Hallo, lads 1hack again ? You staid out four more of our shipmates that's adrift; so late I d ruade up my mind you'd slipped they're all staunch, tidy lealoer like us, who and found mr'iIc ,hri snrmztn' ground l" said know all that a sailor ought to knots, and no Riley, the iaridford, as he recognized his cus- more!" towers, weitlt a knowing glance of his single "Maybe you might!" sail the landlord, eye- closely scanning the speaker with his one ocu- No tioongnt o' that, sir, with such a good far brilliant. "I want stout ready bandE, and berthin' plice and such capital grog as this. trusty ones-especially as I shall, most likely, Won't Sop tnak-eus a couple of night caps, take charge of the craft myself. Licht a pipe and take one 'y urself, sir? We've been down apiece, and I'll tell you what von have to do!" to a danc -house out we didn't like their The pipes were lighted, and the landlord re- grog, r'1esriedB Iarney. sumed his conversation. "As y'i seem To he pretty good hearty fel- "There is an army char that has taken a lows, I dro t care if I do take a tod with you, fancy to a girl here, who doesn't, like hirnover- seein' bat Im gong to shut up soon !" said the ly and above common, and as it is likely the landlord, mixmrg the grog. army winl move to New York soon, he wants Here Bsuccess to our next voyage, if we her carried over there without any fuss being ever get a berth again l" eaid Barney, as he made about it. He is willing to comra down drank of hie class, handsomely for the job; and I've undertaken "Maiybeelcant look you up one !" said the it !" landlord, as he looked at the inverted bottom "Yes. sir-that is all natural--he 'ikes her, of his gles3. "What kind of a berth would and is willing to pay well to pet her. Fr my you like :" part, I nevercared enough for a woman to take "Oh, a most any kind to keep us busy- that much trouble for her!" said Barney. we've go. a few shot in the locker, it's true, "No, nor Y. I always thought they was but it won't do to spend all o' them and find about aswallyableasyaprehchertaboardshp ourselves on a lee shore without ne'er a stiver added Thompson. to jrg'e against an anchor fluke. Any berth 'Well-it's a bargain, my lads-and if you is better tnan none, you know, with fellers are sure you can get about four or five more that am't constitutionally given over -to lazi- of the right sort, who won't blab, you can look ness !" them up in the morning. I expect we'll be "May be I could get you a good berth for a wanted to-morrow night. At any rate, it's short trip, that would pay well!" said the free feed and free grog for the party, here, till landlord, as, unast ed he replenished the three we're called for." glasses. "A fiend of mine wants a dozen or "All right, sir-and now I reckon Jim and less of good smart lands to run a little cargo me had better turn in, if you'll show us where to New York-I might ge: you a berth there !" to bunk I" " We'd be thatkil, sir," said Barney, hard- The landlord first closed his place and then ly able to conceal his satisfaction; "it would led them into loft, where several unoccupied be easer for us to get a berth in'New York, cotbeds,ranged in arow,were waiting focrthem than here, and wages are low here now." Thompson was soon wrapped in a sound srtum- sTot true,". said the landlord, who well ber, but the mind of Barney was too busy to knew thrit wages would double as soon as the permit sleep to visit in aetrela to i heart ewe f the imrnrded evacuaion of the city was was full of joy that he had diseoverai their" abtoad.u ! tsink 1 can engage you--that is, lanous plot, and arrived in time to avert it. for abort siw dollars tie run" Moreover, he was anxious as to the result of Wcres won dot be of no particular ac- the adventure, although he could not doubt its cout fur so short a run, to a good port to success, for everything seemed to work into ship frsrm, sir, at d if Jim, here, is agreed, I'm his bands. sure that I am .'Aftethe landlord had lighted the men to "Where yt u goes, I go ! That's as sure as bed, he returned to smoke his pipe out an tie strilhm'- a dolphiu in a six knot breeze !" said the strings of his "night-cap;'pin ot aods, Thom pson, empty ing the glass which the land- to take another snifter of rt- bothefroreb turn lord plneed befo,'e himad freheturn- lord Ad hee him. e in Probably he, too, reflected on the chances "And may be we could look up three or of the adventure-undoubtedly he felt as sure Vf if TUE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN S GRUDGE. 65 'f success in his interations, as Barney in his-- ship in it one day out of seven, kneel to a god do ieies y i ng A a e asanatly on of gold within it, even as they serve the fiend the profits for ltott had offered him five hun- of gold six daye without its was. Entera the tre pods in gold, for the safe delivery of Crist there who says-" blessed are the hum- the girl in New York, and he calculated to ble, fr they shall see the kingdom of heaven" clear at leest four hundred by the operation. -enters He there? Like most men, he worshiped at the shrine NoI Though He shrunk not from crui- of the great Juggernaut of humanity,Mammon. fixion between two thieves-He would scorn Talk of the idolatry of the heathen? Bah! such company as those tinselled dross-wor- Look at the tall spared ehureh-it only cost shipers! But vast, In writing a novel, not half a million of dollars, and those who wor- preaching a sermon. C K, a '}, ', Y LTA N J 9 - . i'MJ ; A '1 Y , t '. 5yY { s4. : i . "~ " fy 'c ii { . i ' SvYj' 4 1 i , r s 1 - c a Y-F r a . k a e % , ,z' r , " ' i figst S dYf L } 3 i F )' Y. :! 2te CHAPTER XXIX. aTnAfiGE INTEnvIEW. It was laterstill and in the apartmentwhich with the lady-if she has retired to rest I can had been allotted to him. sat the valet so lately arouse her-at leat I will try e employed by Etliott, and in whom the young Cora had not retired to rest, The events of to officer seemed toplaceso much confidence. the evening had excited her too much for that. His clothing had not been removed, nor had And when a very gentle tap at the door of the his head pressed the pillow. He, too, like room in which she sat, an ante-room to that those whom we left in the last chapter, was in in which her father slept, fell on her ear, she a mood refleetive. In a low tone, he muttered arose and opened the door, supposing that no his thoughts. one but Biza would be so bold as to seek ad-, "So,"., he said, "the villain Elliott must mittance at that hour. have another victim-he cannot win her by She started back, and would have closed the perfidy, but shrinks not from vile dastardly 'door in his face, had he not spoken in a mild force to attain his ends. He must be foiled-- and gentle tone: think that 1 am she must be saved. How can I best attain this "Be not angry, lady, norh end, and carry out to the full, my own cher rude; I have that to impart to your ear which ished revenge? I can foil the abduction. I is of very serious importance ." can assist her to escape-but that is only a "If it is a message from your master, I will drop in the bucket. Itis his heart's bleod that spare you the trouble of its utterence " I want. Not death in a moment, without* "It is not, lady. I sin your friend-I'would agony, for I could slay him at any hour ! No! preserve you from harm !" he must die a death of shame and ignominy ! "I fear no danger-he cannot harm me " He must know, even on the verge of eternity, "He has harmed-ruined others I He is who it was that brought him to it ! He must. soulless and vile-unprincipled and unserupu- taste all the Letrerness of the gall of retribu- bus !" - tion! He must know how 'well ant can hate "Then why do you aerve him, if ycu know who loved so madly and so blindly. But I him to be so?" must tell her of his intentions, and assist her "To work an end of my own, which I can- to escape this night. I can pass her out easily not at present reveal. I am your friend-his If the council of officers have decided his lord- deadliest foe !" ship to evacuate the city to-morrow, it may "I cannot believe that.. You serve him-he precipitate Elliott's intended action even be- boasts of your zeal and faithfulness." fore the night comes on. But if my despatches "Lady, I am not what I eem!" reach the American head-quarters in time, "So i t w at I am t" General Washington may make movements "So t would abuear, if that tomelieve your which wilt etard the evacuation Ab, little own Ste t what isthat d e. does Elliott know the web I am weaving "Alas! lady-you will not understand me. around him. But I will seek an interview I am a lost and wretched creature-a victim of ii ii - -'-we - Ifl page: 56-57[View Page 56-57] { l x . i THE MAN-O'-WARS'-MAN S GRUDGE. 67 s.~ 56 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. his infamous perfidy-but I cannot see him "I cannot leave my father." ruin you. I am of your own sex !" "Lady, he can accompany you. He has so As he said this, the valet rem oved the au- + far recovered that he can walk a short dis- burn wig, and her own dark glossy hair was tance, ant I have means at my disposal which revealed. A womanly blush, too, came upon will enable me to send you in safety to the her cheek. It was none other than Car oline American lines!" Ormsly. "Again I thank you, but I shall remain; I "Now you winl believe that I am your know Lieut. Elliott's intentions, but I do not friend and his foe, will you not, lady Y"she fear him. He will fail, for God will protect asked. the innocent!" f I will believe that you have great reason "Oh wh did He no to be his enemy, but I see not why you should h d ot protect me ? I war be my friend I', innocent!" moaned the unhappy woman.. Then be ay, Iend wl turning again to Cora, upon whose pale face a "Lady, I will prove it. I came here to as look of sympathy beamed like sunlight on a sist you to escape from this house-to escape bed of Ii from him, before he can carry out his plan of eofolies, she added:I will save you in having you carried hence by minions of his spite of yourself!" own, to suffer even more than I have suffered ; She turned away and left the room, gently for when he wronged me I knew it not, and closing the door herself as she left ; first, how- returned the traitor kisses which betrayed ever, resuming her wig of auburn hair. She me." did not caution Cora to keep her secret-her "I thank you for your offer, but I prefer woman's heart told her that such caution remaining where I am!" would be unnecessary. Lady, you doubt me--I see distrust in the After she had left, Cora thought of her last coldness of your looks; perhaps you think I words, and fearing some precipitate act of hers am but a tool to forward his designs !" might overthrow the plans of Barney, almost "I do not wish to think so-yet you might regretted that she had not told her that a plan be !"for her rescue was on foot ; but then distrust Oh, lady, by my past wrongs I swear.-bv again entered her heart, and she thought she my hopes of a speedy and terrible revenge, I had acted wisely in not revealing the secret to swear that I speak only truth. I wish to serve one whose own word was the only surety of you ; let me guide you from the house." her faith. Among the British forces, the next day, im- portant preparations were made for some se- rious movement. Althoughthe orders had been kept studiously secret, yet in some manner the rumor had gone abroad that the city was to be evacuated. There was gladness on the faces of many of the citizens, which they scarcely made an attempt to conceal, while others- rank tories at heart-looked sad and distrustful, for they knew that the departure of the Brit- ish army, and the re-occupation of the city by the Americans, would bring them no good. Another class felt even more sadly-the liquor dealers and the panderers to licentious vices and pleasures, who ever hang like' jackals about an army when it is at rest-for they knew that the well fed, well clad, and well paid ritish army,.would be replaced by an army . bich, though patriotie,had neither leisure for ilulgence,nor moneys to dissipate. Never be- tre. since nations have held a right to be con- fidered civilized, has a war been carried on y iti les financial assistance than was our Revo- lution. Officers served not only without pay, but beggared themselves to clothe and feed their troops. With bare, feet, unmurmuring troops marched over frozen clods and icy ground, leaving their own blood upon the trail. ' Men who had not a blanket to rest upon at night, nor a tent to shelter them from wind and rain, still struggled on, hoping to free their country from the thraldom- of tyranny. And through indomitable energy, unwavering per- severance, and a patriotism which no danger could appal, no reverses discourage, by the aid of Almighty God, they succeeded. We became a nation among nations-a star of liberty in a sky once darkened with the rain- cloud of oppression. And how have we-their descendants-repaid those noble men for their sacrifices? Go look at the squabbles of our leaders in the Senate chamber and in the Con- gressional halls! Go look at the leaders, for- getting country and party ; and even party and self. only workingto fill their coffers with spoils from the people, and not for the public honor or good-for a reply ! Go ask for the graves of your Revolutionary sires ! they are un- marked-even the memory of their deeds is passing away ! Alas! that such things should be but they are! It was noon. Riley, the landlord, had an interview with Elliott, whose plans were laid for the abduction to take place at midnight on that night. The latter had chartered a small, swift-sailing vessel, leaving the manning of her entirely to Riley, as well as the manage- ment, only providing that hisvalet, John Jones, was to take charge of the lady, and attend to her wants and her disposal on the arrival of the vessel. Riley, glad to get a crew on such easy terms, had accepted the services of tae disguised Barney, and seven of his asso- ciates, who had already been on board of their new craft, and seen that she was prepar- ed for sea. She was a very pretty schooner, built very sharp, for those days, though not exactly v hat would be termed a clipper at this time. She was built for sailing in shoal water, but had very nice accommodations, having been the yacht of Mr. Robert Morris, the~ financial savior of his country. Barney saw at a glance that, bad she been a little Heavier-she was only about forty tons' measurement-she would have made an invaluable cruiser for the bay and river,-if well manned. She had been seized and confiscated by the British when the city was taken. She had been named "The Mary" by the original owner, after bis beau- tiful and amiable bride, who had been Miss Mary White, the belle of the city. Attached to the vessel was a swift-rowing gig. Barney had managed to have a good supply of arms and/ammunition concealed on board, and his men, beside, had armsconcealed on their persons. During the day he managed to exchange signals, unobserved, with his lady love; and, though their hearts trembled with anxiety, they felt confident of success. Each party deemed their plans perfect, and such as could not be overthrown. As night drew on, it was generally rumored that, guarded by the men.of-war and strong flanking columns, the transports would move down the river on the morrow, and the city be evacuated. Evening, with its darkening shadows, came on, and came early, for a storm was setting in. Although it was June, a cold northeast wind swept in with heavy clouds, and every- J CHAPTER XXL RUMORS OF AN EvACUATION. page: 58-59[View Page 58-59] i E e } 3 k i E fit, thing looked chill and gloomy. Barney, however, was pleased with the aspect of the weather; it wounO render his movements more easy, his digun-e more safe, and, with the wind as it was, he could lay up the river with the wind, close hauled, or scud down it if he wished. He alone, of all the Mary's erew, was per. fitted to reman on shore during the even- ing, by .il y; wo made a kind of mate of him, in conseqienite 'of his apparent supe- rior intel'1taenee. The landlord, knowing how fond seamen were of grog, and not knowing his customers, thought it a matter of wisdom to keep them where they would not be tempt- ed to indulge to excess before he needed them for action. "It's going to be a nasty night, sir," said Barney to in, as they looked out from the door of the old tavern. "Yes, but all the better for us," said Riley. "If the gel should tate it into her head to squall. it 1 be sharp ears that would hear her en such a night as this. Fewer people will be abroad, and when once we're aboard the schooner, we'll run down the river under such a breeze, as if the devil had kicked us on end!" "Isn't it nearly time we went on board, to get the men ready, sir ?" - No, not for two hours yet," said the land- lord, glancing at a huge bull's-eye which he drew frota his wateh-fob; then, squinting to' windward with his one eye, he uttered : ""It-ll blow a snorter to-night. I reckon a couple of horns won't set us back for the night's work, my lad." Suiting the action to the word, the landlord mixed a couple of stiffeners of grog for himself and Barney, and then lighted his pipe. His substitute behind the bar was like himself in one respect, and singular in all others. He had lost an eye, aleo a leg and arm, and went under the name of " One-sided Jack," Like most men who have been deprived of a portion. of their limbs, he was unusually active with what had been left to him., He had been a kind of useful pensioner to Riley, and took charge of matters for him at all times when the latter was called from hia post by inclination or business. CHAPTER XXXI. ?NE cOaPORAL MIsSED. It wa sea-y on the metig of thiasday,-when, anxious cni reRtless. Elliott, having risen from his bld, called for the corporal of the guard to re'-iv. hii usual report. Cato, whom he had sent fir tiat purpose, soon returned, and, with a road grin upon his sable face, said: "Corporal ro dare, massa-him gone." " Gine-the devil 1" "0 e bigger iot know, massa, if him gone to de dei or nit-he not nowhar now." Seid one of the otrer soldiers to me, and make haste, you black imp !" In a shirt time one of the other soldiers made his appearance. "Woere i. Corporal Drill? Why is he ab- sent from his post ?" I do not know, sir," replied the soldier, saluting. 'It- hs not been even since ten or eleven o'clock last nigbt, 'when he called us out to look for a ghost that Miss Bedford's maid Taw o go "To look for a ghost? What sort of acook and bull story is that you are teliag? Art, you drunk?" " No, lieutenant. At about the time I name, he came out of the room where he had been sitting with her, and called four of us to go into the yard with him to see if any one was there. The woman had been frightened, he said, by what she thought was the ghost of a sailor looking in at the window. He thought there was some one in the yard, but there was no one, nor any sign of any one. We looked carefully. He should have relieved guard at midnight, but he did not, and the- sentinel called his relief himself. The cor- poral has not been to his bed during the night." 'Why did you not tell me of this earlier ?" "Because we were in' hopes the corporal would return before you were up, sir. He is always very regular." "Always was till he got in love with that devilish waiting maid and her punch. Axe hi aceoutrementa in their place V" U' = THE MAN-O'-WARS-MAN S GRUDGE. 