The Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii) 1840-1841, 1841-02-13
Vol. l.-NO. 36.

fight; no, young man I've supported
the thirteen stripes in many n gallant &C
ton, and have witnessed the death of
those honorcd and esteemed as the sons
of liberty. Yet they were fighting for
their country, and it was their duty to
hold their lives cheap; but you are a pas
senger, and should be under my protec-
tion-yet | ask you to share my danger.
| wish some one to stand by me on the
platform, and hel Up me manage the swivel.
Hands are scarce, and | don't know
where else to place YOU" The hardy
fellows eye glistened as he made the pro-
posal, to which |, of course instantly a.
greed. "Thankee, thankee," he replied,
and rclapscd into his former character.
Twas strange; he had always appeared
OH board his vessel as common Yankee
captain, with little to say. and with a
rough uncouth manner but little removed
from his men. Yet he at once, though
evidently inadvertently, assumed the air
and manner of a polished gentleman and
it certainly struck me that the latter char
acter appeared more natural in him than
the former. There was evidently mys-
terry about him, and | determined to find
it out when more opportune circumstan-
ccs should occur.
We went on deck, and the men were
still hanging about, waiting for the orders
of the captain to make them start. These
were soon given. The cooper and the
carpenter were ordered to bring up all the
hatchets and other offensive and dcfen-
sive weapons, and with the muskets and
rifles they were distributed among the
crew, who received their orders to use
them in repelling any attempt to board.
The schooner had now come down to
within half mile of us, when she sud-
denly took down her square, sail, and haul
ed her wind, to have look at us. dare
say she did not know what to make Of
our seeming indifference. Presently Il
cloud of smoke burst from her side, and a
ball came skipping over the water, and
passed astcrn of us. 81 thought So"
said the captain: "now, lads, show her
our stripes" A ball of bunting flew up
to the end of our mizen peak, rested an
instant, and huttcred out into the Ameri-
can ensi On. The smoke drifted away
from the schooner, and she ran up at her
gaif the ensign of the Columbian republic.
"That's 'ternally the way with them
blacksuards; they're always making
fool of some rcpublic.' Scarcely were
the words out of his mouth, when another
column of smoke burst from the schooner,
and another ball came skip-skipping
along towards us, but catching a swell it
plunged in, and we saw no more of it.
"That fellow, now, take it, is good
shot, SO we'll not wait for another. Clue
up the mainsail, boys haul aft the wealth
er main-braces; clue up the foresail huff
her, huff her little morc-steady," burst
from our captains mouth the orders
were obeyed with the quickness of we'll
disciplined crew, and our ship was hove
to. Now, my lads, take your Stations,
four to each port on the weather side, but
do nothin' till ! tell yc." The men took
their stations, as directed round each log
on the weather side, and followed the
captain to the platform where the carron-
ade was mounted: 1t was loaded TO the
muzzle with bits of iron, musket-baIls,
! lumns of lead and various other missiles