The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1840-04-25
CITY, SATURDAY, APRIL rs, 1910.

I've been watching for the last hour, and have
seen him pass every vessel in the squadron:
another hour, and the varmint will be pitch
ing his old iron into u.s."
"Let him come on" rejoined the comman-
der, eyeing the object of his colloquy through
the telescope, "we could match with two of
them but you are correct the villain is com
ing down, wing and wing, and gaining each
moment upon us.-He must be hungry for
| fight"
"Yes," rejoined the other 81 expect her
skipper has been reading the life Of Nelson,
!, and feels an inclination to immortalize him
self. He will be less eager however, before
we get through with him."
! "Idid not think there was any in his Ma
ljesty's service that could show the Rover her
stern BEFORE" remarked Capt. Buntline.
"Our copper wants clearing" rejoined the
lieutenant, "and our sails are old, and hold
no more wind than SO much bobinet besides
| sir, | think that fellow is Baltimore built
some shaver they've caught Oh the coast of
Guinea-or perhaps some unfortunate devil
of a privateer; those ten gun channel
gropers don't run the line off the reel at that
rate, in such catspaw as this"
"Here Bobstay," said the commander to an
,old quarter master, stake the glass, and see
what you can make of that fellow" The
veteran Invested his mouth of chew of
tobacco, and hitching up his trowsers, COM
nenced scanning the EDglshman withan eye
pro verbal for its acuteness and experience.
That are is mob towner as the levten-
ant says, and coming down with big bone
in her mouth, too"
"Why are you so positive about her being
a Bal timore built, Bobstay! ?" asked the COM
mander.
because, sir" answered the tar, "there's
no end to the sticks them fellows put in their
crafts, and besides, if yell obsarve she hant
half the beam ofthem ten gun tubs: her yards
are stluarer too, and she has no roach in her
sails"
"Yo'ar observations are conclusive, Bob
her out think you?
The old tar smiled at the question, and re-
plenishin G his mouth with a foot ortwoof pig
tail, replied: .. H.
Gay, sir, two such fellows, and two more
in thirty minutes afterwards"
Go to your duty" said the commander,
good h,umoredy; "you've turned boaster in
your Id days"
AZ Viz VI was oOlllc olA
or seven miles in advance Of the headmost
ship Of the squadron, and not more than two
in the rear of the chase. Although Captain
Bunt'ine had determined on fl htlng her, he
still continued under press of sail, for the
purpose Of drawing his adversary at such
distance from the mann body to preclude
the possibility of their interference in the en-
gagement Another hour, however, brought
the Englishman within gun-shot; and deter
mined to secure every advantage of the Cir
cumstances, he put his helm down and bring
ing his battery to bear, fired broadside into
the still re treating Rover.
1t was not until that moment, that Buntline
could ascertain the force Of his antagonist:
but a single glance, previous to her filling
away, convinced him of her superiority.
"Take i'm the light sails, and haul up the
courses !" said the commander fthe privateer:
and another moment beheld the gallant brig
moving along under her two top-sals.
"Beat to quarters and open the magazinew
Gay, ay, sir" was the reply ; and the loud
roll of the drum was heard summoning every
man from the depths and from the heights of
the vessel to their respective stations. In Il
few moments: the order to cast loose the guns
followed, and every man commenced getting
the iron maclaines ready for the work of death,
with an alacl-ity and good humor peculiar to
a sailor, and with all expedition and regulari-
ty that was the result of much previous expe-
rience in like matters. The tompions were
taken out-the train and side tackle cut adrift
the pumps rugged and the decks sanded,
fore and aft to prevent them from becoming
slippery with blood, eutlasses, pistols, and
boarding pixies were placed in convenient sit
nations about the decks the ports were triced
up, the matches closed, with the exception of
a small opening, left for the purpose Of pass
ing powder from below; the loggerheads were
heated and matches beside every gun, and in
short every preparation was made that such
cases rendered expedient.
The Englishman had not yet taken in any
of his canvass, and was consequently rapidly
nearing the Rover. It was the mutual desire
of the commanders, that their vessels should
be brought into close action-the Englishman,
from desire to decide the contest before the
e,,,,dron oo,,ld he close enouph to assist and