69 "Yes, sir." It can hardly be that he has deserted," muttered Elliott. thoughtfully. "Have you asked the waivng maid anout him?" "Yes; sir; she says he left her right away after we searched the yard." "S e may know where he went to; send her to me, and wine she is here, search her room. A man makes a fool of himself when he is in love wili a woman, sometimes.'' The solier saluted again, and departed to obey his orders. "Strage !" muttered Elliort, as he paced to and fro in the room. " I cannot thin that Drill nas deserted, but that woman may have induced him to do it. I will soon learn " In a few moments Etiza entered the room. Her face was as demure as that of s country maiden in church when she hears her banns read fo' the fire, time. "Did the lieutenant instruct the soldier to say that I was wanted i" she asked. " "He did. Wnat story is this about a ghost that I bear?' demanded Elliott, fixing his eyes keenly upon tier, to read, if possible, any change in her countenance. "On, the ghost. Well, sir, I don't hardly believe. on desidera'ion this morning, that it was a gt at I think, as the corporal did, that it was a phantaswy of the imagination. You see, sir, I am rather nervous. and-tie corpora', sir, was speakrig on a very delicate subj-et sir-one very affectations to a young and unprtected female girilike me, sir-when all to ovine I thought I saw the face of an old sweetheart looing at me through the window, andIscreeceed right out. Then the corporal be swo'e, sir, and got the men and went and looked fir the ghost, bit couldn't find it And that's alt I know about the ghost, sir." "But not all ttat you know about the cor- poral W hohec of him after that?" "The Lord only knows, sir. He oniysopped to take a single giaes of punch after be sent the men away; then he went out of the room, and I took my candle and went to bed" "Did you go aone-eh, my fair wench ?" "Alone, Mr. Elliott? What do you mean sir?" ~ "I mean that I wish a reply to my question Did you go alone to your room, or did th corpor al go with you?" " Tne corporal go with me ? Oh, you scor pion ! You audacious calumniationist,! Ir was a man I d scraeh your eyes out ; I. don' care if you are a tory lieutenant. A man dar to go into my room! And you dare to thin] of such a thing! At this moment the soldier whom he ha ordered to search Fliz 'a room returned, hold ing in his hand a red fgetet. The single chew ron on toe sleeve, below theelbow, proclaime at once that it belonged to the corporal. "We didn't find Corporal Drill in the lady room, sir,' said the soldier ; "but here," h 1 THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MAN'S GRUDGE- added, holding up the garment in triumph, "is a part of his shell !' "Wdat have you to say now. toy very vir- tuous, indignantly sanctimonious yonoe ady of irreproachable character ?" cried Etiott, with a sneer. "To say, you mean, nasty tory, that the corpora gave me that red gjeet.r m-"r noand asked me to mend that hole inat a hiited out under the arm Ana you dare to snot wren to search my room ! You'd a b-u a itre bog ago yourself, but you tnew l'a y reak y)our head ir yo+1 dared to cross the d ' --s.Nl' Oh, i I was a man I'd pull all your ha'n out,!" E iza now, with anger and a,' titication, burst into tears Etiiott waited until the first parixve' was over, and then ssxed : "WViin you tell me whereCorpoal lca)rilis?" "I don't know, nor I don't cs"e, If I did know -I1 wouldn't tell. I expect. 1 a i here you ought to be--dead or drone it- i-cutter. Oh, you monster! I hate you ke-like everything !' "II the corporal is not prodote' soon, miss, I shall told you responsible !" said the iieu- tenant, w hom the girls anger sev-to 4) it.put into better humir. "You 1 hu.' " put on his uniform and take his place; 'e '-as last seen with you." "Me put on a man's clothes" enrieked Eliza. "I'd just like to see yoi mat' t so I would Y I won't stay here to i4'- u ted no more You are worse than a ,To-'.-.nit so you are !" She vanished, shuttingthe door as '-e went, wish a jar that shookt re house. '-Keep a good Jookout on bee actors. If anything is heard of the corporate port to me metantly. You will command t, e guard until further orders,'' said Elliott The soldier saluted and tnroa To thev. "Send Joznes, my valet, to ne' -ctieut the t officer. , i a short time the valet appeared l king preci ely as usual "Did you attend to the orders las. tght?" asked E"iotr. "I did, sir-all were written aid s frly de- . livered " " e "That is well. Corporal Drtill ,a disap- peared." - " Yes. sir-so a soldier just told n-- I "Have you any idea what co u) n+ave be- t come of biwm?' e "None whatever, sir." k "It is possible that be may have deserted," said Eeliott. 'yet I would have t r-te-l him d everywhere." - "Rle always seemed prompt an-! aithful, - ir." d "He was until he fell in love with ti at wait- ing maid. D-n the women!1" 's "They seem to give you gentlemen a great e deal of trouble, airI" page: 60-61[View Page 60-61] i s r , #t , f t z F i c I f t P x { {jf 4 4 f 3 tr R t k _ 1 i CHAPTER XXXII. THE ABDUCTION. It was eleven o'clock. The storm raged wildly-whistling through the streets and al- leys of the town, or through the rigging of the vessels at the wharves, almost winterishly. The "all's well" of the sentinels, as they paced their weary rounds, muffled up in their thick watch coats, could scarcely be heard from post to post. Here and there a light could be seen in the town, but most of the houses had been darkened, for on such a dreary night people seldom love to keep late hours At this hour, a boat, rowed by six men, with a seventh sitting in the stern sheets, to steer her, pushed from the side of a schooner an- chored close over by the island, opposite Market street, and pulled in for the wharf. Upon en- tering the dock, and reaching the landing, four of the men who rere in the boat followed him who was in the stern sheets, and sprang on the wharf. The other two were directed to remain with the boat.j As soon as they landed, Riley, for he was the leader, gatheredthe men, and, in a whisper, gave his final directions. It had been settled that Elliott should, if Miss Bedford had re- tired to her room-which Barney knew she would do, for he had so arranged it with her as to meet all of Elliott's plans-that he was to show a single light from a northern window in the house. Upon the party entering the house, the sentinel, who was also under in- structions, was, without noise or resistance, to suffer himself to be seized, gagged, and bound. They were then to hasten to the apartment of the lady, muffle her up in her clothing, if she had reired, hasten with her to the boat, and carry her on board the vessel. Elliott was not to be seen, or appear to know anything of the affair, nor was his valet, until he joined the party on board the schooner. All this was now fully explained to the men, who had, of course, already received their orders from Barney, after which, Riley, giving each man a drink of grog from a huge pocket flask which he carried in his pocket, moved onward. Their steps were slow and stealthy -not a man of the party spoke above his breath. On this occasion, the front door of the house was left unlocked, and everything "worked to a charm." Scarcely any noise was made in securing the sentinel, and then, headed by Ri- ley, Barney and one other, hastenod to the apartment of the lady. Barney had expected to find her up and ready to be willingly abducted. What was his astonishment, however, to find her sleeping so soundly that the noise of their entrance did not awaken her, "I reckon the lieutenant has drugged her on purpose, so that she'll make no bother for us," suggested Riley, as he reached out to take her in his arms. Here, let me carry her, I am the strongest of the party," said Barney, as without a glance himself, or without permitting the others to look upon the form of her whom he loved, he quickly wrapped the quilt and sheets around her, and raised her tenderly, as if she were a babe, in his powerful arms. He took occasion to whisper, to her whom he supposed to be simulating asleep, "Fear not, my angel." "Are we not to take the old gentleman along, too," asked Barney.r. "No-we're not to bother with him," said Riley. "Hurry off-the girl is all that I'm to be paid for." 60 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN S GRUDGE. " Poh! I was not speaking of myself. By "It shall be done, sir." And the valet re- the way, be ready for the matter to-night, of tired. which I spoke to you last right. I will set- "I like that Jones," said Elliott, after he tle that affair to-night, and have it off my had left the room. "He is so prompt and mind." ready, and seems so faithful. He has such a "I shall be ready, sir. Any more com- pleasing way with him, too. I never look at man-is, sir ?" him but I think I have seen him before ; yet "None until after I have breakfasted. You if so, I cannot remember where. I never can order my horse to be in readiness then--I knew any Jones except old Jones the pawn- shall ride." broker." B-MAN'S GRUDGE. 61 THE MAN-O'-WAR'a Barney would have insisted upon taking her father, but he dared not risk theething, and he knew that Elliott would not dare to harm him after Cora was gone, so he hurried out with his fair burden-hastening all the faster, as a singular noise betokened that the house was * alarmed. As he passed from the door, he saw rushing, or rather staggering into the entry, Corporal Drill, so pale, and covered with ashes, that he looked more like a drunken miller, than a soldier in his Britannic Majesty's ser- vice. There was no time for a second glance. The lungs of the corporal were in full play, and the party rushed for the boat, Jim Thompson very carefully and considerately, helping Bar- ney with his burden. In a few minutes, the party were at the boat. "Pass her down to the stern sheets-all's safe now," said Riley, gleefully. "Let me handle her, I'll do it gently, sir, so as not to weaken her," said Barney, stepping carefully into the boat, and drawing the cloth- ing more carefully around her form, to keep the chill wind and spray from her. "All right-but you're uncommon careful of property that's nothing to you," muttered Riley. "She's a woman, and were she to wake in terror, and commence screaming, it might give us trouble yet," said Barney, who almost itched to tell the heartless wretch how dearly he prized the 'property" which he held in his arms. "Shove off. It's deuced strange the lieu- tenant's valet isn't here-but I'm not going to wait for him" "Hole on dah, Massa Riley, please, jest one minnit, for ole nigger," said a grum voice, speaking as if its utterer had been on a run- - "Massa Elliott, he sen' ole nigger to wait on lady, and said he couldn't spare Massa Jones jest yet." "Why, it's Elliott's crooked nigger, a pretty looking thing to wait on a lady, butI suppose its all right. Tumble into the bows there, Ebony-Knot." "Yes, massa! Ki, massa, you come so fast, it make ole nigger sweat." "Yes-I can tell that easy, by the wind," said the landlord, as the boat moved out from the pier. In a few moments they were alongside the sohooner, and Barney, who from the start had not let the lady pass from his arms, stepped on board, and carried the lady carefully down into the state-room which had been prepared for her. . Laying her carefully on the bed, he re- turned to the vessel's deck. He had no op- portunity to speak tp her, for Riley was at his side or heels all the time. "So far, sogood," said Riley, as they all stood on the deck. "Now we'll take a nipper all around, and then we'll get under way" To this Barney made no objection, and as he did not, of course the crew assented. Who ever knew a sailor to refuse a glass of grog?., Inthose days, too, everybody took their today, from the king to the peasant, from the parson to the grave-digger. It was only a matter of economy, then, twat made Franklina temper- ance man. Don't think, however, cold-water- istical reader, that I mean disrespect to the temperance cause ; no, indeed-by the thin shadow of John Chambers I vow I do not. After a hearty "nip" had been taben all around, the sails, or at least all she could bear, a double-reefed mainsail, foresail and jib, with the bonnets off, were loosed, and the anchor as noiselessly as possible. In less time almost than it takes for me to describe it, the vessel was moving down the river. It had been Bar- ney's intention to take charge of her at once, and go up the river, so as to reach his own vessel, and the sooner get within the Aneri- can lines, but the wind had veered more to the northward, and blew so freshly, that he abandoned the design, and made up his mind to run down the river, and hide away in a creek or river until the city was evacuated, and the British had left the waters of the Delaware. The river in front of the city, and for some distance below, was quite thickly filled with vessels, but as lights were hoisted on board, it was easy to avoid them, and they swept on without being hailed' Had they been, it would not have mattered, for Riley had the pass word. We will now leave them, and re- turn to the city for a while. . ._ page: 62-63[View Page 62-63] 3 f I V #}, t i(It ! { t } r t t i g 1 i f ks f p 1 i 9 1 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE CHAPTER XXXIII. WOMAN'S KINDNBas. Some women are by nature so amiable that they nver looked cross in their lives, much lees uterred a harsh word. Some are so gen- tle, that it they were to catch a flea in the act or pu cturiog a vein, and withdrawig from e et, their tair sin a portion of the ruby wit,- of Pte, they would not move, for fear of di-turibiog the earnuverous wretch, until he tad fitted himself, and then gently, very Gently, they would removo him and put him on a piece of perfumed note paper to rest At least I have dreamed that there are such women. Somr- tore are,l know, whose answer to an unkind 1o0 or a rough word is a tear. Some there are s gentle and so good that a sore- headed rear would go beyond his nature if he was to ice cross to them. A man-a true ian-woulds ooner swallow a live rattle. mnate, lead first, than do it. Some t here are with the very devil in their nature. thunder on their tongues lightning in their eyes, and a hail storm on their breath They sn- er when they want to smile, they grin when they want to laugh. Wnen they weer' it is riot ice the good hearty shower of April or May-it is like the half frozen drizzle of Novewber. They act as if they had been, suck led on buttermilk in their infancy, ands lived on crab apples ever since. Heaven pre- serve 'on, reader, without you are a mean, miserly old bachelor, from such a woman. Sime there are that . have just a little spice of ihe dcviu in their natures, just enough for seasoor, g like pepper in one's hroth. They delit nr in a itt.le mischief, just for fun's sake would t do a deliberate wrong, but laugh themUJsee, half to death it you slipped aad fell ny n"eaie on an orange peel which they had p-aced io your way, and if you tore your uriaenionatles in the fall, would regret that they hadl no needle and thread ready to repair the damage Who would delight, if you were out with a clean dickey, well blacked boots, white pants and a new hat, without ne er an umbrella. to have a good thunder shover come on when you were just out of ruining distance of any home, forgetting themselves and their petti-annoyances in your more serious trouble. Some there are, bound to gobalkily through life it single harness-scarp-nosed, thin- skinm.ed, k'ckn'-hy.nature and bitin'-by habit (back citing 1 mean) creatures, who delight in breaking off matches, in seeing tears rain tion young eyes, and misery come cold into young hearts Darn them (as the gal said about the ragged stockings) darn them, up hill and down, all over creation. Some there are-dear, . blessed, good old maids-so patient, so kind, so neat, so fond of giving cakes and goodies to little children, so ready to nurse the sick, so ready to sacrifice their own ease to add tothe comfort or others, so pious, without always shoving a Bible or tract under your nose and asking you for money to buy blankets for the liottento's, so ready to make up a quarrel that has unnecessarily oc- curred between a young giirl ano her lover, so blessedly useful everywhere that the man who would breathe a word against them ought to be swallowed by the Belgian giant just be- fore he took another kind of emorie, I always think of such old maids as I do in regard to Washington-God kept him child- less. that he might be the father of a nation; so God leaves such old maids husbandless, that they can be universally motherly, sister- ly, etc. But avast-Ned, what are you about. Reader, really I beg pardon for writing so much about woman nature, a master in which I have so little experience. But the subse- quert matter of this enapter will show you what set me into the train of thought which elicited the above. During the entire day after the morning's interview with Elliott; Eliza had found her- self so closely watched that she had no oppor- tunity to go down into the cellar to see how the prisoner in the ash-hole got along. Of course she knew that, so tightly bound and gagged, he must suffer, but angered and an- noyed as she was, perhaps she didn't care. Sne supposed he was safe, and as she never had cared tor him particularly in her heart, it is not to be supposed that thoughts of his sufferings lay very heavy in her bosom. She was occupied, too, in making, all as carefully as she could, without attracting notice, prepa- rations for the intended es.'ape of her mistress, of wnieh she was fully informed. She wished much to accompany her lady, but this had been canvassed and thought improper, as it would not tally with the rest of the plan. It had been ordered, to make things work better, that she should retire early, so as not to ap-' pear to know anything 0f the abduction before r 4t fr 3" Y i Sf Y I 62 THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MANS GRUDG §3 the morrow, a time, when she and her mis- Eliza," he faintly whispered ; "I have almost tress toth fondly hoped the latter would be perished." with her lover, tar beyond the power of the He looked so pitiful, his whisper was so be. hated Elliott. seeeching, that womanly tears came into her After she had gone up to her room-only a eyes. She could not refuse him. short time before Riley and his party left their "Poor Drill !" she murmured, as she has- vessel --the 'thoughts of the situation of the tened for the rum. corporal came strongly into her miid. She '-I'll*poor Drill' her if ever I get my hands had considerable of the woman in her heart, and feet free," he. muttered, bitterly, as soon and then, when she had nothing else partieu- as she was out of sight. larly to think abort, she thought of him. In a few moments she returned with the rum. There he has been, thought she, ever since "It is sweetened, but I had no lemons," midnight last night, bound so that he could she said, as she handed him the desired bay- not move; not a drop of water or anything erage. else; he must be dry. Very likely, too, he is The draught did not bring the color to his hungry. It won't do any harm, she eon- ashycheek, but it ran like pleasant fire through tinued to think, to go and see how be is, at his chiled veins. s any rate. Acti'g upon these thoughts, she "Miss Eliza, you are a kind angel," he mut- took her light and going down by a back tered. "I freely forgive your having me put stair-case, stealthily descended to the cellar, here, for your goodness now. Will you not undiscovered by any one. loosen the rope that binds my hands, just a She found the corporal where he had been little-the veins are almost bursting. it is a placed, but in his struggles he had rolled to terrible torture." and fro until he looked literally like a lump of "1 dare not untie you," said Eliza. "It is ashes. What was her horror on approaching my orders not to release youbefore to-morrow him to find that he was, as she thought. at morning. It was only pity that brought me least, dead. His face was ghastly white (with here now." ashes), his eyes were closed (to keep the ashes "I don't ask you to untie me. If you did I from blinding him), he was motionless, be- could not move, for every limb is as stiff as a cause he was tired out and helpless from long new sergeant on parade. Jest untie my hands and useless struggling to'free himself from from behind and tie them before." knots tied by one who knew how. That seemed so reasonable that Eliza, who She felt of his feet---there was still some had already done so much, could not 'refuse heat in it... life was not entirely extinct. All him. So she, with a great deal of trouble, the woman seemed to come back into her managed to loosen his hands, and bringing heart again, them before him, tied them as tightly as she "Poor Drill!' she murmured--" how he could again. must have suffered." "I must now put the pudding-stick in your At the sound of hervoice he slowly unclosed mouth again, so that you shall make no noise," his eyes, but as quickly closed them again, she added, preparing .to do so while a shudder of pain ran through his "Oh, please do not, Miss Eliza. I will not doubled up form. Ashes in one's eyes are not make any noise," pleaded the corporal, who as pleasant as diluted rose water. knew how usefully teeth might be employed "Poor Corporal!' she again muttered--- in untying knots. "he must not sniffer so I" - Unfortunately for him the lady thoughtaf She set down her candle, and with trem- the same thing, and was inexorable. bling hands tried to untie the rope which, tied "You will at least'leave the light here, so behind his head, firmly fastened the pudding- that the rats will not eat me up, will you not, stick in his mouth. It was a long time before Mies Eliza ?"' said Drill, as she was about to she could do it. At last she succeeded. He regag him. could sot speak, and could hardly bring the "I see no harm in that," she said, as she jaws together which had been so asunder. adjusted the pudding-stick in the same man- With her apron she carefully wiped the ashes ner that it was before ; then bidding him good away from his mouth and lips. At last.he night, hurried up to her room. managed to gasp; If she saw no harm in leaving the light "Water I water ! I'm dying !" there, the corporal saw some good, for he Believing that he spoke the truth for once hardly waited forthe sound of her footstepsto in his life. she rushed up stairs, and in a mo- die away, before he began to bitch his body ment returned with a cup of water. All wo- toward the candle, which she had left stand- manly was her action, and she teaderly raised ing near him. Over its blaze he held the rope his head upon her knee, and placed the cup which bound his hands, and though as the rope to his lips. Eagerly be dran of tbe cool, re- bu ned his flesh too suffered, he bore the tar- freshing water, until not a rop remained in tu i~blike an Indian warrior at the stake, and the cup. /.in a few minutes the rope was burnedthrough, "Can you not get me a little rum, Miss and his hands were free. J i t i t c r t t } i 4 }i ji !