NOT TO BE HAD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5545, 24 November 1879, Page 3

NOT TO BE HAD.

The New Zealand Herald says : — "A most- amusing incident took place on board H.M.S. Cormorant on Saturday afternoon, during the period the vessel was open for public inspection. The five o'clock ferry boat had just come along-side to take off the last of the visitors, when the Auckland fire bells were heard from the vessel ringing out their note of alarm. A young man, one of the visitors, immediately started up che main rigging and into the cross-treea, to ascertain the locality of the fire. The act attracted, the attention of the quick sighted blue jackets, and instantly the rigging was swarmed by a score of sailors to lash the civilian to the shrouds and make him pay his footing. A short parley took place with the victim, which ended fruitlessely, and the next moment he could be seen jumpinto the shrouds and head over heels making- his way down. Then an exciting chase and struggle ensued in the endeavor to lasso him ; one sailor slid down a rope, and cleverly landed on the defaulter's shoulders — like the Old Man of the Sea — and affectionately hugged him round the neck with his legs. It seemed all up with that young man ; he knew • the run of the ropes,' however, and placing his felt hat between his teeth, he adroitly released "his head ' out of Chancery,' and in spite of his pursuers succeeded in dropping to the deck of the ferry boat, amidst the plaudits of the spectators. On being ' asked by one of the bystanders why he had not paid his footing, and thus saved himself the risk of coming headlong to the deck in the scuffle, he shook his head emphatically, and sententiously replied, ' Not if I know it ; why, there's 139 o' them cormorants, and thirsty at that !' "