The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-01-01
he dead .swelis, and the airless sails, tapped
,,shout life on the creaking spars.

without life on the creaking spars. .,
The warning Of that calm was NOT TO B
nsssssken. BY mutual consent. the .ensrpi,
left their guns Captain Parole looked nroun
thisFy for srDomedts oraesed every sail to
taken 10, even the top-masis and lighter spars
be housed. Many young sailor. started At ,hss
orders, for they fofetold a struggle with a feft
er enemy than man. s - - :,
"Bssr.a :hapd. my lsds,"--conlmsndsd 4,
cool and infexible csp,ain-''we have pien,
Of iea.sooua, and the Sea- Gull 10 az home IN,
hurricane. When IL is over she VIII ieed o.
the carcass Of the Tiger" o. - -
"Wel, eh -. ejacufsied Peter. as he reach
ed the yard .arn;, ..cap't see nothin-fise
don't shine HIN eyes dis night. Hab saw man
dart o;fs.tsrs dis bS' dis do take de shine Of
.Ax,.,. tlrrTs osl1w bide." soared.. sesusl
-" the old port admiral Of the Styx has pipr'
court martial to overhaul'you fss than -deser
tioo. Dye see that h.liiefa cloud yonder9--
why that's the constable and his gang Neofnst
aGsr xon:.; Halloo, there goes blue hghf.o
Il was a g1inmeer Of lightning that -dinIl,
traced the. rje glng around them; a Ear lnrie
fash like damp powder straggled away on th'
prim oe af's edge-ihsn anoIhsr. bearer aod
btig r,ter 'Hashsd mp rough An s,nbst'ed arra,
Of ponderons clouds, a. The signatwas instant
" answered from the whole line Of thS hosizen
,lli the sky was sheered far and near nike NE
burning of. a city under. pail OF funeral smoxe.
The dread -srn,yAaa inenioiioa 'otf us PAIN oi
deatii.the lhlfnder came rumblfng with a DIS.
tani tramp like the cumbersome rattle OF arm
Iery. Every thing aloft was snug. Captain "a
role took the wheel. and ordered the Standing
eib 10 be half hoisied., and the men TO stand ny
With the down haul. twas done. and thep the
enemies we're reeiing and dipping their yard
arms within nuskrt shot Of each other: their
crowded decks, grim cannon. painted masts- and
copper bottoms gIancing in the vivid lightning.
mass of ragged skrmishing clouds few over
head. and next came the vast opaque body.
shooting up IN tremendous pillars, and whlrling
sfaodly along. The stunning howl ofihe storm
WAS terribly distinct. All was blaze and deaf
e&tng bursts--rhe sea was levclled into a fosm-
log plain for the tornado's path was but quar-
ter Of mile distant.
Down iib ~ thundered the American cap
tain. when the first mad puff twirled the brig
safely before the gale. More terrific than the
earthquakes age peni fury was the burst that
followed.
The Sea-GulI ,rembled from topmast TO keel,
and bounded away like the fawn starting from
the ravine's brink. The wind screamed its
shril'cs, note. and the zigzag glare Of the light
hing ran down the reeking shrouds. and hssed
upon the spray. Immense sheets Of spray
Vhirled above in a race with sweeping clouds.
and fell conquered on the buried vessel. Tor
rents Of rain brawled upon the decks. and tow
erng foam cliffs sprung unseen astern and broke
irnpetuously over her-but the Sea-Gull rose
again aud shook her dripping pinions unharmed.
With a hand Of iron. her captain bore upon
The helm: his cap war blown away. and his
heavy hair parted over the forehead and stream
ed fiat upon his cheeks. His eye was lit with
THAT strange excitement that finds companion
rhip In The terrible. Fearless and exulring.
The commander pointed ever tbs quarter, and
there. at a cable length, the Tiger was burst
ing from shroud of foam like the dead Of the
oceau at the last day. Her large white topsail
wa, reot in ribbands from the yards, and play
jnss with the hsh,ning's blaze. She bore her
ssclfagai}srtiy throBgh. and strobe away in def
aace. Faster than the neetest wave the ene-
.tnes scudded side by side. IL was a terrific
mornent yet strange to say, fierce passions
were then NJ work. At ono Of the frightful
pauses OF the hurricane, the priyateers exchang-
ell broadsides. The deluging rain had ceased
az suddenly as il came, and for an hour they
fred al every chance. the lightning showing the
mark. The furious wind al length somewhat,
abated, and the thrsting enemies bore up a
point to. close, and end the combat by the
bloody method Of boarding. The waves were
short and tremendous. and the guns could not
be worked. 1t seemed reckless attempt TO
ny alongside: bat rhs only folr OF either was
that the other might escape.
Captain Parole called his ready men around
him. lie stood by The wheel, dressed ia a
shining boarding cap. light pumps close fitting
shiri. and trowsers girdcd very low in the waist
with a sabre belt. in which were thrust two
pair Of long, gtiering pistols. lie DIRE. large
Il. 4 IL.
qnivering in the deck beside him: his right
hand fell upon the ht, and his full chest swell
ed as he cas-, flashing glance on that dsrs ar
ray. ' Men" he spoke in voice OF deepest
volume, " there are graves in the sand foi some
Of us our foes are as eager ss we--l lead the
boardeS-i want fifteen or twenty men for a
pos; of honor
With thrilling cheer the number was in
stantly made up. and the second lieutenant, n
youth Of fire, stood az their head.
" .,~ay TO the foretop." proudly continued
the captain, " and spring into their rigging when
We grapple. When shout Ironsides,' drop
10 the deck, and receive the arms of the prison
ers. or bury me in the ocean" ...
The men bonded away TO their perilous du-
~. The heavy armed boarders stood close and
eager. and the hostile vessels were RAPIDLY clos
ing. IL was scene Of sublime and fearful in
rcfest. Ready there. euuners" was the cry
as their yard-arms cracked together. and each
sho, forth last and deadly broadside. On the
next wave, the Sea Gull aud the Tiger grappled
i2re and aft. .... ~
With bornd and shout. Capt Parole touch
81 the Tigers deck, amidshps, followed by IL
hout forty OF his crew. They stood for a, mo-
mrnt on the open main deck between two dark
bodies Of men, who were about TO board the
Sea.Gull for and aft at once. A rank Of mus
qnriry forward wheeled and fired with their
cleaning barrels thrust into the faces OF the
boarders the murderous discharge flung many
TO the deck. and The Cash revealed strong bo.
ny OF men behind. wedged together. and grim
viii, steel. Captain Parole loudly cheered and
fred shot. when the Americans saw the mass
Of men behind bursting through the opened
rsuks Of the now useless musouetry. sabre in