(1 4 }{i {} }3 R F f { }( 6 t jt j3#p lg [; !F 3 [fir Y I F F 1 page: 64-65 (Illustration) [View Page 64-65 (Illustration) ] THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. Pausini for a moment to recover the use of them, and for the pain to subside, he planned his future actions. Putting his hand in a pocket, lie drew forth a small knife, and with its aid he soon had the gag out of his mouth, and his feet were free. "Curse her-I'll fix her off for the trick, the false-hearted jade, as sure as I'm a corporal! As for her blue-jacket-lover, ramrods and wadding ! only just let me citch him once !' He now attempted to rise, but at first he could not stand. After resting a little while, and permitting circulation to resume its course, he was able to get up, and taking the light, he staggered up stairs. His first visit was to the closet where Eliza kept the rum bottle. A hearty swig at this soon made him a little more elastic, but he could hardly navigate, when he put the candle down asd went to visit the guard. As he opened the door which led into the entry, he saw that it was filled wi h eF-e-nen, recognised Et' i's blue jacket lover, and saw that one had a female in his arn . ' Treason! Robbery! Guard, turn out!" he shouted. His cries aroused the whole house, and in a few moments all the soldiers were standing around him, looking at his singular figure, and asking where he came from, and what was the matter. At the same moment another person from outside was added to the group. It was none other than Elliott, who, having seen the party of seamen issuing with their prize from the house, supposed that all was right, and now advanced to inquire into the cause of the up- roar, which he supposed he could unfathom more readily than any one there. Where have you been, sir? Drunk as usual ?" he asked, with difficulty restraining a laugh ac he looked at the extraordinary figure of the corporal. "Not drunk, sir !" cried the corporal, bring ing his hanl up to a salute, with a jerk which threw a:thes into the eyes of his nearest neigh- bars ; " not drunk, sir, but most damnably abused! ' 'What is the meaning of this uproar?' "Why. sir, after I escaped from my confine- ment in the ash hole, I saw as I came to alarm the guard. a party of soldiers here in the entry, and they were carrying off a lady-Miss Bed- ford, I suppose-and I, as in duty bound, raised the guard " On. is tbat all? If neor hoose to carrv tenant, with assumed carelessness ; but ere he had finished what he intended to say, a change came over the spiritof his dream, and a shadow fell upon "the light of his countenance." This was occasioned by the appearance of an addi- tion to the group in the shape of Miss Cora Bedford and her maid Eliza, who, with can- dles in their hands, and fully dressed, came out from the direction of their rooms. "What means this mummery? Are you en- joying a masquerade?" asked Cora, of Elliott, who gazed upon her as if he could hardly be- lieve his eyes, and realise that she stood before him. Miss-Bedford !" he stammered, "really -I-I thought you had retired !" "No, sir, I had not, and from the noise out here supposed the house was on fire !" Alas ! poor Cora, she did not tell all the truth, but it be-and-bye will come out, we suppose. Detained through an artifice which ahe could not plain, or for what purpose she knew not, by being locked in a room near that of Eliza, to which she went by request of the negro Cato, to see "Massa Jones jeat for one mnnit," as he said, she had been unable until a fe-v minutes before, to escape. She had had been liberated Eliza, whose attention she had attracted, and had hastened down on hear- ing the noise, supposing that it was caused by the intended movement of Barney. St e, too, was almost as much surprised as Elliott was, by the arpearauce of matters, although both her and Eliza knew why Corporal Drill looked as he did, though neither could account for his release. What Elliott thought could not at that mo- ment be ascertained, for a mounted ordely rode up to the door and cried: " lieutenant Elliott is wanted at headquar- ters instantly." Toe imperative order, as well as the tone in which it was given by the mounted orderly, showed Elliott that an instant obedience was required. " You wilt oblidge me, Miss Bedford, by re- turning to your room. Corporal Drill, you will clean yourself and prepare to give an ac- count of yourself. on my return. In the mean- time, the whole guard will keep watch, and by no means suffer any person either to enter or leave the house during my absence." Having given these orders rapidly, and in a tone of impatience, he turned off and hastened toward Gen. Howe's headquarters, wonderir g what he could ha want" foir at that ko,, 64 page: 66-67[View Page 66-67] THlE MlA~t-O'-W R3'-Mi 3N S G1 UDGII. 67 CHAPTER XXXIV. THE DISCLOSURE. Eleven was an eventful hour on that night. The British General had spent the evening in examining maps and charts, and preparing for the movement determined for the next day. A large number of transports and vessels of war were ready to move and guard the troops ansd munitions and stores, which the general wished to do before a French squadron, even then expected off the coast, could arrive with additional men and arms for Washington. He knew well that when the Americans were strengthened by such an additional force, his position, hemmed in in Philadelphia, and blockaded by a squadron in the bay, or his re- treat by water cut off, would be anything but pleasant. And he knew the necessity of cele-. rity in his movements. Several members of his staff were with him,, and various orders had been despatched during the evening ; also several messages from dif ferent .commands had been received. The general was about to dismiss his officers, and retire to rest, when an officer, covered witti dust, and evidently fatigued with rapid riding, came in, and hardly using the ceremony to sa- lute the general, banded him an open despatch. The general s brow contracted as his eye glanced over it, and his face, which first as- sumed a look of surprise and astonishment, reddened into'anger. "George Washington never sleeps!" he mut- tered. Then turning to the officer who had borne the despatch, he asked : "When did the heavy artillery move, of which this note speaks ?'' "It commenced to move, we have learned by an escaped prisoner, before daltght, sir." "And this cespatch says that the enemy, gathering in their light troops and outposts, are moving toward the city." "it is correct, sir !" " When did they commence this move- ment ?" "Also at daylight, sir." "Had they been previously making any pre- parations, as if intending to attack us here ?' "None, general." "Then, by Heaven, Washington has been informed of our intention to evacuate the city. That heavy artillery has been moved so rapid- ly, that is may be used on the river below, to annoy our retreat, and he has advanced so that he can enter the city in triumph, the moment we leave it. Our whole plan of operations must be changed. We must march through New Jersey. But how could the news of my intended movement have reached him? In no way but by treason ! Where," he exclaimed, angrily, as he turned toward his staff, "where is Lieutenant Elliott ?" "Gone to his quarters, general," replied the officer. "Despktch an orderly for him instantly, and gallop to the officers of division and counter- mand the marching and embarkation orders. We will not move to-morrow !" Pacing to and fro, chafing like an angry lion in his den, Elliott found the general when he arrived. "So, sir !" cried the latter, "matters of im- portance entrusted to your care, have again reached the quarters of the enemy, even as soon as they were divulged to our own troops." "I do not understaud you, general ! Surely you do not mean that I am at fault ' ' Did I not entrust you tie ordering to- gether of the Council o Officers?' "You did, sir, and 1 t ey ed it. Whatever the decision of your cou cil was, I know not-- all orders that came to me catae sealed, and were so delivered," "Did you deliver them all in person ?" "No, general. My servant. John Jones, a very faithful and confidential young man, de- livered a portion of them." "Ah--he did! Where ,is he now ?' "At my quarters, sir; if you wish, I will order him to come into your presence." "Stay here, sir--I 'will seni for him. Let an orderly be despatched for this John Joi es, at once." Eliott felt the anger of the general very se- verely, yet still more did be regret the mis carriage of his attempted abduction of Cora Bedford, for which he could in no manner ac- count. He had seen the seamen leave the house--a female was borne away by them To this, both- his eyes and those of the corporal testified. Who could she have been ? how could Riley, ever before-so artistic and careful in carrying out his plots of villany, be de- ceived? / In a short time the orderly seat for Jones returned with the information. that the valet could not be found. Re, however, handed a letter to Elliott, saying : "Your corporal, sir, told inc that this letter, directed to you,, air, was found on the young man's table." r= J page: 68-69[View Page 68-69] 68 THE MAN 3 -WAR'S-MANS GRUDGE. E iott seized the letter and opened it. The bounced this old man Bedford, of whom no one keen e, e of the general was fixed upon his but you speaks ill, as a rebel; why you wished countenance, marking its rapid changes, as the toquarter yourself in his house. with a guard. tory ofiicer eal the 'otter. And it appears that you had planned the ruin Damnation !" he muttered, regardless of of his daughter; was to have sent her to New the presence in which he stood. York. But this John Jones, alias Carone " Wil, sir, what have you there? Does this Ormsley-by Mars, I like the girl's spunk- cmfnftLii ol servant of yours, who is not forth- was too much for you, and through her, if you eurning uen he is scanted, impart any infor- yourself have not been the traitor, the Amen- iaii aebien is imortant to the service?" can commander has been informed of every n:se I - general, in a sarcastic tone. order issued from my hand. You are a dis- This eore is on private matters, general," grace to the uniform you wear, sir; take it rephi the olicer. off, return the commission you disgrace at It at 1east forms you where this John once, and never enter my presence again!' Jon s can b found, I presume. I am anxious " General, forgive me ; but allow me to ex- to seleAm !" plain." le is left my service, general." 'Silence, sir; you can make no explana- " Ah-a deserter? And yet your conftdcntial tins here !" thundered the general Then, servant? Sir, tis matter must be looked into ! turning to another officer, he said : "Captain You have rendered me some important ser- Hurlbu, you will at once remove the guard vices, sir, but on' error would blot the record from the House of Alderman Bedford, and at a of theit all. I wish to see that note." suitable hour apologise for my having, through " (enrasl, it is, I assure you, on matters of false information, been induced to place a a strictly p/i ate nature." guard in his house. And request him, if in fu- Allo nme to he the judge of that, young ture he is at all annoyed, to reportinstantly to man. If it is private, it will be as secure with- me, and I will punish the offenders severely. in my breat as your own. I will trouble you Also, tell the Commissary General to amply fir the leter, sir, at once-your hesitation, at reimburse him for the expenses of supporting le't, gives cause fir suspicion." the guard." T.- .flier dared not refuse, but he turned "I will obey your orders with sincere plea- iXh. landed the letter to the general. It sure, general," said the officer, glancing at El- r, al rl .,.s liott with a look of contempt. Vin-yi ar- foiled in your attempt. You "Not gone yet?" cried the general. look- + =Ccu~i viii. free, and abducted Cora Bed- ing at Elliott, who stood as if riveted to the f ri, thit ae nue it become another of the many vic- floor. t - oeer I e t+ our vile lust. Whenyouarrivewith ' ti. r V i + Y.l. she will not be there to await Starting, as if aroused from some horrid . + ~i-tr-e rs. rimt one will be on your track dream, with a muttered curse upon his lips, l+ in r lneveir to leaIve it until she is fully re- the villain left the apartment. When he had L ." f , r ." riw. I desire not iourblack heart's d--I 1 I no t.ken, that. You shall yet die got outside, and stood in the open air, his .r-r1 I i.eeorsei among men, even as you are curses were loud as well as deep. e rr a in it, mother if your child, the victim of your "By high heaven I" he swore " I'll make ar'. CARoLINE ORMSLEY." him rue this public and disgraceful dismissal! The rcieral read the note through, then As to Cora Bedford-this night-" ctmr'y refolded it and handed it back to El- "She shall be safe from harm and insult hot, who stood trembling like a culprit before from such a puppy as you are!" said a deep him ir a time be regarded the pallid face voice behind him. "I will see to that myself. of the officer, who dared not raise his eyes, Men, not creatures of your will, shall replace with a look which would have withered him your guard! " could he have met it At last he spoke, and. Elliott turned and beheld Captain Hurlbut, his cold, icy lone fell like a death knell upon who had followed him closely, but whose steps, the ambitious hopes of tie libertine. in his anger, he had failed to hear, lie laid "Lieutenant Eliott, that note, coupled with his hand upon his sword, but quickly with- some other circumstances, reveals to me your drew it and passed on, for a ranker coward at complete character. I know now why you de- . heart never turned his back upon a foe. THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MAN S GRUDGE. 69 CHAPTER XXXV. THE SURPRISE AND CAPTURE. I suppose the reader would like to take a glance at "The Mary" and her crew. Well, come aboard As the .reader is aware, it was about the mid hour of the night when sail was made upon the gallant little craft. The wind blew so fresh, and, as it generally is in the river, blew so freshly withal, that the few hands had to keep on deck during the night. Although Barney knew the channel full as well, and probably better, than Riley, the latter was not aware of the fact, and.-consequently kept his station aft by the helmsman, giving his orders, and frequently taking a drop of comfort from his capacious rum flask. When the gray dawn of the morning came fogily out from the caverns of night, the schooner bias well down the river, but the wind was dying away, and when the sun rose it bid fair to go down altogether. Barney did not regret this much, for hie was near the creek in which he intend- ed to, secrete the schooner, but he regretted more that a British frigate lav at anchor not more than three or four miles below them, and altogether too' near the creek to please him. Ae ihe schooner's sails began to flap i the wind idly, and the wind to decrease, Riley took another pull at his flask, and offered it to Ba -iey, who was steering. The latter did not refuse the proflered beverage.. "I reckon I'll go below and see how the gal go's along. It's strange she hasn't made any moise. Harry must have drugged her heavy. He's a known' one for that; he had a gal at my house once that slept three days afore nhe knowed where she was, or what had come of her." "The villain " muttered Barney. "Oh, he paid well-I'll always say that of him," said Riley, starting to go into the cabin. "Stop !" said Barney, suddenly stepping be- fore hi in, and beckoning to Jim Thompson to take tie helm. "W ny, what's up!" said Riley, angrily, at- tempt'nrg to pass on. " I mean," said Barney, giving him a shove that ,sent him reeling against the taifrail, "that I am master here, and that if you at- tempt to enter that eahin without my permis-i sion, I u pitch you overboard. I owe you-a grudge for being employed by such a dirty villain in such dirty work, but out of regard to soma of your kind ways, if you'll behave yourself, you shall have all the grub and grog you want, and when I get ready I'll put you ashore, or land you in Philadelphia after the British have left." "You're mighty considerate for a foremast hand, you are" said Riley, in astonishment. "Who the hell are you ?" "Lieutenant Barney, of the Continental ser- vice, at your command, Mr. Tom Riley, and this is the flag that I sail under." said Barney, drawing out a small American flag from his bo- som; "and as soon as we're out of sight of that cursed frigate, yonder, I intend to host it on this my lawful prize. The crew all be- long to my own good craft, the Sachem." "Regularly taken in and done for," groaned Riley. "Five hundred pounds gone- to the devil! Who'd have thought Tom Riley was such a d--d half-witted fool as to be done this way ?" The c edcvant landlord sat down on the edge of the transom, and, heaving a deep sign, toou a very long pull at his rum flask, then looked at the frigate, looming up with her black sides and avy spars in ,e distance. "Ii you'll pro 'se to take things easy, make no signals, and behave .yourself lice a man, I'll not confine you," said Barney ; obtaIrwiseit will be necessary for me to put you out of the way of troubling, or bringing trouble upon me" "I can't do nothin' but promise," said Riley, sulkily. "You've got me,,and I can't help myself," as the-rat said to the trap." "And now," said Barney, "I11 go below and see how the lady ic-perhaps she'd rather see me than you. You brought her clothes along, did you not, Thompson ?" "If you mean them are things as you tossed me from the chair, when you picked me up, sir, they're in the state-room-I hove 'em in there when you laid her'down." "Then, if she has awakened from her stu- por, she can dress," said Iarney, as he de- scended into the cabin... The negro Cato lay coiled up in front of the state-room door, so close that it could not be opened without arousing him wereehe asleep. But this was not the case, for he half rose up as Barney approached. "Is the lady awake yet?" asked the officer. "Me jest hear um stir, sah," said the negro. Barney knocked against the door gently. "I will make my appearance in a moment," said a voice from within. page: 70-71[View Page 70-71] 70 THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MAN'S GRUDGE. Barney started at the sound. It was a lady's voice, but to his ear it did not sound like the well inemembered tones of Miss Bedford. Whatever his doubts were, they were speedily solved by the appearance of the lady, who to him was an utter stranger. 