The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-04-03

by a narrow streak Of bright moonlight
appeared under the lower edge Of the
bank, defining the dark outlines of the
tumblug multitudnous pillows osthe ho-
rizon, as distinctly as if they had been
pasteboard waves in "a theatre.
sis that sail to windward, in the
clear think you 7" said Mr.. Splinter TO
me in a whisper.-At this moment it
lightened yiyidly. Il am sure it is,' con-
tinued he--I could see her white sails in
the flash just now.'
looked steadily, and, at last, caught
the small dark speck against the bright
beck ground, rising and falling on the
swell Of the sea like feather.
AS we stood on, she wac seen more
distinctly, but, to all appearance, nobody
was aware Of her proximity. We were
mistaken in this, however, for the Cap
tain suddenly jumped on gun, and gave
his orders with fiery energy that start
ed us.
'Leroux y small French boy was at
his side in a moment. Forward, and
call all hands to shorten sail but douce-
merit, you land crab! Man the fore gar
nets. Hands by the top-gallant clew line,
peak and throat halyards-jib down haul
rise tacks and sheets-let gO--clew up
settle away the main gaff there!
In almost as short space as j have
taken to write it, every inch of the can
vass was close furled--every light except
the one in the binacle carefully extin-
guished-a hundred and twenty men at
quarters, and the ship under bare poles
The headyards were then squared, and
we bore up before the wind. The STRAIT
agem proved successful the strange sail
could be seen through the night glasses,
cracking on close to the wind +; evidently
under the impression that we had tackled.
'Dere she goes, chasing de Gohbel,
said the Dutchman. She now burned a
blue light, by which we saw she was a
heavy cutter-without doubt our old fel-
low cruiser the Spark. The Dutchman
had come. to the same conclusion.-'My
eye Captain, no use to dodge from her,
it is only dat footy little Kings cutter on
de jamaica station
1T is her, true enough answered Will
hanson 'and she is from Santa Martha
with freight of specie, know. / will
try her brush, by -
Splinter struck in before he could fin
ish his irreyerent exclamation.
IF your conjecture be true, know the
craft-a heavy vessel of her class, and
you may depend on hard knock and small
profit if you take her while if she takes
you
I'll be hanged if she does'-and he
grinned Mt the conceit-then setting his
teeth hard, cor rather will blow up the
schooner with my own hand before !
strike, better that than have ones bones
bleached in chains on key at Port Roy
al. But, you see you cannot control us,
gentlemen so get down into the cable
tier, and take Peter Mangrove with you.
l would not willingly see those come to
harm, who have trusted me-
| However, there was no shot flying as
yet, we therefore staid on deck. All sail
was once more made: the carronades
were cast loose on both sides, and double
shotted; the long gun slowed round the
tack Of the fore and aft foresail hauled
up, and we kept by the wind, and stood
after the cutter, whose white canvass we
could still see through the gloom like a
snow wreath. As soon as she saw us
she tackled and stood towards us, and
came gallantly bowling along, with the
water roaring and flashing at her bows.
As the vessels neared each other they
both shortened sail, and finding that we
could not weather her, we steered close
under her lee.
As we crossed OF opposite tacks her
commander hailed, 'Ho, the Brigantine,
ahoy
'HilIo!' sung out Blackie, rs he backed
his maintopsail.
sWhat schooner is thatT
The Spanish schooner Carload
Whence, and whittier bound
'Carthagena, to Porto Rico
'Heave too, and send your boat on
board.'
we have none that will swim, sir
Very well-bring to, and will send
mine.' c $50
Call away the boarders,' said our cap
tain in low stern tone, 'let them crouch
out of sight behind the boat sf 81.
I The cutter wore, and hove to under
our lee quarter, within pistol shot: we
heard the rattling Of the ropes running
through the davit blocks, and the splash
Of the jolly boat touching the water, then
measured stroke Of the oars, ne they
glanced like silver in the sparkling sea,
and voice calling out, "Giye way my