Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-12-02

'oH In lnat beautiful portion OF her church creed
that admits of uncensiog petition for the souls Of
me departed, even TO the latest hour OF earthly
things.
rIRE-snIP.
Raoul then went forward where he could com
mnnd MS cool n view of the fclucca, in.shore, rs
the obscurity Of the hour permitted and he felt
little unensness, when lie found how near she had
got to the ugger. When he last noted her posi-
ton this vessel was quite half mile distant, and
appeared to be crossing the bows OF lie Feu-Folet,
with sufficient wind to have carried her a mile
ahead in the interval; yet could no not perceive
that she had advanced as far in that direction as
she bud drltted down upon the lugger the while
Have you been examining her long ?" he de-
manded Of the New Hampshire man.
" Ever since she has seemed to stand still, which
is now some twenty minutes. She is dull, sup.
pose, for sho has been several hours getting along
a league and there is now mir enough for such
craft to 60 three knots to the hour. Her coming
down upon us is easily accounted for there being
n considerable current out of this river, you
may see by the ripple ut our cut wafer; but | tiud
nothing to keep her from going at the same time,
set her by the light you see here in the wake of
the nearest mountain ut least n quarter Of an hour
since, aud she has not advanced five times her own
length since"
"'1is nothing but Corsican coaster, nftor all,
Eiooell | hardly think the English would risk
our canister ng in for the pleasure Of being beaten
"Thoy'ro spitelul set aboard the frigatn and
the l.urd only krows See. here is gpnd heavy
ngbl.nr, mud lnt lelucca is not q cables length
from us; set her by the jill stay, aud Judge Tor
yourself how slowly she goes ahead That it is
which non pushes me Z"
Raou did as the other desired, nrd after q
short trial, he found that the coaster had no per-
ceptibIe motion ahead, while it was certain she
was drifting down the current directly athwart the
lngger's hawse. This fact satisfied him that she
must have drags ustern; u circumstance TINT Mt
once denoted hostile intention. The enemy was
probably on board the leIucca in force, and It
incumbent on him to make immediate prcpara-
tons tor defence.
Sill, Raoul was reluctant to disturb his people.
Like all firm and cool men, he was averse to the
parade OF false alarm aud 1t seemed so nprob.
able that the lesson Of the morning So soon
forgotten, that he could hardly persuade himself
TO believe his senses. Then the men had been vety
hard at work throughout tho day, aud most of
them were sleeping The sleep of the weary. On
the other hand every minute brought the conSter
nearer, and increased the danger, should the enc
my he really III possession OF her. Under al the
circumstances, he determined first 10 hail, know
ing that his crew could be got up in minute, aud
that they sep, with arms AT their sides, under mn
apprehension that boat attack might possibly be
attempted in the course of the night.
"Felucca, ahoy!' called ont The captain of the
Feu-Folet, The other craft being too near TO rem
der any great effort OF the voice necessary. " hat
feucca is that z and why have you SO great
drift ,"
La Bella Corsennc !" was the answer, in pa
tots, half French, half italian, ms RHonl expected,
If all were right. g. We are bound into la Patul
leila; and wish to keep in with the land, To hold
the breeze the longer We are great sailor at
the BEST and have driit because we are, Just now,
in the strength OF the current"
SAT this rate, YOU will come athwart my lInwss.
You know am armed, aud cannot suffer that :"
"Ah, Sgnor, we are friends OF the republic, and
would not harm you if we cOuI We hope You
will not njure poor mariners, like rs. We VIII
keep away you please, and pass you under your
sern,"-
This proposition was made so suddenly and so
unexpectedly, that Raoul had not time to object;
and, had he been disposed to do so, the execution
was too prompt 20 allow him the means The lo-
mcca fell broad off, and came down in almost
direct line for the lngger's bows before the wind
and current; moving fast enough, now, TO satisfy
all lthuel's scrupes.
"Ca all hands to repe boardcrs ~ cried Rsoul
springing aft to the capslan, and Selling his own
arms" Como up lively, mes enfdns here is
treachery !"
These words were hardly uttered hclo Raoul
was back on the heel of the bowsprt, and the
most active of his men some five or six, nj most
began to show themselves on the deck. III that
brief space the felncca had got within eighty
yards, when, to the surprise OF all in the lngger,
she luif'ad into the wind again and drifted down.
until il was apparent that she was foul of the lug
gers cable her stern swinging round directly on
the latiers starbOnrH bow. AT that instant, or Just
as Raou's men were throngng around him, TO
meet The expected attack, The sounds of oars pull
cd for life or DEATH were heard, and flames burst
upward from the open hatrhway OF The coasier
Then boat was dimly seen gliding away, in
line with the hull by the glowing light.
sun brulOt IN brulol tireShiD ~ exclaimed
twenty voices together, the horror that mingled in
the cries proclaimIng the extent of danger which
is, perhaps, the most terrific that semen 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
bowsprt Ito might have been absent about
seconds, when he was seen on The tatiiall Of the
felucca, with Il spare shank painter which had
been lying on the iorecaSe, on his shoulder.
"Anloine. Francois Grcgoris ! he called out
in n voice of thunder, follow me the rest clear
away the cable aud bend u huwser 10 the better
end y
The people Of 10 Fen.Follet were trained to or
der and implicit obedience BY this lime too. tia
Neutenans were among them; and the men sci IL
bout doing ms they had been directed. Raoul him
self passed into tue iclucca, followed by the three
men he had selected by name. The adventures
had no difficulty, as yet, in escupiug the flames,
from the hutch in torrent. As Ruoul suspected,
the cable had been grappled and, seizing the
rope he tghtcned il tn severe strain, securing
the in-bonrd part. Then he passed down 10 the
cable, himself, directing his companions 10 hand
him the rope-end of the shank painter, which he
fastened TO the cable with janniug hich. This
took halt minute in half nmnuie more he was
on the fcucca's lorecAse again Here tW chain
was easily passed through u hawse.holc, and
knot ted with mnrlinsPlke passed through its
centre To pass The fire, on The return, was now
serious matter; bul it was done without injury,
RaouI driving his companions before him. No
sooner did his foot reach the bows Of the Ecu. Fol.
let again, than he shouted
"Veer away pay ont cable, men, If you would
save our beautiful lugger from destruction"
Nor was there moment to spare. The lugger
took the cable that was given TO her fast enough,
undert tho pressure OF the current, and helped by