'You are not Mess Bedford!" he said, in surprise. "No, rir !'" she said, in a haughty tone, "and you may tell y our master that Miss Bedford is safe from his power." "My master, madam? I own no master but the Comnander.in chief of the forces of the United States, trom w hom I hold my commis- sion." , What, sir ! Are you not a tool of Henr Elliott s, employed to abduct Miss Bedford?" "I am ro tool of hie, though I supposed that 1 was rescuing Miss Bedford from his power. I am her dearest friend. If she were here she would be safe. But, my God, where is she now ?" "Safe, sir-fear notfor her. I left her lock- ed up in a room in her lather's house, and not knowing that she had a friend near him to foil him in his infamous designs, I took her place, and suffered myself to be abducted without resistance, for I fear him not. He would rather meet the foul fiend himself than to face Caro- line Ormsley, for I have sworn to effect his ruin, and I will accomplish my oath. Fear not for your friend Miss Bedford. Elliott is, probably, moving with the troops long before this time, supposir'g that his scheme of ab- duction has succeeded, and that he will find his intended victim in New York. I had in- tended to meet him there, and let him sup- pose, till the last moment, that I was Mies Bedford. But now you will sooner meet the lady if you change your course. I can reach New York ea-ily, and, under another guise, carry out my intentions, for never will I rest while he lives." "Lady. I thank you sincerely for your no- ble act and generous intentions, and Cora her- self will thank you. While you are on board this vessel, eveiy wish of yours shall be grati- fied. I regret there is no female servant on board to wait upon you." "I have no need of any," she said, with a' sad smile. "That faithful slave has been my only servant for a long time," she added, as she pointed to Cato, who showed at least a six inch double row of ivory as he looked up at her. " Cap'n. I've an idea you'd better come on deck," said Thompson, from above ; "we're driftin' down to'rds the frigate uncomfortable fast, and a boat is shoving' off from her:" "Excuse me, lady," said Barney, bowing ; "I must attend to my duty. Have no fears for your safety, but for the present, please remain below." "I will do as you wish, sir," she replied, as he hastened on deck. When he got the-e, he found. as Thompseoi said, that the schooner was. drifring "nncom- fortable" near to the frigate. Tae wind had died away, and a strong ebb tide was running out Tnu schooner was in easy gun shot of the frigate, and nearing her every moment. Beside, a boat had left her, and was pulling toward the schooner. Barney ins antly ordered thc sails lowered and the anchor to be let go. He then caused the English flag to be hoisted at the usual place, on the main topping lift. Then turning to Riley, who sat looking at the approaching boat with undisguised pleas- ure, he asked : "Have you any particular fondness for a sudden death, Mr. Riley ?" "Can't say that I have-'specially jest now, when the prospect of them five hundred pounds is se much better than it was a little while ago," said Riley, with a sudden grin. "Your prospect of short shrift and a sud- den death is a great deal better," said Barney, showing the butt of a pistol, and looking him firmly in the eye. "God ! Why, man, you would'nt murder me ?" "Listen to me, Tom Riley. I'am a man who never lied-neither to my worst foe nor my best friend. So help me God, if you diso- bey me in one particular, I will blow your brains out the moment you do it. Take com- mend of this vessel now, as if we were all Englishmen, and still your crew, as you sup- posed when we started. When that boat comes alongside, show the officer your pass, and tell him your business, just as you would have done, had nothing happened. If you do that, you as well as ourselves are safe; if you do not, you are a dead man." "I'll do it," said Riley, turning a little pale, for he saw death in Barney's eye-and then he took a good long pull at his flask, to strength- en his nerves. In a few moments the boat was alongside. Riley stood aft, assuming all the importance of a skipper, while Barney was sufficiently near to fulfil his threat if he saw the least sign of treachery on his part. "What vessel is this, and where bound P" asked the English lieutenant, as he stepped on board. "The private schooner Mary, Captain Tom Riley, of Philadelphia, with property of Lieut. Elliott, aid to Gen. Howe, on board-also the lieutenant's wife," said Riley, quite pompous- ly. "H Have you a pass Y" asked the officer, at the same time glancing rather sharply at Bar- ney. The latter felt uneasy, for the face of the officer seemed very familiar to him. "Yes, sir-here's the pass. In course I shouldn't sail without such a docyment-in course not," said Riley, exhibiting the paper. THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN $ GRIJDGEII. 71 the officer looked at it. then-glanced at Bar- could sink them in five minutes, and, with as ry, in a manner which added much to the un- good a grace as he could, surrendered the eesiness of the latter, and said : vessel. "The ass says nothing about Mrs. Elliott. "This, I suppose, is one of your officers-he Cm I see the lidy ? acted his part admirably," said the lieutenant, I s'pose so," said Riley, trusting to Bar- motioning to Riley. ney to get rim out of tuis scrape. Address- "As it happens, he is the only man on ag the latter, he said : board who does not belong under my con- . Th.re, you Dick, Harry, or whatever your mand," said Barney. with a smile. rime is, tell Mrs. Elliott that this officer wants "He speaks the truth, your honor,' cried t o see her " Riley, now no longer fearing Barney's pistol. Barney was glad to have a chance to caution "I ama true and loyal subject of King George, her, and hastened to obey orders. and that rebel there-" - Who is that man-the one whom youtsent ',Hold, sir! You will keep a respectful below ?-' asked the officer. tongue in your head, or Ill show you how we The eye of Barney, who was re-ascending touch up his Majesty's loyal subjects at the the companion ladder, followed by the lady, gangway. Lieutenant Barney, though my was upon him-answered Riley, with well as- prisoner, is my friend," cried the officer, turn- sumed carelessness: ing away from him. '- On, a lubberly chap that I picked up in "Are you truly Mrs Elliott, madam?" he Philadelphia for this voyage." ' asked again, in a respectful manner, address- "lHe don t look very :ike a lubber," said the ing Caroline, "or was you, like my gallant officer, again glancing at Barney. Then bow- friend Barney, in disguise ?" ing to the lady, he said, politely : "I answered you once, and correctly, sir," 'Have I the honor of addressing the wife she said, firmly. cf Lieutenant Elliott, of his Majesty's ser- "Then pardon me, madam. Every atten- vice ?" - tion due your rank and sex will be rendered "You are addressing the mother of his to you. I feel confident that Lieutenant Bar- child, sir," replied the lady, with a calmness ney has too much gallantry to intentionally se- and dignity which would have implied to any parate you from your husband." one toat only as a wife could she be a mother. "He did not kno w that I was on board, fir, " Te I regret most smneerely, lady, to find until an hour or so ago-he knows nothing of you in such company. Your husband would me, and his conduct has been most respectful. hardly have put you in charge of Lieutenant I only regret that he is a prisoner," replied the B traey, of the Continental service." lady. Barney istan-ly saw that he was known, "He will soon have an opportunity to be en. and put his hand upon a weapon. changed, madam," said the lieutenant. " It is useless to resist, sir. I knew you the Under the direction of the prize officer, and moment I came on board. I honor you as a assisted by Barney's crew, whom the officer brave man, but you are under the guns of our pledged hishonor should not be separated from frigate, and it would be sheer madness to at- their beloved commander, the schooner's an- tempt to escape. When we last met I was chor was weighed, and she was drifted and your prisoner-I v as taken in the brig which swept close to the frigate, to which the lady you boarded up the river, and exchanged and Barney were transferred, as was also his af erwards. You treated me kindly then, sir, crew. and I will not forget it now. I can almost The commander of therfrigate, who was un- say that I regret that the fate of war has der sailing orders for Philadelphia, and bore thrown so brave and honorable a man into dispatches for General Howe, got under way our bands." as soon as the tide changed, and stood up the Barney knew, as the officer said, that it was river, not choosing to credit the report that madness, and worse than usele°s, to offer re- the general had evacuated the city that morn- sistance under the guns ofa vessel which ing. I { page: 72-73[View Page 72-73] 72 THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MAN S GRUDGE. CHAPTER XXXVI. PAROLE OF HONOR. On the next morning after the events de- "I do not deny that my own personal eon- scribed in the last chapeter, the frigate Are- siderations and feelings prompt me to thank thusa. that by which Barney was capturedlay the captain, and accept his offer at once. But at anchor off the lower part of the city. Much I owe a duty to my country. I am enlisted in to the astonishment of Barney, who, from the a holy cause, to which I hive devoted my life preparations he had seen, believed the report and my honor. This doubtless, will he a long of the intended evacuation of the city true, and bloody war-very probably I shall perish he found that tIe British army had not left, in it-but never will I Iurch ase either life or the orders all having been countermanded. comforts at the price of dishonor. I cannot Early in the morning the supposed Mrs. El- accept his kind offer." liott had, at her request, been seat on shore. "But, my dear Barney, remember, when and Riley had been discharged. But Barney you told me the history of your love, how+ and his men, of course, were detained. He, anxiously you sought an opportunity to know most especially, was a valuable prisoner, for if the lady was sa'e, and, if possible, to see his daring deeds had already become widely her!' kro vi in the English service. "It is true, Morley=-I would give all my Cii, not in his rough seaman's guise, but hopes of fame and promotion for the next ten in a genteel suit befitting his rank and posi- years to know that she was safe, and see her tioi, lie was pacing to and fro on the lee side for only an hour!" oft h.. qurtter-deck, looking wistfully now and "Then, if I get permission to go on shore, then toward the distant shore. Where his with you under my charge for a few hours, thoughts were, any reader that has ever been will you give me your parole for that time, and in love cmn tell.r -u w ,,e The young lieutenant, whom we have al- return with me?" ready described-the one who boarded " The 'Willingly, my noble friend-and you know Mary' '-came from the cabin, and, advancing I would perish before I would dishonor such a toward Barney, said . pledge!" 'My dear fellow, I have good news for "I know it. Now may I just hint to the you " captain why you wish to go on shore? He is "What is it, Morley? It must be good to a high minded and chivalrous man, engatied to make you look so cheerful," said Barney, ex- a lady in New York himself, aid your~ eae, I tending his hand to grasp that which was know, would touch his feelings and he w iit proffered him. consent" "The captain is perfectly willing to permit "Reveal just as much as you think r1'er, you to go on shore, or where you please, if my good Morley-Itrust all to yu,1'i you will give your parole of honor not to "Then fear not but that I wily si 'rel y, serve against us until you are regularly ex- said the noble-hearted E-glishimaa go y. changed." And he did succeed, for .within an hour A shadow of regret passed over the noble both of them were walking arm in-stm face of the young officer-an expression of through the city, as friendly to manner as ii pain rested on his countenance. After a mo- they never had drawn swords on opp. eio meat's hesitation he said : sides. CHAPT.1I XXXVII. A VISIT. I know it is terribly impertinent to enter a "Corporal Drifl, indeed! Why, Miss Cora, lady's chamber, especially when she is being I'd sooner make up to a natural born fool!" dressed; but necessitas non habet legem, and, "And yet you must have felt a shght ten- under the circumstances, I can't help it derness, Eliza, when you took the gag from Cora Bedford was in her room, and Eliza his mouth and gave him the water and rum. was making up the morning toilet at about You must have loved him a little when you the same hour when Barney was pacing the untied his hands, and tied them again in an quarter-deck of the Arethusa. With herusual easier position !" care, the talkative girl was combing the long, "I didn't love him a bit, Miss Cora. I don't glossy hair of her lady, chattering away deny that I pitied him a little-I'd pity a born mean while like a barber with the latest news, nigger if I saw him tied up that way. ' and a few extra fathoms of law, physic, poli- "Love and pity go hand-in-hand, Eliza. ties and religion at his tongue's end., But, there-don't pull my hair so t" Tne lady was rather pale, but did iot look "Excuse me, Miss Cora-l was just thinkin' quite so sad and careworn as she did before how tight I'd pull theta pes if I bad that mean her last interview with Barney, and before the corporal to tie over aga ,, ai4 I forgot I had niouse had been ridden of Elliott and his ins o- hold of your hair." , 1 t -guard. * * * . * -* lil wager a cent to a cookie, Miss Cora, Robed in his searlet~ressing-gown, eo - ' lanow who you're a thilsiug of thiS siderably paler and slightly less rotund than "img," said Eliza, as she took a half hitch when we saw him last, presiding at his dinner au. double turn around her wrist with Miss table, and urging Barney to another glass of Bed ford's long hair, while she combed the up- port, sat our old friend Bedford at the break- pet Part of it. fast table. Opposite to him, pouring out bin "Who do you think, Eliza ?" she asked, with coffee, sat his lovely daughter, dressed neatly. a faint smile. in white, looking as fresh as a morning glory- "Why, your hanisoaie Lieutena'nt Barney, with the dew just shaken off. t. be sure! who else ?" replied the girl. " ' W hat a comfort t is, Cora darling, to sit' I suppose you think so, Eliza, because here and eat one's muffins hot at the table, like your mind dwells continually with his rough- a Christian man and magistrate, instead of' whiskered man-your Jim Thompson " . broth-ing it in a sick room like a dried-up ".1 don't deny that t feel some affectation. Frenchman, with a house full of drinking, for him," relied Eliza, with a sigh which swearing soldiers-not to dare to call yon- would have brought a tear fromga fresh roll house your own, though you own every brick of butter; "he's a proper, nice man. But in its walls and every tile on its roof. I don't- there's some mystery in him and the lieutenant wonder that I've grown thin on it." not keeping their promise about helping you "Well, I hope it is af over now, and things a'aav. But it has all turned out for the best." will be better still when the ErgJieh do evacu- " So i appears, for me ; but I fear for himt -for them, I mean. If he were yet near, and ate the city, dear father." rot ing had happened to him. I should have "And better still when they evacuate the ri-e sign or token. But hurry and prepare country altogether!'-said-the old gentleman lot breakfast, my good girl. Father is get- "Be careful, father-the walls have ear!" . well enough to be impatient. and it is "Well, all the ears inside of these wals already past his usual breakfast hour now, my darling. belong mie o lves it iany e others come in here, I'dlike to have it in myll, said Miss Bedford. - l never saw anybody' get well faster than power to nail them-to the pillory 1" h is since that mean, nasty tory was drove "Two officers wish to see Mr. and Miss Bed. ut 'aid Eliza. "F"r my part, I never stall ford." said a servant. ho tie sig't of a soger again." "Did they give tbeir. names?' asked Con, -N t ttven poor Corpo'ral D4111 eh, EUza?" , rather startled at so early a eall. THE MAN-O'- WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. page: 74-75[View Page 74-75] THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN S GRUDGE. "eientements Morley and Barney," was the reply-- Cora started so at the mention of the last name, ihit she (coied the coffhe cup which s'e hid ljt fill d Her face, but now so pushed, turned white as snow. " B irney-Frney--it can't be your hero, Cora. A -1 thmr u-ask them up: never mind the brakfist table-ask them up!" cried b A' l 'cr mitt. The arva it oheyed, auml the next moment Barny lnd a sttra'ne oeier entered the room,. S Ctome to my arms, lad! come to my arms, my brat e boy' exclnitmed the Alderman, rising as 3aroey advanec,, aid embracing him with a fervor which, considering his late illness, was almost astonishmg. As so n a he could extricate himself from the erm h ace of the old gentleman, Barney turned to C.ra, who had stood as she had risen. cliangi.t. color as tapidly as sunlight and shadows chae each other over the bosom of a pretty lake in the fleecy summer-cloud time-fir-u pale as a lily, then red as a moss rose-aind, taliii her extended hand, pressed it reg[ee flly to his hIis Ile then introduced, as his !r- itd, Lieu erant Morley of the British "I Ew : this-ho -this !" asked the Aldtu i n surp~ ; :teir the usual introduc- tory ,o ilanef d ien passed. ' Peace ha "r, i n ueet trelh s rit ? how do I see tot. ,: :..tit ffit-er, on friendly terms w ih t::e otthe oppoitei side ? or are you in the c v we'tn a fa. f'trace ?:'" Tie oui say r irney to do was at onee to fuly ' " l t visit uation, and to relate all tie l at ticil rs to tie late attempted abduc- tion e. Iu Ti b. I alone concealing, in the preseie.- et t.e orfhicfi-lifcer, the vicinity of B Ib rv er in. I+auchter listened with deep inte t . c um r, e iail. abich, however, was al rr av yiuvl rsitnclod h, the latter. When the old t,-ut +"n as formed of the generous offer of the E thb commander to liberate Barney on h' pir!h, he said Why don r -ou accept it, my boy? Ac cept it and tu'e up our quarters here Cora wouldd he g hi to have you do so; wouldn't you. larhmg ' Whatever pl ates you, dewr father, pleases me. I have no alvicce to offer Mr. Barney on the suhject. 