New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-22

at is nothing but Corsican coaster, after all,
Etooell; hardly think the English would risk our
canister again, for the pleasure of being beaten of,
in another attempt to board
They re spiteful set aboard the fugate, and
the Lord osIy knows See, here is good heavy
nigh,-air, and that felucca is not cables length
from Us; set her by the .jib-stay, and Judge fer
yourself how slowly she goes ahead That it is
which n-pushes me
Raou did az the other desired, and, after a
short trial be found that the coaster had no per-
ceptible raetion ahead, while it was certain she
was drifting down the current directly athwart the
lugger's hawse. This fact satisfied him that she
must have drags astern; circumstance that at
once denoted q hostile intention. The enemy
probably on board the feucca in force, and it was
incumbent on him TO make immediate preparations
for defence.
Still. Raoul was reluctant to disturb his people
Like all firm and cool men, hut was averse TO the
parade of false alarm and 1t seemed so impro-
babe that the lesson of the morning was SO soon
forgotten, that he could hardly persuade hmselfto
believe his senses. Then the men had been very
hard at work throughout the day, and most of
them were sleeping the sleep OF the weary. On
the other hand, every minute brought the coaster
nearer, aud increased the danger, should the enc
nv be really in possession of her. Under all the
circumstances he determined first to hail, know
ing that his crew could be got up in minute, and
that they slept with arms at their sides, under an
apprehension that boat attack might possibly be
attempted in the course OF the mig ht.
Felucca, ahoy called out the captain of lie
Feu.FoIet, the other craft being too near to rem
der any great effort of the voice necessary. What
felucca is that and why have you SO great a
drift y
ssLa Bella Corsenne !" was the answer, in
patois. half French. half Italian. as RaouI expect
ed if all were right. We are bound into la Pa
dulea; and wish to keep in with the land, to
hold the breeze the longer. We no great
sailer at the best, and have drift, because we
are lust now in the strength of the current.
At this rate YOU will come athwart nay hawse
You know am armed, and cannot suffer that "
q All. Sgnor we are friends OF the republic, and
would not harm YOU, if we could We hope YOU
will not iniure poor mariners, like US. We will
keep away, if you please, and pass you under your
stern,'-
This proposition was made so suddenly, and so
nexpectedy, that Raoul had not time to object;
and had he been disposed to do So the execution
was too prompt to allow him the means. The fe
yucca fell broad off, and came down almost in
direct line for the ugger's bows, before the wind
and current moving fast enough, now, to satisfy
all Ithuel's scruples.
"Cal all hands to repel boarders." cried Ra-
oul, sprnging aft to the capstan, and Selling his
own arms Come up lively, entans here
is treachery,' 80
These words were hardly uttered before Raoul
was back on the heel of the bowsprit and the
most active Of his men-some FIVE or six at most
began to show themselves on deck In that
brief space the felucca had got within ghty yards
when, to the surprise of all in the lugger, she
luffed into the wind again and drifted down, until
it was apparent that she was foul of the lugger's
cable. her stern swinging round directly on the
laters starboard bow. At that instant, or just as
the two vessels came in actual contact, and RAJ
oul's men were thronging around him, to nee,
the expected attack the sounds of oars pulled for
life ar death, were heard, and flames burst up
ward from the open hatch of the coaster Then
boat was dinlly seen gliding away, iH line with
the hull, by the glowing light.
" On briilot un brulot freship! exclaimed
twenty voices together, the horror that mingled in
the cries proclaiming the extent of danger which
is. perhaps the most terrific that searnen can en-
counter.
But the voice OF Raoul Ward was not among
them. The moment his eye caught the first
glimpse OF the flames, he disappeared from the
bowsprit He might have been absent about
twenty seconds Then he seen on the tatitall
of the ielucca, with a spare shank-painter, which
had been lying on the forecaste, on his shoulder.
Antoine Francois Grcgore! !" he called
out, in a. voice of thunder, follow me the rest
clear away the cable and bend a hawser to the
better end F"
The people of lie Feu-Follct were trained to or
der and implicit obedience. By this time 100,
the lieutenants were among them; and the men
set about doing as they had been directed Raou,
himself passed into the felucca, followed by the
three men he had selected by name. The adven-
turers had no difficulty, as yet, IN escaping the
flames, though BY this time they were pouring up
ward from the hatch in 4 torrent. AS Raoul GUS
pected his cable had been graPpled; and, srIalns
the rope, he frightened it TO severe strain, secur-
ing the in-board part. Then he passed down 10
the cable, himself, directing his companions to
hand him the rope-ena of the shank painter, which
he fastened to the cable with tanning hitch.
This took half a minute; in half minute more he
was on the felucca's forecaste again. Here the
chain was easily passed through hawsc-hole !;
and knot tied, with marlinsPike passed through
its centre. To pass the fire, on the return was
now a serious matter; but it was done without In
jury, Raoui driving ms companions before MN
No sooner did his foot reach the bows of lie Feu-
Toilet, agaia, than he shouted
"Veer away pay out cable, men, II you would
save our beautiful lugger from destruction ;"
Nor was there moment to spare. The luggcr
took the cable that given to her fast enough,
under the pressure of the current, and helped by
the breeze; but at first the fre-vesse already
sheet of fame, her decks having been saturated
with tar, seemed disposed to accompany her. 10
the delight of all in the lugger, however, the stern
of the felucca presently seen 70 separate from
their own bows and sheer having been given TO