Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-10-12

"meet her now, boy"
ashes got the lee helm" was the i'm.
mediate reply. "Steady as you go-steady
so."
"Steady SO, Sir,' responded the steers
man.
The sullen report Of gun told how tho
stranger received this maneuvre and
when the smoke rolled off to leeward, the
American ensign was no longer at his peak.
Before the Niagara had been kept away
she was stunning along with the wind abeam;
the stranger was on her weather-bow, and
heading so as to near her at each moment,
and eventually cut her off; but now the
former had assumed the same position with
regard to the wind as the latter, and both
vessels were running with the breeze sharp
on the quarter. There are but few ques-
tons asked on board of the Niagara the
unlocked for deviation from her proper
course, and the subsequent maneuvres of
the schooner, at once told the real or sus-
pected character of the vessel in chase and
the passengers gathered about the taffrail,
regarding with a fearful silence the little OBJ
ject of their fears, that came down Chamber.
ing and cutting the waves, like some hungry
monster of the deep after its retreating pray.
Gentlemen" said Bangem, /" it.would
be superAuous for me to tell you the charac-
ter Of that vessel you all know it, and you
also know what mercy to expect if we fall
into their hands. A stern chase is long
chase, and as the Niagara sails better with
the wind well aft, | have given her her fastest
point: we are now heading for the coast of
South America, and must keep out of his
clutches as long as we can. If Providence
does not send us delverance in the mean
time, why, it is even better to perish on the
reefs, than die by the knives of yon
butchers"
Another gun from the pirate doomed
over the water, but the shot fell harmless
astern of the Niagara. GAY, blaze away,
you vagabond" muttered an old veteran,
who was assisting in running out of a stern
port the only gun on board; "every shot
you have, is four fathoms off your log"
eff it were eight hours later, we might
be able to give her the slip during the night"
said Bangem; shut if we continue to move
along at this rate, we shall be high and dry
on the coast of Brazil before the sun goes
down."
Still the schooner kept overhauling the
ship, but his advantage was not now as per-
cep,;blc as before: every thing held oui the
prospect of a long chase but SO intently
was the stranger bent on gaining her, that
he sent aloft and set his light top gallant-sai,
although the wind was blowing perfect
gale, and shortly afterward men were seen
on his topsail.yard, turning out the reefs.
AS soon as Bangem perceived this, he gave
the order to turn both reefs out of the top.
sails, and get the starboard fore-topmast-
studding-sail ready for setting. In few
moments, an additional quantity of canvass
was spread alongth booms of the Niagara,
and the gallant vessel rushed like some wild
leviathan through the rolling sea, dashing
aside its angry waters, and leaving broad
streaks of boiling foam behind.
"Give him a sound shot. Skysail," said
Bangem; we must try and cripple him, or
it's all day with u.s."
Say, ay, Sir" muttered the tar, as he
squinted along the sight, and elevated the
gun for long shot the match was applied,
and away sped the iron."
"Well done, old'un!" shouted Skysail, as
the splinters flew from the bulwarks Of the
pirate.
"Try it again my hearty J" continued
Bangem "give him stand of grape along
with it, this time."
The schooner waved and fired, but again
its shot fell harmless alongside of the chase.
"There goes his stu 'n'sail booms," said
the mate, as two delicate spars glided out
as if by magic, from either extremity of his
topsail-yard, while IN another moment o
sheet Of light canvass arose and was ex'
tended on either side of his bellying topsail
The pursuer had gained considerably on The
, pursued during the last half hour: ant
, Bangem, who stood watching her progress:
with the eye of an eagle, now got down from
the horse block, and gave the order to ge
the starboard lower and all the top-gallant
stun sails. The seamen exchanged
{ glances in amazement, but it was only for {
. moment, and the next beheld them spread
{ in different parts of the rigging, making
preparation to heap an additional pile o
4 canvass upon the spars of the trembling
ship. "Haul taut, rig out, and hoist away!'
|, but scarcely had the halliards been be
4 layed, when snap went the booms of tn
D tor. gallant and yard of the lower studdng
!, sail. slower away--haul down J" shout
{ ed Bangem; SNAKE those sails up afresh
0 point the spare booms, and get them read.
g for setting again."
7 The two vessels continued to fly rapidly
Q towards the coast Of Brazil, and the pirat
!. still continued to gain on the chase, althoug
he waved and fired at an interval of ever
r half hour. Had the Niagara hauled he
: wind on either tack, she would have 500
become tho prey of tho schooner, as sh
$ sailed faster with the wind abeam. Bar
t. gem accordingly thought it much better
/; keep nearly before the breeze, as the purs'
Q, er would then have to deviate from his cour'