11w own sense of duty and honor should govern his actions." " Thank you, Miss Cora; that sense of duty impels me to declhte the offer. The fortunes of war are as various and changeable as the wind, as my recent adventure shows. I may be re-captured-I may escape-and if so, shall at once be at liberty to again draw my sword in the cause of freedom. But on my parole I should be doomed d to stand idly by and see my ountrymen struggling. for success, and have my hands bound, though not with a-shackle upon them. I prefer to endure imprisonment and take the chances which fortune may throw in my way." Cora did not speak while she listened to his remarks, but her beautiful eyes told him that she appreciated his noble and honorable sen- timents. " Well, at least you can stay to dinner," said the Alderman, not at all liking the araumenta which indicated the coming loss of Barney's Company. "If Mr Morley thinks it compatible with his duty, I shall not object," said Barney. "We have the whole day before us," said the English officer, 'and I certainly shall not mar its pleasure by hurrying Lieut. Barney away from such agreeable company. I have several friends in the army whom I wish to see, and I will call on them." "Oh, you must not leave us-you'must he, one of our dinner party," said the Alderman. " Water affording us so much pleasure in bringing one friend to see us, it would be really unkind, sir, not to give us a proper op- portunity to thank you," said Cora, blushing beneath the adrpiring but respectful gaze of Morley. "Many thanks, fair lady ; I will go for a time, and return in season to partake of your hospitality," said Morley. whose delicacy told him that nothing would he more agreeable'to Barn-y than a private interview with her whom he loved. " Capt Hurlhut presents his compliments, and requests an interview with Mr. Bedlord'- said a servant, entering at this moment. ' Let him come in at once Fine man, avery fine man, Barney. All the red-coats a'e not lise that scoundrel Elliott Captain ITirlbut kin d the guerd out of the house, and brought me eneral Howe's apologies for my 'curvy treatment--yes, sir, his excellence's apologies. It was kind of him-very kind ! You Eng- lishmen, Mr. Morley, are beginning to carry on war in a very genteel manner; sir--very genteel!" "I hope from my heart, sir, that this war will soon be over," said the young officer, warmly. "It seems so unnatural to fight against those who speak the same language, who were born with the same affinities, who. are used to the same customs !" "Yes, sir," said the Alderman; "it is very like the most unpleasant of all quarrels--a family quarrel. I've had eases brought up be- fore me for my decision, before now, in which relation complained against relation, air; and I had one way of settling them, which I found very efficacious, sir--very efficacious r" "May I ask what it was, sir?" "I fined both parties, sir, and admonished then 1' - At this moment atain Buribut entered. cm Tbi1 M ~"a-WAl1 S-MA I''S GIITDGE He w as introduced to Barney, but required no introduction to Morley ; they were old friends. "I came to see you particularly, Mr. Bed- ford,' said Huribut, after the introduction had taken place, "to warn you to be on you- guard against that villain Elliott. A short time since -only a couple of hours-my duty led me to the lower part of the city, and I saw the wretch in company with several cut throat looking -asals. tie was eunningly disguised, but I snew the villain the moment I set my eyes on him. We shall soon evacuate the city with the army, and I shall not be able as now to have a watch kept over your safety." "Ill keep a suaderbuss for the rascal!" said the alderman. "I'm getting strong now -and if he hangs around afteryour army has left, I'll have him arrested as a tory dog, sir, and hung, if I can. Ah, captain, there were three British institutions which have been abolished in this country, which I admired very much-very much, sir ; they were so ad- mirably adapted to such fellows as that Elli- ott. He was brought before me once in my magisterial capacity, and I stated .then in court, sir, my regret that I could only fine him. But Barney had punished him already, sir-,-had committed a justifiable assault and battery on him. You remember it, don't you, my lad?" "Yes, sir," replied Barney-"not only be- cause I inflicted a richly merited chastisement on the villain, but because it was the occasion of my introduction to-yourself and daughter." As he spoke he glanced at Cora, with a look which threw the rich blood up into her cheeks up to her very temples.I " May I asks Alderman, what those institu-1 tions were which you regretted had been abol- ished?" asked Hurlbut "The whipping-post, the ducking -stool and the pillory, sair; Christian institutions, sir, in- vented expressly for such seape-gallowsrascals as;Elliott. Tnere are fellows, sir, who don't care a rap for a fine or impriso ment ; but, souse them under water, or give them forty, save one, on the bare back, and you touch their consciences, sir i" "Is it probable that the army will move from the city soon, air ?" asked Cora, timidly, 76 for she felt, mo' e than any other jinnoyed at the vicinity of such a vile, unscrupulous vil- lain as Elliott. "We are under marching orders now, lady. Probably to-morrow, or next day at the latest, the column will move over into New Jersey. His excellence the general has made no con- cealment of his line of march, aid probably we shall have a battle." "Whatever may be its result-and I do not deny that my wishes and prayers are on the American side-I hope, sir, that you, who have been so kind to us, will pass through it unscathed," said Cora, in a tone of deep feel- ing. So. do I-so do I, sir. You are a gentle- man, sir-one of my own school. I like you. You must dine with us, sir, to-day- That ras- cal Eiliott and his drunken guard made sad havoc with my wine bin, but I have some crusty old port left." "I thank you from my heart, fair lady, and you, kind sir, for youi good wishes and the invitation. Were all rebels like you, I fear that but little dependence could be placed on our army--at least on the gentlemen in it. Un- de' such temptations, I fear they would forget their loyalty," and he bowed low to the love- ly girl as he spoke. "Don't flatter the girl, captain;" said the Alderman; "I can't spare ber yet, and when I do, I suppose that fellow Barney, there, will take her under his wing. Oh, you needn't blush so,-either of you!" And the Alderman chuckled over the confusion which his off- handed remark brought upon both of them. "Envy is not a part of my nature, or I should surely grudge the lieutenant so fair a prize," said Morley, bound to have his oar in the water. "But his lot carries out the poet's thought-'none but the brave deserve the fair.'" Both officers (English) now rose, and, prom- ising to return at dinner-time, left. It would be rude and very uneourteous for us, reader, to remain with Barney and his lady love when we know that, both being deeply in love, and wanting to tell each other so, they would rather be alone ; so let us leave them, and slide off somewhere else, and see what our other characters are doing. I' i page: 76-77[View Page 76-77] THE MAN-O -WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE TWO VILLAINS. Tom Riley was not in very good humor when he was set on shore Trom the Arethusa. He had two causes to be put out-in fact three of them. First, his trip and its consequent of five hundred pounds in pocket was brought to a sudden stop ; next, the vesselhaving been taken from him by Barney and his crew, and retaken by the boat from the Arethusa, was now held as a lawful prize to the frigate ; lastly, as the ministers sometimes say, he had received more kicks than half-pence, more curses than blessings, while aboard the vessel: for men-o'-war's-men don't like landlords, ex- cept when they are ashore on a spree, and during the entire Revolution tories were des- pised even by those on whose side they fought or acted. This is a notorious fact. Riley was ready for a growl the moment he entered his house. He had his lips set for it, and only wanted a glass or two of his rum to set nim going. In fact, the article which he kept for his common run of customers would have made a deacon growl just before a good dinner. But the individual whom he left in charge when he started on his trip gave him no time for an outburst, for as soon as he ert- tered, that worthy, who was seated on a bar- rel-head, and who evinced no surprise what- ever at his unexpected appearance-in fact, "One-sided Jack" was never known to evince surprise at anything-jerked the stump of his left arm toward the door of the inner room, and said : "There's a chap in there that's been goin' on awful about you. You hadn't better go in " "Hadn't better go in, eh ? If he was the devil himself, I'd go in now! I never wanted a fight so bad in my life ! Give me a pint mug of that old brandy, you lop-sided curse!" Jack squinted his one eye at Riley, grinned all over one side of his face, and with his only flipper drew the required liquor, which, though it was fourth proof, being kept for his own private use, Riley swallowed at a breath with- out a wink. Then turning to the door, he did not wait to open it according to his usual custom, but kicked it open. Dressed in a shabby suit, with a slouched hat drawn down over his eyes, a cigar in his mouth, and an empty glass before him, sat a man whom Riley did not recognize. "Who the h-1 are you, that's anxious for a mues with Tom Riley ?" he cried, looking ' daggers through his one eye. "Why, Tom, are you back? By Jove, I d rather see you than a king !" cried the man, springing to his feet. "Don't you know me, man? Give me your hand !" "Why, it can't be-no-yes, it is ! Is it you, Master Harry ?" said Riley, scarcely be- lieving the truth of vision in his one optic. "Yes, it's me, Tom." "And why don't you curse me-I've lost your vessel!" "D-n the vessels!" "And the gal came ashore, too, as soon as the frigate dropped her mud hook." "The girl? why, you didn't carry her off !" "Yes, but we did, though. I had her all safe aboard, but the men I had turned out to be d-d Yankees, under a chap that called himself Lieutenant Barney. They took the craft from us, and then, when we lay becalm- ed under the guns of the Arethusa, she sent a boat, and Barney had to give up." "What kind of a looking girl was it that you had on board ?" asked Elliott. "Well, she was a little taller than common, had a smart, saucy-lookin' face, and eyes as black as a bottle, and twice as bright." "Caroline Ormsley, by Jove ! her descrip- tion to a dot !" "Well, -we found her in bed in the very room you told us to go to, and she never kick- ed a kick nor squalled a squall when we. car- ried her off." "No-she had her own reasons for not re- sisting. And you say she is on shore ?" "Yes-came ashore with a crooked cub of a nigger, afore I did." "Then I must be on my guard. She is more dangerous than fifty men, and she has sworn to ruin me. She has well nigh done it now." "Why don't you split her wizzen, then?" "I will, if ever I get her in my power again." "But why don't you wear your uniform? What are you rigged out so shabby for? That's the why I didn't know you." "It's soo long a story to tell now. I've left the king's service, and that girl is the cause of it. And now I'll have revenge on both of them. I'll humble the one and kill the other, or die in trying it." "I suppose I lose my five hundred pounds, that Cora Beaford is afelin my power., We Master Harry ?" shall need your house as a place of ren ez- "No, Tom, not if you'll be faithful and help vous." me carry out my schemes. I thought I "Aye-and I'll be careful for all time to couldn't count on you after you went away, come who I let in that I don't know. Here I but I've got half a dozen as desperate devils had that Barney and one of his men for three as ever cut a throat or borrowed a purse with- or four days, and was so bloody green that I out the owner's leave, and they've sworn to didn't know him from a regular Liverpool stick by me." wharf-rat-a foremast hand. I'll sarve him "So they will, Master Harry, as long as out yet, as sure as my name is Tom Riley. money is to be made. I'm kind of honorable But, Master Harry, this is dry work. You that far myself. Jack ! bring in a bottle of my particular, you "Well,. I can count upon your assistance lop-sided, one-eyed lump of foul weather, now." you!" " To be sure you can. I want to am them The order was obeyed, and for the present five hundred." we will leave the two unmitigated villains to "Well, you shall have them the very hour concoct their plans, while we sail on. CHAPTER XXXIX. A SOCIAL DINNER. In olden times, dinners-that is, ceremonial ones--were far more substantial than they are now. People met in those days to eat and to drink ; now-a-days they meet to pay compliments, utter sentiments, and make long-winded speeches. On this occa- sion, in honor of his guest, Alderman Bed- ford was determined that nothing should be wanting. Wisely leaving Barney and Cora to pass the forenoon by themselves, he gave directions in all matters appertaining to the banquet. Therefore it may be supposed that when Morley and Hurlbut arrived at two o'clpck, the dining hour-the one used to the hard fare of a sea-going ship, the other to the exigencies of a mess table in war time--they were not at all displeased to find a table lite- rally laden down with fish, flesh. fowl, and their accompaniments. Both officers noted that the faces of both Cora and Barney were beaming with joy, when the jolly voice of the alderman summoned them from an inner par- lor to take a seat at the table. They evident- ly had enjoyed the morning-probabty had settled all the future which was at their dis- posal-for we know how thruthful is the adage, "Man proposes, but God disposes." "Fall to at once, gentlemen," said the Al- derman. "I'm a Christian man and a magis- trate, but I leave the saying of 'grace' to the parsons, whose trade it is. I never wait to be fashionable. When I'm well, I eat because it does me good and I like it ; when I'm sick, I eat all I can to try and get better. Fall to, Mr. Morley-and you, Captain Hlurlbut., We can't expect much out of Barney and Cora, there--but they'll have an appetite by-and- bye. J can remember when I used to go hun- gry ; it was when I went to see her mother at first. I was afraid Lucy would think me pig- gish, and I never ate a full meal at herFather's house. But I got over that soon after we were married-ha ! ha! Lucy was a fine girl-a noble woman ; knew to a turn how to roast beef, and could serve up a salmon fit for a prince. A fine girl was my Lucy. Cora is just as she used to be." And the old Alder- man heaved a deep sigh at the remembrance. "Is there any news of the proposed move- ment which it is riot wrong to impart to a prisoner, Captain Hurlbut ?" asked Barney. "There is news, my dear sir, which, con- sidering your present position, must be anyy thing but pleasant. The army will move to- morrow or next day-as soon as the vessels and transports have gone down the river. I presume, from what I heard at headquarters, that you and some few other prisoner's whom we have will be sent around to New York in a transport, under convoy, there to remain until you are exchanged, which last I most cordial- ly wish would soon happe, though I hope we may never meet except as friends." "I hope we may not, although if we do, I beg you, spare not a blow in memory that we have met before." j' .r+ + - .- P 'THE MAN-O'-WARS'-MAN'S GRUDGE. 77 78 j page: 78-79[View Page 78-79] THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. "I might in ihemory of those in whose pres- whom he heartily detested, than anything once we nave met," said the gallant officer, else. glancing at Cora. At last the dinner was over and the cloth Her face, which had paled at the thoughts removed. The gentlemen did not linger long that filled her mind the moment before, now over theirwine. The most unpleasant portion reddened slightly at this allusion, and she of the day for Barney was drawing near-it said : was the hour when he must part from the one "It ever you should meet in battle, and my whom most on earth he cherished-when to a memory could influence either or both of you, sense of honor and duty he must sacrifice the gentlemen, you would turn aside and seek some tenderest feelings of his heart. other foeman." It was in vain that he tried to'appear cheer- "Should we ever meet, lady, I shall remem- ful as the hour of separation drew near, and, her that wiesh," said Huribut. like a criminal who recently caid, "if 1I must "And I, most assuredly, 'added Barney. be hung, do the thing quickly, and let's see the Prey why am not I, who, or the same end of it," he said, as he arose from the table : profession, wil unfortunately be the most "It is time that we returned to the Arethu- likely to cross swords with my gallant friend sa, is it not, Mr. Morley ?" Barney, included in the general wish ?" asked "I regret that I am forced to say it is, hr. Morley. Barney. I am sincerely sorry that you wilinot "You are, lieutenant-you are, most as- take your parole altogether, for Miss Bedford's cured ly," said Cora. sake, if not for your own," replied the lieu- "Well, as I'm only a Christian and a magis- tenant. trate, I suppose there's no need of mentioning "Were he to forget his duty and honor for me in the matter," saidthe Aldermen ; "but my sake, Mr. Morley," said Cora, her bright if I was in full power now, I'd bind you all face beaming brighter still with the light of over to keep the peace. But you don't eat, patriotism, "his company would not be so gentlemen-dum vivimus vivamus, as they used agreeable to me as it now is.", to say when I was at my books. I'm very "If Washington were to send his ladies to much in favor of eating. I have noticed in conquer our officers, I should more fear their my magisterial capacity that the greatest ras- beauty and noble sentiments than the arms of calls had, like Cassius, 'a lean and hungry his soldiers," said Hurlbut. look,' and of course it was because they didn't "Perhaps all his majesty's officers are not eat enough to keep them good-natured with equally as chivalrous and gallant as yourself, the world generally and themselves partieular- my dear captain," said Barney, with a laugh, which I must aednowledge, was somewhat Thus, alternately eating and joking-now forced. filling a guest's plate and then replenishing It is not pleasant to describe a painful part.- his own-the worthy Alderman enjoyed the ing ; suffice it to say that in a few moment dinner, forgetting that he had been confined after, Cora was weeping in her room, the wo to a sick room for some weeks. However, his thy Alderman was washing grief down with early release from that could more justly have an extra bottle of wine, and Morley and Bar- been attributed to the departure ei Elliott,, ney were on their way to the frigate. SHE MAN-O'-WAR'8-MAN S GRUDGE. ^CHAPTEIPT. AT SEA IN A TPEMP3SaT.- The report-this time wan true in regard to the evacuation of the city, although the British gdnaeal had materially altered his plane. Tatie was necessary for two reasons. As the season advanced, Washington's forces, weakened by the severe and inclement weather, now began to recruit and strengthen, and it was pretty certainly known that a heavy French squadron was off the coast. His route now was laid across New Jersey, over the eventful field of Monmouth, where, on the twenty-eighth of June, though not literally defeated, he was so severely punished tha' he was glad to draw off under cover of the night, and effect a rapid re- treat, whine Washington and his forces slept upon the battle field. But any of you can read history-I'll.corn back to my story. On the next morning after the dinner des- cribed in the preceding chapter, Barney, with his own men and ten or twelve other pris- oners, was tran'erred from the frigate to the armed transport schooner Cricket. The offi- cers of the Arethusa, who had even in that time become attached to him, parted with him with regret. He was so youthful, so sincere, yet so unostentatious in his patriotism, and his courage was so well known, that men 'f cbiv- airy and honor could not avoid liking him. Morley, his captor and friend, became espe- cially attached to him. But the parting words were said, and the transfer was made. Barney, on looking around him when he got on board the Cricket, found that his comfort was not increased, either in accommodations or society, by his transfer from the Arethusa.