Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-06-10
LANCASTER, CIV T) SATURDAY, JUNE TO- ls4s.

fix"
swell, in fix it is them" said the
Captain, with glass to his eye;
"there's the hull of two decker be-
meath that mass of spars."
The sun was now fairly up above the
horizon, dispensing by its warmth, a
slight haze which had obscured objects
in distance, and disclosing two rsore
sail one on the starboard, and the 9TH
er on the larboard bow.
"We are in a nest of 'em by Hcav-
ens!" excleimed the Captain. "What
do you think Mr.. Jones?"
"a regular trap, sir and l think the
sooner we turn tail, and try to creep
out the way we got in, the BETTER"
eve never could do it-these two
chaps could rub US to chins between the
muzzles of their guns, without firing
shot"
"Well, then, Captain, Pm really a
fraid that it is gone case With us. Oh!
if we were only up there" pointing to
winward, "we should be safe enough"
swell, we must get there"
at is impossible, SIR"
sImpossible or not, we must try
they can't do more than sink us.
Take in the gaft-top-sails! Haul aft
the sheet! Luff! up! Let her come
to it close as she will lie!"
In an insantant, the schooner had
altered her course; heading up to the
wind in direction obliquely across
the bows of the rapidly advancing fri
gate.
"There, well all that!' exclaimed
the Captain, taking the wheel in his
own hands, snow, men, 60 below all OF
you've shall catch grist or two OF
grape, and you may as we'll keep under
Icover as much as you can"
The two vessels were now rapidly
approaching each other--the frigate
|steadily pursuing her course, apparent
ly confident that the prize was within
her grasp: while the ATLANTA, with the
fullofher forksail shivering, was, in the
Expressive language Of the sailor, seat.
ing into the wind" at a rate which put
all the calculations of pursuers at fault
Soon, she was nearly athwhart the fore.
foot of the frigate and within muske'
shot.
A flash from the bow-port, and a
twenty-four pound shot dashed up a
cloud of loan directly beneath the
schooner's bow. Another, evident
ly aimed at her, passed few feet astern;
and in a moment more the frigate bra
ccd sharp up, and let fly all the guns
she could bring to bear. This manoG
vre lessened her Roadway, and before
she could repeat the discharge, the
schooner had got SO far up to windward
as to be out of way of her lee broad.
side. Although unable to hold hel
wind with the schooner, and rapidly
falling off to leeward, the frigate adj
vanced through the waters with We
locity that soon brought her close to
on the lee-quarter of the Atalanta.
Falling off little, which, while il
: made loose ground, enabled her to open
her weather broadside, she sent forth
storm of shot, which at first, hurled
harmless over the little craft. Again
and again it came, but with better aim
enveloping her in shower of grape,
Kidding her sails which were fortu-
nately new and strong, and tearing the
splinters from her bulwarkS, masts, and
booms; but still not an essential rope
was cut, or a spar materially injured,
while each instant the distance be-
tween the two vessels was increasing.
"You are hit!," exclaimed Mr.. Jones
to the captain, observing his left hand
drop from the wheel, shattered by a
grape-shOt.
'Ready about" was the only reply,
shouted in tone which brought up the
sailors instantly TO the deck. ain a
minute we shall be in shooting distance
OF this other fellow ahead"
"Down with the helm, Mr.. Jones"
"Helm's a lee!"
The iib-sheets were loosened, and
the schooner came up, fore-reaching
when in the very eye of the wind, at
the rate Of three or four miles the hour,
and then falling of upon the other tack,
in a direction contrary to that the fri
gate was pursuing. Following the
example Of her intended victim, the fri
gate also tackled, but it took her much
longer, and when she came round and
gathered her Roadway, she had lost, the