Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-06-10

ed. Blowing out the binacle lights,
and putting the helm down, the schoon-
er was directed across the ships wake,
but at the moment when right astern,
the flappeng of a sail or the cracking
of block aroused the watch of the fri
gate, and a hosrse hail of "ship a hoy!
what craft is that" Numbered from
the lofty quarter right down upon the
schooner's deck.
To this question no answer was re-
turned, and it was Immediately follow
ed by peremptory order to "heave
to-"
Still nc answer. The ship was now
all alive. The drums beat to quarters,
battle lanterns were lighted, carronades
were cast loose, pointed and fired, but
with an aim so uncertain, that, although
several shot struct the schooner no ma
terial damage was done, while the
chances each instant diminished as she
rapidly streached out into the pitchy
darkness to windward. In few min
utes the carronade shot fell short, when
the frigate's gun-deck ports were open
ed, and a shower Of iron started from
the muzzels of her long thirty-twos-
but it was too late-the chase was safe,
and the dangerous adventure at an end.
The result ofthis voyage led to sew
eral others, all equally successful but
Astounding in similar adventurous and
narrow escapes. In the last and most
important, from the amount of specie
involved, the vigilance of the British
cruisers came near being rewarded with
a splendid prize. 1t was just at the
break of day, when Captain NJ.
tired out with the watchings of an anx-
ious night, had retired to his berth,
when the unwelcome announcement
of"sail hol" broke upon his ear.
"Where awayi' he shouted up the
companion way, to Mr.. Jones, the first
mate. who was officer Of the watch.
"Right off on the weather-quarter,'
was the reply.
w nat tots size sOGk ilhSs
"a large square-rigged vessel, sir
with every thing set that can draw,
from royals dow. She looks like a
man. of-w war;"
In a moment, Captain M was
on deck with his glass, and there, plain
ly to be perceived in the dull grey o.
the morning, was large ship, five oil
six miles to windward. Dropping his
glass from his eye, after momentary
survey, he turned to Mr.. Jones.
"Well, sir, what do you think"
~ think, sir, it is mighty suspi.
cious! There isno suspicion about it
that is an English frigate as plain a:
the nose on your face; the very fellow
that chased US SO often"
GAY, ay, sir, there can be no doubt
Of it," returned Mr.. Jones-"you see
she has got the identical brown FORE
top gallant sail--she is coming along
like a race horse"
GAY, she's got fresh breath of wind
we shall get il in moment more, when
hope Atalanta (the name OF the
schooner) will show little more Of
her usual activity"
"Never doubt, sir, the old girl can
show her heels to any thing in his ma,
iesty's service; and we have tried this
fellow too often not to know his rate.
To be sure, if we were up there to
windward, close hauled, it would be
little more easy, but as it is, she can
do it without straining"
DWELL, ease off the sheets, and set the
square-saiIs! We can afford to indulge
that fellow in his humor for studdIng-
sails"
The Atalanta fell of before the wind,
bringing the frigate nearly astern-a
point Of sailing, in which square-rigged
vessels generally have the advantage
but of no use in the present case, as the
schooner had the unusual quality, for
vessels Of her class, Of sailing as well be-
fore the wind as close hauled. In this
way they continued for some time, the
ATLANTA rapidly increasing the distance
from the frigate, when sail to leeward,
and ahead was announced. In few
minutes it was ascertaned that she, too,
was a man-of-war. Orders were Civ
en- to brace up, bringing the schooner
into her former position, with the wind
a-beam; the new vessel to leewsrd
and the frigste TO windward, and lit
tie asiern.
"Sail, ho!" shouted a lookout, for
The third time.