{ The Cricket, though built fora fast sailor, was quite overloaded. In addition to her fault crew of tweaty men, she had a guard of twenty-five marines on board to take care of the prisoners. Her cabin accommodations were very poor, She was commanded by a bull-headed, rum- bloated man named Seraggs, who had been turned out of the regular service, after he had attained a lieutenancy, for drunkenness and quarrelsome habits. As might be supposed, tie was as near a brute as any two-legged talk- ing animal could be. He was endurable only when about half drunk, and it was seldom he wa' so near sober as that. His first officer, Mr. Marge, tried to imitate his superior, as far as he could-te did so in drunkenness and tyranny, butlacked the cour. ?g of oraggs. The other mate. Mr. Nims, was a meek and hum le individual, who did iot grumble at any extra duty put upon him by the others, and who, to their infinite die- gust, always put water in his grog. He was a very good navigator, and eaved the other two the trouble of keeping the vessel's reek- oning. He was a very useful officer on board; especially because both his superiors were often too drunk to do duty. He never got "over the bay," spiritually speaking. The other occupant of the cabin, beside Barney, was Lieutenant Sponge, of the Royal Marines, who had especial charge of the ma- rines. He was a "sea sojer" and nothing else. If you want to know what one of them is, go ask the first man-o-war's-man that you meet. All these officers were on deck when Bar- ney was brought alongside in the Arethusa's boat. When he stepped on deck, acconpan- ied by Morley, Barney at a glance took in their respective characters. Morley at once proceeded to-introduee Barney to Scraggs and his officers, anA closed by hepinsr that they would make his time as agreeable as they could, for though a prisoner and an enemy, they would find him very agreeable company, and a gentleman. "Gentleman or no gentleman, he's got to rough it as wc do aboard the.Cricket I'' growl- ed Seraggs. "And we do rough itl" added Maggs. "No grub except rusty pork and horse beef--no lush except weak rum!" "Bad cheese and no porter !" added Lieut. Sponge. "What are those things coming aboard from your boat, Mr. Morley ?" " Some wine, brandy, and other stores for Lieut Barney," said tie officer. " Oh,-we'll find plenty of roonito stow them. in the cabin!" said the lieutenant, eyeing the various articles as if he considered them al- ready his own property. "Aye, and in our read basketsI" growled Seraggs. "I suppose it'll be mess property if the Yankee officer messes with us I' "Certainly," said Barney, determined to keep on friendly terms with all -parties, if he 'could. Morley now took a very affectionate leave of Barney, and shoved off, the other prisoners being on board, and a general signal up for all the vessels to weigh and stand down the river. "That Leftenant is confounded sweet on you, seem' that he's a king's officer, and you're a rebel 1" growled Scragga to Barney, after the Arethusa's boat had gone. "Quite friendiy-as I hope you and I will I I '78 page: 80-81 (Illustration) [View Page 80-81 (Illustration) ] I TUE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN S. GRUDGE. 80 be after we Ve taken a little of my old brandy together. ' rei lB:irne-,. - Suppose we go eb.o' ao try some - That s seisible-you must he a devilish good fellow, if you are a d-d rebel. Do you drink cater in your grog " -N' rr !" replied Barney, who knew his customer by that very question. " Give me your fist, my hearty I" cried Saraggs, holding out a hand which looked like a boiled lobster covered with barnacles. " You're no milk sop. There's Nims, my second mate, half-waters his grog. He isn't any manner of account. except he's very good in navigatin'. I don't bother with that non- sense 14 "Well, sir. we'll go below and open a bottle of that brandy-will you join us, Lieutenant Sronge '" "Yankee, I don't drink often," replied the soldier, "but when I do, it's just about this tune of day.' "And 3 ou. Mr. Magga, will not you ioin us P' "If you've got rum, I will. You needn't asa Nirrs, there--be don't care for greg, no way, and I've set him to work clearing up, ready to getunder way," replied the first mate. Toe four now went below, and when they came up, some ten minutes alter, all hands, r ecially Scraggs and Maggs, seemed to be in r x,' int humor. Tie brt'ze was tolerably stiff, and blowing fairly Mown the river. In the course of an 'or roorly every vessel wasunderway, stand- ing down. making a very pretty show with their snowy sails, moving along through the nmootlh water like a graceful flock of swans Deily lolen as she was, the Cricket not rily lhbl xuay with all the rest, but forged ahea i of omust of them. She was rigged with a square foretopsail and tppgallant sail, and carried t opmsst and lower stein' sails. She tal silei under the American flag, out of Baltimore, after the commencement of the war, but was captured soon after, and had l'en turn' I 'ver to the transport service. Barnc', ' imen, with the other prisoners, were eomnticed I"lw, a guard being placed at the liatchwav t prevent their coming on deck without piierusion. There were, all told, mioeteen rrsmere on board, beside himself. Amd X\t, Ulariey, with the daring which ever e'tara,'t"rzed hmni, determined, if there was tin' souhtet opening, to attempt a recapture cf the clonrer, although her crew, guard and eer. miiered forty-nine men all of whom re we armed. He had retained, unkno wn . ,i E me -rs of the Aretlhusa, and of course '.'ie wI 1o tbose on boardlthe Trans1ort,ihe rue2mil pair of pistols, and a k'en-bladed Oagrr which he had provided himself with beforee he entered into the service of Riey. The weapons being small, were easily conceal- ed, Tuey were, however, large enough to be used with deadly effect, at close qu tr rs. Each of the men who had been with iin o board the Mary," had been similarly provi- ded; and, although he had not been a le to communcate with them unobserved, he b' e1 they also had been able to keep their weapons in their possession. If so, by their aid, i an opportunity should offer, it was barely possi- ble, though the chances were desperate against so many well armed and watchful men, that he might succeed in catching them at a disad- vantage. But sailing in company with other vessels, under convoy which would notice in an instant any change in her course, or dis- turbance on board, the thought seemed akin to madness Yet there are some men who thrive best on difficulties, and who, though they often fail in ordinary matters, always suc- cceed in things which look impossible. The vessels made good headway down the river, and the day passed very agreeably, for Barney was free with his stores, of which he for- tunately had a good stock, and even Scragga, brutal as he was, treated the "d-d Yansee" with a great deal of kindness, in his way. So did Sponge. After getting so tight that he could hardly stand straight, he turned out his guard on the quarter-deck, and put them through the manual, just to please Barney, whom he declared to be a tip-top fellow. He said he would have made afirst-rate royal ma- rine, and regretted that he was a rebel. It was night before the vessels cleared the bay. As tney sighted the open sea between Henlopen and Cape May, they saw not that which they had rather feared, a blockading French squadron. But in a low blue bark of clouds that lay in the northeast, they saw the certainty of a head wind, and a very strong prospect that it would be anything but one of those "gentle zephyrs" which love-sick lads and lasses talk about. In preparation for this, many of the vessels began to shorten sail, send down ligh spars, etc. Perhaps this might have been done on board the Cricket, had not the secondti mate, Nims, suggested it When he did so, Scraggs d-d him for a white-livered milk sop, and swore that if the Cricket couldn't carry her spars, she should drag them. Barney watched the weather with a great deal of interest. In case of a heavy gale, the Cricket right get separated from the rest of the fleet, and that would add to his chances. Sponge. as long as he had plenty to eat and drink, didn't care whether a gale came on or not--he had no watch to keep-nothing to do with the working of the vessel. By midnight the fleet was fairly at sea close' haued on a wind, and, according to order, pretty well together, as could be seen by the lights here and there seen rising and falling on the heaving waters. The gale had risen rapid- ly. and seemed to increase every hour. The square sails of the Cricket had been taken in, f t^ a, , L 1! 1 lF L t T1 1 4 I 1I ' Sf t . , 'x t ; page: 82-83[View Page 82-83] THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MAN'S GRUDGE although Scraggs held on to them until she almost buried herself in the head sea which pitched in from the northeast. She was now under her main sail, foresail and jib, and these, without a reef, were evidently too much for her. " Hadn't I better take in a single reef, sir ?" said Nimns to Scraggs, in a very humble man- ner. "Go to hell, you water-drinking lubber, with your reefs. Why, it don't blow hard enough to take the fleas off from a Jamaica niggers hide!' shouted Seragga. "Carry on her till I tell you to take in a reef!" "It is going to be rather a rough night, captain," said Barney ; "suppose we take a little more of that brandy t" "It is a going' to blow a good whole sail breeze, I s'pect-brandy won't hurt none to- night !" said Scraggs, softening down. "Won't you join us, Lieutenant Sponge ?" asked Barney. "I don't know but that I might with pro- priety,'' replied Sponge; "it is seldoni that I drink at night, but if I do, it is generally about this time." If it should come on to blow harder, and you should need the services of any of my men, Captain Scraggs, I am sure they could be depended upon," said Barney. "Aye-may be so-butI've got men enough of my own ; d-d lazy beef-eating lubbers. It takes me and Magge to knock the work out of 'em. Nims isn't of any account. I never knew a man 4tat watered his grog that was." "Mr. Maggs, were going below to freshen the nip, won't you join us ?" asked Barney, of the last mentioned officer, who, with a pipe in his mouth, was walking the deck. "Don't care if I do," said Maggs, with a pleasant growl, looking as kind as a big bull- dog when you heave him a piece of meat. "I'm like old Sponge there-I don't drink often-that is, never except when I'm dry-and if I do, it is'generally about this time !" "Oh, you needn't be laughing at me, Maggs, I haven't taken more than twenty nips to-day, and I swear you're at least about half a dozen a head of me !" "Bless yoa, I ought to be-I've got more stowage room below !" said Maggs, bringing his huge paw down upon his abdomen with a slap, as if to shake do on the contents and make more room. The party now went below, and Nims walk. ed the deck alone. Being alone he indulged in a soliloquy. And it ran thus: "Swig-swig! There they go! There's nothing' ever softens Scraggs ormellows Maggs, but rum. As water is to oil, so is rum to them. I oughtn't to grumble when they drink-it makes the times easier for me. While they're drinking' they aren't growlin'-- while they're pitehin' into the liquor they forget to pitch into me. I wonder if ever I'll get aboard of a better craft than this. The craft is good enough-but Scragga is the devil, and Maggs is his mate. I've Hearn tell that there is a difference betwixt hell and purga- tory. I guess the last craft I was in was pur- gatory, for it was a little easier there than here. Thunder how it blows. I'll wager a pound of tobacco agin a quart o' rum, that that foresail goes out of the bolt ropes afore long." At that moment, rip-rip went the sail, tearing into ribbons in a moment. "Tobaceojwins !" said Nims, coolly, as he put his head down the companion way of the cabin, and shouted- "The foresail's blown away, Cap'n Scragge!" "Let it go and be d-d !" growled Scraggs, in a deep basso from below. "It's a pity you didn't go with it !" added Maggs. "If I had, there'd be more work for you!" growled Nims, as he turned and admired the ripping propensities of the gale, as it finished up the foresail. "It saves work a reefin, or a gettin' of it!" The vessel was much relieved by the loss of the foresail.' and made better weather of it now, although she still had more canvas than she ought to carry under the circum- stance. But she was so deeply laden that she did not heel to the wend as she would had she been lighter, and "therefore seemed more able to bear it. For hour after hour, even after the watch was changed, Nims paced the deck, stopping occasionally to listen to the sounds of song and shout and laughter that came up from below, tokening the manner in which the oc- cupants of the cabin were enjoying them- selves. "I'm a thinkin'," muttered Nims, ' that that Yankee officer thinks he is keen, and can drink them fellows drunk. Wiy, he might just as well try to fill a leaky cask, as to get enough into Maggs or Seraugs. And as to the sojer-he soaks it in just like any other Sponge!" At last, however, the songs and laughter grew more faint, and finally only an occa- sional word came to his ear, and then it was sure to ne aeeompaned by the clink of glasses. It was nearly morning, and Nims began to feel so weary that he thought of running the risk of a cursing from Maggs, by asking him to come on deck and relieve him, when, to his utter astonishment, Barney came up from the cabin, in a perfectly sober state, "It is blowing very fresh, Mr. Nims," said the latter, glancing to windward. "Yes, sir, blown' great guns-it carried our foresail clean out of the bolt ropes--didn't have a yard of canvas to swear by. Isn't -Mr. Maggs coming on deck soon, sir ?" "I hardly think he will. I left him and Captain Scraggs hugging each other very lov- ingly under the tale." 83 page: 84-85[View Page 84-85] "D n him here I-ve been on deck all Barney took charge, and acesesflly per ight" saidrNitena 1 forming the xnanouvre, soon had the schooer Then he started, and actually turned pale at on the other tack. The escape was very close his n ate' rity;for he never had dared to however. As day dawned, they found that d-en Mgg before on board, and he seemed they had sagged down into a cove which to fear him now, even though he was helpless- in. and had teen almost into the breakers 'et "ly g dru e cn, foor. ? skfore they were discovered. But they were not "Je sogeru oas drunk, I expect, osaidbut of dnger, although' now on a tack which Barneyahg;a buifevrhwsdwy from the more immediate as j ao "but if ever he was drunk peril The-gale was very high. If it increas- it was just about this time." ed so that they could not carry sail it would "Aniyet you're as sober as I am" be utterly impossible for them to k to "Cer'ain-y, Mr. ima--I never get intox- the bight into which they ad been set o the icate'-"be he adbengtb h And don't water your grog either? Well, other vesurret. Only two or three of the that's strange." ey eres of the fet were ingsi- tced Barney could have revealed a secret, in re- earlerin t far to wdward, havintacked gard te the wa , in which he managed to drink " Have you not a spare foresail, Mr Nim 9" and still keep sober hut as it might have in. asked Barney. p-r ducked ien to try the experiment, he did not "Yes, sir." ofered vSer considatimeywa very weary, he "Well, we ought to get it on her. If we do offered, very considerately, to take charge of not carry on and drag the vessel out of this the deeuk for him, ad let him go below to get cove we'll go ashore as sure as fate and if we a little sleep. But Nimns was a good officer, do, no man could live five a ae n ftog eddw~rhsgo eke etrbekr. minutes in those though he lid water his grog; he knew better breakers.'" ol iv iemnte ntoe than to entrust the care oh the vessel to a pri- "That's true, sir; but I don't b goner when d ahe othertfloers were helpless- whole crew could bend and hoist the sail in fyebrite v ad aueul'declined the of- Isuch a blow." fer. IIx, Iloever, said he'd just step below "My men can help vou--very one is bound and mix a glass of grog. to work in such a crisis," said Barney. Barny had heeu in hopes that he could in- Nime looked at the cahiu ' e-. duce Ministo leave' ihe deck in his charge for "I wish Scragga and M1g1 Wreabetob a while for if tie had, he might easily have on deck," he mutere( aggs were able to be released his nen, retaken the vessel, and by "But they are not, Mr. Nirns" said Barney at'-rir her eursT, before daylight have got "You are a good sailor, and will doBetner Clear of ihe tI i-t To carry out that plan, be without them."etter tad gotl etbcioficerbinthestatethey were Nims was open to flattery. He rose a foot in, bta Ni'i wkther he suspected him or in his own estimation immediately, and Bar-- The., wayt, wisjustbeifoi tomd ney rose at least a fattcm in his confidence. The day was just beginning to dawn, when "Well, you attend to gettingthfoealn Barney. who was looking to leeward at the her. Mr. Barney; [1 sa at there," reien "There are breakers on our ime.bedime. "Let Mr. Barney a men help the cresw Nim.," aee eam, Mr. wito that sail,'' e added, addressing theguard " Breaers o the le bowl" shat the hatchway.g euad "Breakers on the lee how!" shouted a man In a few moments all the prisoners were " Breakers ahead l" mixed with the crew, and e Tory one working Socaos ahad wecried another voice, as hard as possible in getting t'e new sail on So close aboard were they that their dull, the vessel. Barney now saw thti nvrh heavy roar, louder than thunder, could be die-l h a veael. a comisag that if ever ne tinetly heard. ha chance it was coming but be could not "Whnat had act at once. The ve-sel was in a position "Wal' shall I do, sir? They're too drunk which required every exertion, and the hole to call" said Nrs, his presence of mind ut- strength of the crew, to get her off the shore. terly .forsaking him, H adn cacet cmunctehne- "You must go about, sir, and that quickly' lons adiret dance to commune ate s inten- said Barney; "it breaks so far off on the Jer- changed looks with Thompuson, abd shoed sey coast that if we once get into the break- him that he was still armed, and meant ome- era we'll never get ashore." thing The seaman manag u to communicate "I'm frai she'll miss stays, it blows so to him that he and the restserill had their wea- hard, and there is such a tremendous head pons, and were ready for action as cioon as he " ' Then lower the peak of them -insailu gave the order. helm, and wear ther p the mainsail, up At last the sail was bent and set, and helm, adwahethuhteglnt vessel strained and quiver- "You take the deck, if you please, Mr. Bar- ed and groaned under the tremendo pre nd-fDo, sir-d ramnoti much used to a fore- sail, she began to gain and move away from the most imminent peril. TIE MAN G'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. a4 t l 'mss f3 t fi 6 f k .X 5 t i t a y t f THE MAN-O'WAR'S-MANS GRUDGE 84 85. Nims was delighted, and would have done son, and when Barney went aft erya one o aNytin frw a rne just then. the prisoners was aware of what h a bu anything for Barney j stth n tfd "I think I'll go below and take a nip, and to do. th e see if the captain and mate are not going to The first thingo-k a ich e did when he rat wake up before long," said Barney, after the aft, and v t seaurcouple of Nms Qf the k ws oer "SallI ix glas or oustffandvey scurlytie Mr. Nis by the , work was over. "u must need i after you galant hands and feet.- The helmsman saw this ope- Mr.e im o mkt eea" ration, and at first seemed to think it was a exe nMrBarney," replied the very good joke, for such okes are often play- "icerf;y ou tpma e , tM r . a ed on board ship. "ft was mke oriustat youo deck, But when, a moment after, Barney drew a Mr." it, instead of that drunken Sraggs or brace of pistols, and shouted " Forward there, Mr. Nmy insteadded arne ag he wentyouSachems-secure your men-the schoon- bheowa magg," added Barney, as he went eris ours" h1' e '-moula have fled below, but He appreciates me," cried the exultant Barney added; If you dare leave that helm, eim. "PId almost turn rebel to sail under or alter the vessel's course one point, Illsend such a man as that. It wouldn't be here, you a bullet through your brain." duchaNmn s'd ho that.- t would b e, u " Lord bless your honor, if that's what you d---d m, M iste r ttithe tob- mean," cried the old tar, "there isn't a man of 'oblige me, Mister Nims, by settg oer o us that won't be glad-of the change. We've gallant aail, and after your watch is over .oin"been bellied and abusied by old Scraggs till "Here s your toddy, Mr. im, said Bar- we've been tempted more than once to take ne cin yupt this moment. "I thought the craft from him. We would long ago,if y, cmst be fati d mie. you b that fellow that's asleep on the transom had yon must be fatigued, and mixed yours before had any spirit in him. We didn't any of us Thank you, Mr Barney, said ime, sal- understand navigation." lowin the oiur w rneyhe satty it t 4" t Wasthe general feeling of the crew, lowing the liquor with the flattery without but little resistance was offered, except by the Barney now went below, and remained a marines, who, to do them justice, are always considerable length of time, long enough. in. loyal. These were overpowered, being unable deed, to have mixed and drank several glasses torehon Of'Thompson, atwhich theefirsr ed, by , og. u imtune-h art was full of the thought Barney. The vessel was ow in compete po - that Barney appreciated his merits. The session ofBarney,who,essions secured all of the Eglihen schooner was working off shore steadily deint secon the E g hm- tho gh ul wl , nd he be an to fe l er c m -g d t r m ined to be on the safe side. 'h e w ind, .though slowly, and he begch t rn tng as the sun arose, began to lull a little, though portable Theliquor,whieery veigsmed to it still niew very fresh; and ocasiona ly one sohe ti m down, and when at last Barney of the short,-heavy seas ever inidental to a ground swell, would come aboard, deluging Came o, dMeck, he yawned and said.:eeyhn oeadat u on omtra "I feel as if a little nap of fifteen ortwenty ever tfore and aft but doi no maera minutes wouldn't hurt me, Mr. arney. ll h g Th o ner t ly headed just lay own on the transom-bench a little high enough on this tack our after the recap- nwhile, if you'll look out for the schooner. You the land, and wah able to ed aher a little o- can call me if I'm needed, and 'specially if you ture, Barney s able Dedge her he to- hear tleir d -d Magge stirring.", ward the Capes of the Delaware, for he knew h ere is no daeaner of his stirring for a that long before than timp every armed vessel w Thle re i B an ge or of the British had left the river, and he deter- ie was too sleepy to notice the smile mined to surprise his friends in Philadelphia which fited over Barney's face as he spoke-- by his reappearance. in fact, that worthy had been growing sleepier After he had altered ,his course, and eased ever since he took the glass of grog Barney off his sheets a little, he determined to have had so kindly mixed for dha. He could not sore amusement. To effect this he called keep his eyes open any longer, and in less time Thompson aft." said he to the latter, " and after he laid down than I take to write it, he ' Go below, said he tae aterleand was so fu4 asleep that the broadside of a sev- bring up the three officers. Tak$e a couple of was sfon fatoasleep i this erod 't have men with you, and bring one at a time. You'll awakened him. It is doubtful if the trump of find no trouble with them, they're-dead drunk Gabriel would have startled him. and asleep; beside that, they're tied hand and Barney now moved about among the crew, Bany o mvd"butaon°hecew The seaman obeyed the order, and in a few giving an order here and there, 'withapparent Thensea was th , as a few carelessne -a, but really signalizing his intend moments Scragge was brought up, as yet pr- tions to hi own men. A. glance at the senti- feetly onconsciOlis. nel, and toe rack where the marineskepttheir "Set him on the deck there, with his back arms, was understood in a moment by homp- against the transom, and put a lashing page: 86-87[View Page 86-87] THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. to keep him upri ht. Then put one ofhe b , and I'll keelhaul you. Blast you, others on each side of him, and set Nims on ca'-",adIl elalyu ls In a s ttle while there the arney-a. His mouth, opened to its fullest tension just and a pretty looie tr y wereallinarow then, received afall quantityeofs twater,nd .Take a ucke t and wash 'em down," said He first plutte Bne, thenofaeen ta Barney, who, with the crew, was almost burst- he was LasoedtatBarney, then feeling that ing with laughter, left t,looked at the individual on his Thompson drew a bueketfull of water,and eCapts e di a is dashed it in the red face of Captain Scrae 'Ctone.aanSeraggs !" he said, in a dismal Toe water alost seemed to sizzle as it struck ',Mister Maggs ?" echoed th . .e his luminous Countenance. dolefuecoedtye still.mat " No--h g ber-d___ dou eedolefully still. esipr oe growledScraggs,imagin'gyou, keep her full," "We're ma hell of a box," said the mate. had come up n the dinig that the vessel "I bet we are," replied the other. by a sea.n an been boarded "Where's Nims, d----n him Where's Another bucket came into his face. Nims" ay i " jut D-~,hatyufrabe-aigsnlg n ig as usual to spring to his feet a gun, why don't you keep her full? I'll at the sound of the bull's voiek split your infernal bead-""Iyte iloe vtoiTe d.-dYne Swash came anotherbucket in his face, has served bilboe lke,"ogre.d SYange throwing some of the water down his throat "Why don't you rouse thelgroled Seragp as he opened his mouth. This partially awak- too?" ydy sojerup ened hm, and with half drunkenastonish t Dash went a couple of buets o after to and bewilderment he opened his eyes. the face of Sponge o ukt fwtrit ."Give him another dash, Thompson" said "Here's to KingGer. Barney; "he wants the mist washed away." the Yankees," Gore iphp-"- Tenext _bueketfull, filling both eyes and Sa.swash w en cul mr dss mouth, completely aroused him,b "EysghWash went a couple more doses "Bast yourteyes, what're you about there?" unifor h d ht ine ou, you'll spoil my he shouted, struggling in vain to raise his a r-',sour-Ugh___Stew- hanghito wash away the blinding before him wide, soldier, too,dhad his mouth opened too Thn, ecried: ie, justthen, and-he got an extra dose of I tei' some bloody fine joke you're play- around him, and for a moment contemplating 'n mey ouhi d - dut ankee y" their lugubrious face hmoe n ske md:tng i'Anything but a joke. CaptainWSeraggs," here's m fe,he asked: p said Barney. at the same time taking the smatl "Down beloywsergeantg on American flag from his bosom to which we tions of fortune i nating on the vailla- have alluded before, and shaking it in the face "I s'pose you thatime 'replied Barne. of the astonished prisoner, and adding, "this you ?" growled rnggsyoure smart, dn is the hag which the Cricket will sail under yoRather !" replied Ba y "a rpidBre.hereafter."thn" think?,, ney. What do you "Youbdon't mean it. What a d-d jack- "I think I'd like to h ass I've een,"growled Scraggs, looking in as- now-d ln you."t ave you where I am tonishment at the companions who were bound "What would ou do - on either side of him. you had me there o, Captam Scraggs, if ne o mean it, Captain Scraggs," said Bar- "D--n you, I'd keep you here forever, and kick the face off of you, you infernal rebel." Just douse Maggs and the sojer here a lit. "Thompson, just cool the captain rebelit- tle bit-wake 'enm up so that they can see tie, he is holeri this morning offalit- fools they have been too " said Swash went a bucket of wat a' Scraggs to Thompson, who stood before him face, filling his mouth, which was roln ou buce hand. t a volley of oaths, with brine almost as bitter Brgeych nodded to him to comply with as gall. Ma s opened his mouth to echo the duktid, h laapiygitcaptain, and he got a dose that soon silenced S ,rag- charitable wish, exemplifying, as it hssateyoTesoder er ilepte did, the old adage, that 'misery loves com- his otat ra esodier, very wisely kt panye" ueiswash--ashdash--went any of these visitations, he enjoyed the afe washt ofwah-dash, d as fetDibuct scene. It was fun for him to see his old ty- ly he began to growl int aggs' face. Direct- rants, powerless and drenched t il y- " D -- ad las smbeddrowned reed.until they re- ly e egn t gow. embledwed rats more than anything how o hand bleat your eyes, .be careful else. how you heave water when you're wasbin' down decks ! Do that again, you slab-sided -re thaggnh saw hi laugh, and it roused m Ir hnhe had yet exhibited.mor I ' a ; e r 4 , 87 TElE IAN-G'-WARS'-MAN S GRUDGE. I "iNime, you infernal wbite-livered, grog- while you are in my power. I forgive you watering, cat-eyed son of asea-cook, stop your and Captain Sraggaboth, now,for you can' grinning. D-n you, I'll pay you fo r this! harm me any more ar Just wait till I m cast off once, I'llnot lDave a low"Nims, you're a brave, nohie, warmly fbl bone in your body." low," said. Barney, grasping hi 9wrmyby Nims turned pale and trembled. the hand. bDon't e afraid ot him, Mr. Nims," said "I'll try to prove myself one, sir!" said Barne "he can't harm you now." Nims, with emotion. ' You shall never regret a' D-n him-I'll have him hung for letting your kindness to me, sio!" 'i the schooner re taken when it was his watch Magga' face, w ih hdbe opl u o deckonrowled koregg . "I'tl have his' moment before, now turned red as fire. His n just as soo as I get clear!" lips quivered-then great tears started from huno you wontyou red-nosed old porpoise," his eyes, which perhaps had never wept be- said Nims, growing bolder as he felt that he fore. He could have borne abuse, kicks and, was under Barney's protection. "I'll never blows from Nims, but this unmerited kimd- was under yourncue agaoteeto. I'll ship in ness from one whom he had so maltreated, the Continental service the very moment I'm opened flood gateswhcoteis mgt put ashore. Blast you and your king-I've have been sealed forever. he ered served the one and been' abtseed by the other, "'e"Forgive me, Mr. ims," ebubrd unt ish the devil, your master, had you 'e treated you like a d-d rascal, and I bth."w deserve to be hung. If you'd have, had me, You needn't wait till you get ashore Mr. up to the gangway, and given me twelve ia, ytou enterthe Contii tal e - ozen I wouldn't hve felt it o keen as them ceie y u n w, t dtosho w bhow muh I trust words of yourn." your truth to me, and devotion to the cause of I never asked mortal man to forgive me liberty, I appoint you to keep guard over before, but I do now, Mr. Nims I" said Capt. these prisoners." said Barney, cutting the Scraggs.Ydo1 ropes which confined iys, as he spoke. If I forgive you both-from my heart I do " they are insolent to you. punish them." said Nims, actually weeping. "I'm not one " Mr. Barney," said the poor fellow, as to bear malice." tears started in his eyes, "God bless you. "Then you'll please to give me a drink of You are the only officer that has spoken a kind water?" moaned Sponge, who looked more word to me fir years. I d die for you. Wher- dismal, if possible, than either of the rest. ever you go, the only favor I ask is to let me " My head aches like a drum." follow you and stand by you!" " Certainly-and a drop of rum in it," said "You're a pretty white-livered son of a Nims,"if Mr. Barney will permit it." sea-cook to stand by any body, you whimper- un "have no objection;' said Barney. "You ins traitor!"ayelled M aggs. . may bring some rum up for all of them- mims turned and looked at him for one mo- they'll need it to taper off on." meon, at ifhe anwould rtaehim, up the nearest went ims, now, with as ucjh ahierity as 'would his better nature conquered and he said: characterize a good nurse when attending to "Magge, you've cursed and abused and - a sick patient, hastened to serve these men " Mggs yu'v cuse an ause an i- acha s ofenheapedabs and wrong posed upon me from the first hour you saw who had so otheaed atefnw. me till now ! You've put extra duty on me upon him. And they were grateful. -you ve robbed me-you've *wronged me in Reader, there is something god in every- every way you could I You've never spoken thing-in every one Ih etencsay. Allbr it a kind word to me before folks, nor have I euire is the ad cdrcumstrue t oat rinhere ever heard that r on spoke a good word be- out. And if the old adage is true that "there hind my ba k. Now, isn'tthsru" are various ways of whipping the devil around iYeba-d-n you, yes i" the stump" itis no lets true that byproper "M es-im going to punish you now- management you can control, bend and soften you heard what Mr. Barney told me to do if the most obduratereha acter.a n i a bor you were insolent-I'm going to .punish you, ml something after the nature of a horse. Magg " eSome dan be d gven, others can be oaed e The villain turned pale, desperate as he was, some seemed to be goodutemperedrem their hut spoke not. He evidently expected such colhood, th r vin is f ar reti- treatmntashe would hae inflicted had the Bu as a geneake ahn ndess i," far mor position of himself and Nima been reversed, powerfulthnhesuorwi. uttik "I'm goin to punish you, Maggs, by saying of that and "make a note n t " as mold I'm sorry for youI" continued Nims, quietly.; friend Captain Cutte ued to say. it was safe, "and telling you that helpless as you now After be became stain of is sfe, are, I'd scorn to take advantage of yoo and Barney made the ituio hida protners though I'll see that you stand no chance more comfortae,asltuil be remembered, the of release, I'll not hurt a hair of your head heir release,fr page: 88-89[View Page 88-89] 88 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S.IAN'S GRUDGE. crew of the schooner, and the mariners outnumbered his men more than two to geara "e, sir, I remember otveryd yw u "Will you do me one favorCapt. on- WlIfudom yowerdopm ikedl eraggs, as the vessel was ptarney? there, and as you lied yoi~r irandiy strong, I the agyv standing into strengthened it with that" he Bay "The devil! I see through it all!" "With pleasure, sir, if I can with justice to i"I was well you watered my grog," said myself," replied Barney. Nims. "I want to know, if you please, sir, how it "I powdered your's too, Mr. Nims, but not was that you managed to make us all so quite so potently as theirs," said Barney, with drunk, and keep sober yourself!" said Scraggs. a smile. "Do you remember that I told you I had Leaving the schooner dashing up the bay, the toothache, and asked permission to look with the American flag flying at her gaff's for some tincture of myrrh, in the medicine end, and a fine breeze after her, we will close chest?" thie long chapter, and open another. a-' .a- I THE MAN-O'-WAR S-MAN'S GRUDGE I remember once when I was in Charleston, S. C., hearing a French gentleman" all of the olden school," telling another where he had passed the evening before. Said he : "I was wiz one varee select companie. Zere was Shack Miller, and Shon Shenkins and Monsieur Delaplan and myself-Von varee se- lect companie I" The City Marshal, who was taking. a smil with me at the French coffee-house on "the bay," remarked, sotto voce, "Four more accom- plished villians couldn't be raked up in the city." So, on the same principle, "a very select company" was assembled in the back room of Tom Riley's groggery, on the second night after the city had been evacuatedby the Brit- ish. Although it was scarcely yet midnight, the front door, which was usually kept open nearly all night, was carefully closed, as were also the window blinds. A large table was set in the room, and upon it stood several bottles and glasses-and over it also were strewed a variety of weapons. There was the deadly and dastardly slung'shot -the keen double edged Spanish dagger-the three-cornered Italian stiletto-the heavy and dangerous looking English sheath knife. Pis- tols, too, of various kinds and sizes,were there. And a rough, lawless looking set of despera- does were the owners of these weapons Elli- ott, still disguised, was there, a scowl of fiend ish hate resting on his face. Tom Riley pre- sided at the head of the table. "One-Sided Jack" acted as steward, while the rest of the company, seven in number, looked as if they had been sent up from below, by the devil, to perform some foul deed at his especial bidding. They appeared to have come from all quarters of the globe. One was a huge, repulsive loo t- ong negro. A cut, reaching from his temple clear down to his chin, had laid the flesh open, and left a broad white scar. His great eyes looked red, as if they were stained with blood, and when he opened his mouth it looked more like that of some carniverous animal than that of a human being. His hair was grizzled, and he boasted of being one of those fiendish wretebes who, in a recent revolt in the West India Islands, had butchered a large, number of women, after perpetrating the most horrid enoraities, having first slain their defenders. He was one of Lhe few wh.' hid escaped the tearful fate-of the others who had been burned ahve--he having, after being wounded, fled to the muntaiius, where he remain'-d until he had an opportunity of joining a.pira-ieal vessel, which ran into an unfrequented cove in search of fresh water. At the time which I take of introducing this very setect company to the reader, this fero- cious monster was relating, with the greatest gusto, the 'fearful deeds in which he had par- ioipated. And lhe charter of his auditors may best be judged, when it is stated that they listened with gusto to his horrid details, ap- plauding as he described the struggles of beau- tiful, despairing maidens in the power of wretches like himself. Oh, God, how depraved and heartless man can be ! Often I sicken in describing his depravity, and yet never do I overstep that which I know to have been. "Fill up-fill up, hearties ! It'll soon be time for us to be on the move !" cried Riley. "Yes," said Elliott, draining a glass filled to the brim with brandy, "and remember, boys, a rich prize is before you-the old man has lots of gold stowed away, and a large service of silver plate !" "I envy you 'the prize the most, oap'n !" said the hideous negro; "that is, if she's as han'some as you say she is !" "Pretty ? There isn't a handsomer girl on the continent-such a form, full and voluptu- ous as that of Cleopatra-eyes large and I - trous as those of a gazelle-lips like aw- berries bursting with ripeness-a skin softer and fairer than the leaf of a fresh blown lily I" Oti, how the red eyes of the coarse negro' gloated as he listened to Elliott's impassioned description. " You'll remember your promise,cap'n!" he said : " you'll remember your promise about her!" "Yes-yes-it will',just satisfy my revenge after I've spurned her a ruined, debased crea- ture from my feet. Yes, Domingo; you, you shall ha e her;, and I only wish that her lover could be chained down within eight of you, as you clasp her, shrieking, to' your arms !" "Fill up once more. and we'll be off !" shouted Riley. "Here's to our noble cap'n !" "Here's to the captain--here's, to the-eap- tam!" cried all the rest. Elliott arose and thanked them. "Men!" said he, 'you have chosen me for a leader, and you will fled . in me one who never will flinch in any daring or damnable work. It was not the want of money atat made me seek you out and jon your band. I had enough and more thin enough. I sought revenge and ( will have it. Tots night I begins the work. But while L seek revenge for my own satis' nation, I do not"forge Gsour interest. 89 CHAPTER XLT. page: 90-91[View Page 90-91] I THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. There is plenty of gold and plate in the house which we enter to-night. Of that I shall not touch a single ounce for my own use !" "Bravo, captain I" Hurrah for our noble captain !" "No,.I seek, as I said, revenge I" All I want is the girl, and her I'll have, or die in the trial. You have sworn to obey me--to follow my leading 1" "Yes, to hell's gates, if you'll take us there 1" shouted the negro. "I trust to you all. This night is but the commencement of our work-after my hand is once in, you'll see that, like the lion which has once tasted human blood, there will be no stay to my appetite. You shall revel ingold 1" And beauty !" added the hideous black. "And rum and tobacco shall be as plenty as water in the river and chips in a ship-yard!" added Riley. "Now, my lads, I've said my say, arm and we'll start,'' said Elliott, concluding, and swal- lowing another glass of brandy. Each one now assumed his weapons and ar- ranged his disguise, and then Elliott imparted his plan. "I've secured one of the servants, by a heavy bribe," he said, and the door will be open to us. You know, Tom Riley, where the old man sleeps. You take two of the men and fix him. The strong chest is in his room. Do- mingo and myself will get the girl. The other four will stay and guard the door, and be ready to cover our retreat. You'll remain here, One-Sided Jack, ready to let us in with plunder, and be sure to have the door of the cellar vault open so that I can get the girl in quickly if we are followed." "All right, eap'n I I'll be on hand," said the cripple. "Do you all fully understand my plan ?" asked Elliott. "All-all!" was the reply. "Then follow me, but go still and keep scat- tering till we reach the house. And remember if there is any resistance, use steel; don't fire a pistol to alarm the neighborhood, if you can help it." The party now gathered in the outer room, and, let out by the cripple, departed one by one, from the door. After the last one had gone, " One-Sided Jack" closed the door. Then, from close under the eaves of tb' house, where the shadow was dense, two per- sons glided noiselessly out, and followed in the rear of the gang of desperadoes. The night was dark, for there was no moon, and a strong south-easterly breeze swept a dark and heavy mass of clouds in from sea-ward. i CHAPTER XLII. A FRIGHT. "Good-night!" Flow sweetthose two words sound from dear lips, when you know that, Un- like the sad farewell, it only meansau revoir for a little time. When you expect, your self refreshed by 'rialmy sleep, nature's sweet re- storer," so 2n again to meet the beloved one, more radiant more cheeriol than ever. How sweet the god night kiss exchanged between brother anu sister, between parent and child. Ho w holy the blessing invoked from Heaven when t+e aged lay their feebleh ands upon the heads of tie young, and with that blessing and prayer nid them go to rest. Reader, always p say good night to teose whom you love before you retire to slumber, for you know not that you may wake to bid them good morning. Never did Cora look more beautiful than when she bent her lovely head to kiss her dear father's brow, before she retired for the night. 11cr dark tresce, shining like the glossy down from a raven's breast, mingled with his white hairs, and her red lips touched his forehead, like a red rose bowing on its stem to kiss a lily. 4 And her voice was full of melody as she ten- derly said . -Good night, my dear father." "God bless thee, Cora, my darling," was his response, as be pressed her light and grace- ful form to his bosom. "May the good angels guard thee !" Then, accompanied by Eliza, she retired to her chamber. "I do not feel sleepy, yet it is time that I b retired," she said to Eliza, as she seated her- self in the room. I wonder where the poor lieutenant is now ?" said Eliza. "Oh, how I did hate to see him go." "He is probably on the ocean now. And the wind blows fearfully. Yet why should I fear that the elements would harm him, when man is more cruel ?" 'There's one comfort, Miss Co, a." " What's that. Eliza." asked the mistress. " He isn't alone in his trouble's ma'am. Jim Thompson, bless his noble heart, told me the night we tied the corporal, that he'd stick to him till it blew great guns-and that means always, for I don't believe that the wind will ever blow great guns, or the rain rain pitch- forks, though people do talk about such things-f 4"Thompson is, 'indeed, a fine fellow, Eliza, and very devoted to Mr. Barney, but, poor fellow, he too is a prisoner, and cannot help himself. We must have patience-they will be released some time." "Patience, Miss Cora! I thin we've been tried hard enough. It needed more patience than ever Job had to get along when those sol- diers were in the house. Patience is like good fortune, it isn't every one that is blessed with it, though, for my part, I believe I'm the most patientest crea'ure on this sublunary spear. You never see me get into tantrums, do you, Miss Cora?-not even when he chimney smokes." "Not often,my good Eliza--you are a kind, even-tempered girl." "I thought you'd say that of me, Miss Cora. Shall I fix you for bed ?" "Yes, if you like, Eliza, although I do not feel sleepy." "How sweet you do look, Miss Cora," said Eliza, after she had finishedthe night toilet of her beautiful mistress. Then she kissed her lily hand, and, bidding her good night, departed to her own room. And Cora knelt down to pray. How beau- tiful is prayer ! The kneeling of those who, though weak, and frail, and mortal, are made in His.image who is immortal. The looking up from this earth, which, with all its beauties, is still dark and sin laden, to the bright spirit land where angels sing His praises for ever- more ; looking up and feelieg that great above all greatness, powerful above ail power,.bright above all brightness, and good above all good- ness, though tie e, yet le bends His benign ear to the petitions of the humblest being who kneels upon His footstool. And Cora knelt in her white robes to pray for herself and for those whom she loved. Like a low gush of melody rolling on the breeze of even from off the strings of an reolian harp did her sweet whisperings fill that room. Who beta fiend from hell itself could regard her, in her spiritual beauty, in her parity, save with hallowed thoughts, thoughts as near akin to adoration as may be given to anything that is earthly. She has closed bher prayer-she rises-she approaches her couch--she turns down the snowy coverlets Hark ! She hears a footstep -a stealthy one.. Her door opens-she turns and beholds--Elliott, and a huge and hideous negro! K THE MAN-O -WAR-S MAN-S GRUDGE. 91 page: 92-93[View Page 92-93] THE MAN-O'- WAR'S-MAN S GRUDGE. THE MAN-O'-WARS'-MAN S GRUDGE. CHAPTER XLIII. ELLIOTT FOILED AND KILLED. It was nearly midnight when, undir only with a pleasant song. It will be unexpected, her mainsail and jib, a schooner swept by the and she will not know your voice." wharves of the lower part of the city. She "I a wholly at your service, sir-nothing came swiftly, for the wind was fresh and fair. will delight me more than to please you." When she had nearly reached Maraet street "Welt, get your guitar in tune, while I go wharf her jio was hauled down, and by the on deck and have a boat lowered." aid of her helm and her mainsail she flew N ms proceeded to tune the guitar, and by around quickly head to wind, the way that his fingers ran over the strings "Stand by the anchor," said a low voice it could be seen that he was no novice in its aft. management. For a moment the vessel shot ahead right in "The boat is all ready," said Barney, a few the wind's eye.then her headway ceased, then moments later, as he entered the cabin. she began to drop astern. "Shall we carry arms ?" asked Nims. "Let go the anchor," said the same voice. "I hardly know that it is zgeeessary," re- The splash of the iron and the rattle of the plied Barney. "On second thought," he con- chain as it ran through the hawee-hole was tinted, "I think we had. It is late, and there then heard, and soon the vessel was brought is no knowing who may be prowling around up, and lay as motionless as a house upon the the streets, especially if the American army land. Her mainsail was lowered, and, with has not yet entered the city." the other sails furled, and then all was still on Barney now selected a couple of swords board It was the Cricket. Let us now enter which hung in the cabin, one for himself and her cs bin, one for Nims. He also handed the latter one Barney and Nims were alone up in the cabin of his own pistols, p-tting its mate in his own -the prisoners had long before gone to their belt. berths. "We'll take another toddy, to mellow your "We'll take a light toddy as a night-cap, notes, and keep off the chill of the night air, Mr. Nim, and turn in, I guess," said Barney. and then we'll go," said Barney. "Thompson is trusty, and I reckon it is per- "You can make mine a very little stronger ,fect'y safe to leave the deck in his charge. I this time, sir, if you please," said Nims. want to be up early, so as to surprise the citi- The toddies were drank, and then the two zens by firing a salute, and showing my prize moved out, got into the boat, and in a short with the American flag hoisted over the Eag- time stood on the wharf lish." " You will remain here with the boat until "Make mine weak, if you please, sir," said I return, boys," said Barney to his boat's Nims; "and you needn't po wder it this time." crew. "No danger, my dear fellow. I trust you "Ay, ay, sir," was the cheerful response, as entirely now, and if you do not get ahead and their officer and his companion moved off. receive rapid promotion in the service of your "Do you see that dark house-that large adopted country it shall not be my fault." one there ?" said Barney, as, after walking "I shall try to deserve it." some way up the street, he pointed out a build- Barney now mixed a glass of grog for him- ing to his companion.- self, and another for imms, making the latter "Do you mean the one where there is a light, weak, as requested. sir ? "Whose guitar is that ?" asked Barney, as i"Y. T he pointed to an instrument of that kind hang- "Yes-that is.it. The light is i her rom. ing up in the after part of the cabin. She is up yet. Perhaps she is thinking of me Mine, sir," said Nims. '-praying for me. Were you ever in love, Do you play or sing !" continued Barney. Nims ?" " Both-a little. I am very fond of it, but "Yes, sir-once, and once only, I loved a no one cared for music aboard here." peerless flower, but another wears it on his "What do you say to a serenade. "I can't breast now. I wrote a song about her. I'll sleep a wink to-night. Suppose we go ashore repeat it to you, but I never sing it now." -I know a lady whom I would like to waken "Do so, my dear fellow." 9 Nims heaved a deep sigh, and repeated the following verses : "There was a flower, the fairest one That evermet my eye- There was a stir, which seemed alone To gem for me the sky- There was a hope, to which I clung Most fond and fervently- There was aname, which on my tongue Alone was melody. "But ah ! that flower now is worn Upon another's breast- The hope is from my bosomtorn, Which once that bosom blessed- The star which once above me shone Now lights my path no more- I dare not cherish as my own The name I did of yore. "Vet in the morning, and at eve, The star-the flower-the name-- And hope arecherished-which I grieve. Are present like the Slame , Which on the holy altar burns, Forever, night and day ; And as to it the Christian turns, So I to them, and pray. "Pray that the flower may never fade-- The star may never set- N cloud the floweret ever shade, No tear its bright cheek wet; And though I may slot breathe the name, And hope's bright dream is er. A place ini memory 'twill claim Until I breathe no more, They had now almost arrived at the house, when a shriek-a wild, shrill shriek, that pierced their very hearts-came ringing'on the air. "My God, 'tis from her'ihanber ! Draw, Nims, if you are a man, and follow me" shouted Barney, as he bounded forward. The door of the house was open, and armed men were there, as Barney sprung to ward it, but they were already engaged. Two shots were fired as Barney rushed up the steps, and he saw a sword flashing in the hands of one who sought to enter. In a moment that one would have fallen by his hand, but by the'fashof a pistol he recognised Caroline Ormsley,. even though she was in male attire. "You here, Miss Ormsley 1" he exclaimed, as he drove his sword through the man who opposed her. "On, Barney! on, and save her you love ! Elliott is up stairs I" she cried, as she fell back, wounded, into the arms of Nims, who was close behind him. Shriek after shriek reached Barney-s ago- nized ear. . Pushing aside with his naked left arm a murderous blow which was aimed at his heart, he clove another opposer down, and rushed up the stairs. Wild was his shout as hd sprang through the open door of Cora's chamber, and saw the poor, girl, with torn dress and dishevelled 'hair, madly struggling in the arms of Elliott and the fiendish negro, who were striving to bind and gag her. The negro turned as he heard that shout, and his red eyes glared like balls of fire as he drew his knife and rushed toward Barney. But he had looked his last look' A ball from Barney's pistol crashed through his'brain, and with a fearful howl he sank at Barney's feet ere he could reach him. Elliott dropped his intended victim, and, drawing his sword, sprang witiafrenzied yell of hate to ward Barney. The latter, eager to meet him, rushed forward ; but the negro, in his dying agony, caught him by the foot, and he fell headlong to the floor. At that instant the report of a blunderbuss below fair- ly shook the house ; but it did not drown the yell of triumph which rose from Elliott's lips as he raised his sword to strike a death-blow home to the heart of his defenseless foe. But a flash, a ringing shot, and his upraised arm fell powerless at his side. "That shot.was mine, Henry Elliott-mine mine! I am revenged !" shrieked Caroline Ormsley, as she staggered forward and fell down at his feet. With glaring eyes he look- ed at her one instant, then pressed his hand to his heart, through which the ball had pass- ed, and fell dead at her side, without uttering a word. Her life-blood was mingling with his. In an instant Barney was on his feet ; the next moment he was by the side of Cora, and -had raised her in his arms. "Saved-:saved-thankGod !" she murmur- ed, and fainted in his arms. "Mc' daughter-my daughter-where is Cora?' shouted the Alderman, rushinglinto the room in his night-clothes, carrying in his hand by the barrel a blunderbuss, the shattered and bloody butt of which told that he had not been idle. "She is safe. Are you hurt, sir?" cried Barney ; "you are bleeding" "Only a scratch, my boy. There were two of 'em, but I did 'em both-d----u 'em, I did 'em both-the Lord forgive me for s wearing. How in Heaven's name did you get here in this very nick of time? Why, that's Elliott on 'the floor-dead, eh ?-saved the hangman a job. And a big nigger-bah I And a young lad --a handsome one ; what could have brought him here? All dead 1" "Father, are you safe ?" asked Cora, faintly, recovering partially. - Yes, my chick; and Barney's safe, and you're safe, "and I don't care if all the rest of the world is dead-d-----d if I do ! Good Lord, forgive me for swearing, but I'm so happy !" The old Alderman now embraced both Bar- ney and his daughter, at one moment laugh- ing and the next crying. Barney disengaged himself, for he now be- thought himself of Nims ; but at that moment he entered, his sword red with blood, and a bad gash in his cheek. "They're are all gone, or down, sir," he said. I "One got away, but I couldn't help it-I marked him" "Bravo. Nims ! hereafter you are a brother to me," cried Barney. 92 98 page: 94-95[View Page 94-95] 94 THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. At this moment the poor crippled negro looked down into her pale face. He said no Cato crept into the room. word, hut great tears like melted pearls chased "Thank him-be fought like a devil I" said each other down his sable face. At that in- Nims. stant, pale and terrified into utter speechless- "Poor fellow," said Barney, "his mistress ness, Eliza rushed into the room. is dead ; her last act was to save my life." Reader, the tableau for this chapter is per Tne poor negro, who was himself badly feet. Look upon it, and we will drop the wounded, crept to the side of his mistress and curtain. CHAPTER XLIV' It was a few days later. In that house wherein such a fearful scene of bloodshed os- curred as was described in the last chayter, a joyous party was assembled, composed en- tirely of those with whom the readers have already become familiar, and for whom, I hope, they have nourished some friendly feel- ing. .. e It was in thelarge old dining hail that the party was assembled, and it consisted of the old Alderman, Barney and his, betrothed, Nims, in a new American uniform, Eliza, the faithful maid of Cora, and last, but not least, honest, brave, faithful Jim Thompson. The Aldermanwas in his glory. Seated in his favorite arm-chair, he held a brimming goblet in his hand, and drank "Joy, happi- ness, to all around him. "Barney," he cred, "you deserve my Cora; take tier, God bless you, and make her agood buband, the has been anaffectionate, good daughter, and I know she'll make you a loving wife." "I am sure she will, and I will try to de- serve her !" said Barney, as he pressed her dear hand to his manly lips. "And, Thompson, I suppose you'll get spliced, as you sailors say, to Eliza there. Well, I-ll do the job for you for nothing." " I'd like that very well, your honor," 'said Thompson, looking at Eliza, who sat blushing like a peony-'I'd like it very well, for Miss Eliza is built like a clipper, and I've no doubt wo'ild sail like one over the sea of married life ; but I've got neven little reasons, and one big one, why her and me can't be spliced." " What are they?" asked tae Alderman, while Eliza turned pale, and looked as if she was about to faint. "Why, your honor, if the truth must be told, I've got a fat wife and seven children now, and it wouldn't be exactly right for to take a nice al like Miss Eliza in tow afore t'other one had slipped her cable." Eliza looked as if she would indeed faint now, but Barney brought the blushes back to her cpeek, and perhaps hope to her heart once more, as he said: "There's my noble friend Nims in want of a wife, Eliza--you shall not go husbandless. I know that he has a good heart, and will make a first-rate husband." "I'd try to, if only to please you, my kind benefactor," said Nims ; "that is, if the lady has no objection." "I'm afraid Miss Cora can't spare me," said Eliza, smiling through her tears and blushes. "Oh, yes, in such a case, Eliza," said those joyous Cora, "and wish you many years of unalloyed happiness." Eliza thought at once that a single officer was a better match than a married seaman, and when Nims took hold of her hand, she did not withdraw it. A few days later still, and Jim Thompson, as a special friend and favorite, was allowed to dance at a double wedding. And now, reader, my tale is one. The name of Barney belongs to history ; it is a proud relic of his country. His after deeds upon the water, his heroic conduct at Bladens- burg are recorded in letters of glory which the hand of time, unsparing as it is, can never efface while the name of one hero of the Revo- lution is remembered. From his marriage with the fair daughter of Alderman Bedford, sprang some of the best stock which now ex- ists in this city and that of Baltimore. His honored name, borne by a descendant, still graces our naval register; and if the ancient grudge is again to be worked up between us and the old country, I doubt not but that the blood will be found as good as ever. 3 f . U V A description of one scene, and I have fin- ished. It was the first day of December, 1818. Where the rapid Monongahela rushes impet- uously into the virgin embrace of the silvery Alleghany, and, united as 'two hearts in one," they under the beautiful name of Ohio roll off toward the fathomless ocean, a Christian and a hero lay upon his death bed. The cold win- ter winds were sweeping over the rushing waters and snow-flakes filled the air ; but hot tears were gushing out from fond eyes upon his bosom, and kind words from dear lips were cheering up his spirit as it plumed its wbite wings for departure to a better world. "Cora-dear Cora," muttered the dying man. "you have been a blessed angel to me, through life ; weep not at my departure-you will soon follow me. Bring up our children in the path which I have trod ; tell themto be true to their country and their God. I've play- ed with death many a time, my love-have slipped out of his grasp very often; he has an old grudge against me, and mist take it out." He died, beloved by all who knew him-re- speeted even by his foes. Itmay appear vain in the author to append the following statement, but if so he cannot help it for it is one of the few occurrencessin his life that he is proud of. In 1844, just after retiring by voluntary re- signation from the navy, he started a literary magazine in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. On one occasion, during the spring of that year, while walking through the old graveyard of the ---church of thatcity, he stumbled over a broken and sunken slab of marble, half cover- ed with the grass which had atready grown up rank above it. Upon looking at the in- scription on the stone, he found that it rested over the remains of Commodore Joshua Bar- ney. Instantly publishing a notice of the ne- glected state of the grave, and also writing a biography of the hero, he called public atten- tion to the matter, and did not rest until those revered remains were removed to the City Cemetery, and a monument worthy of the city of his burial placed over him. And now, dear readrs--you.who have had the patience to follow me through this long story-farewell. I hope, though I am an old man-o-war'si-ian,you will not hold any grudge against me. TUE Iy. THE MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S GRUDGE. l
