Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-05-24

/ need hardly tell you, for all the world
knows it, that Gibraltar is useful to us Chief
" as a smuggling depot. The Spaniards
want our goods their Government will not
let them buy them IN the regular way and
we, kind creatures, let them have them with
out giving any trouble to the custom-house.
Now. here was fine opportunity for my
distinguishing myself as contrabandista.
My leave of absence having yet some time
to run, determined on taking the command
myself: for although had every proper
confidence in Bill jenkins, the mate, yet
knowing the weakness of human nature,
and especially of smuggling human nature
in such cases, judged it might be as well
TO be my own cashier. On Christmas eve
everything was ready for a start the anchor
was atrip, and a fresh breeze was blowing
from the southwest, which promised, if it
did but last, a swift and pleasant run.
had Just reached the bottom of the flight OF
rock steps leading to the signal station,
where had been to take last look of the
weather, when was accosted by an old,
odd, withered-looking gentleman, his hair
and beard white as snow, and dressed in an
old-fashioned grandee suit of velvet, with a
short cloak over his shoulders, and Span
ish cocked-hat and feather OH his head. lie
had letter from well known merchant of
Gibraltar, recommending him as safe,
trustworthy gentleman. His object, he ex-
planned, was to procure a passage in the
'Blue-Eyed Maid to Blboa, then in the oc-
cupation of the French. As our rendez-
vous was little to the south of the mouth
of the Ebro, had no difficulty in acceding,
for consideration to his request. An
hour afterwards, we were on board, and
had an opportunity of more closely observ-
ing our new companion. He seemed a
stunted, dried-up specimen of grandee ped.
igree and arrogance. He could not be less,
judging from his palsied limbs, tremulous
shrll voice, and shrunkcn features, than
eighty years Of age. His eyes, too, were FL
my and dull, except when anything occur
red to rouse him-an allusion TO the French
especialy-and then "A fire would glare out
of the old decaying sockets-whether of
best tell-enough to scorch one. lie look
ed at such times for all the world like an
Egyptian mummy animated by iiend from
the bottomless pit.
We were soon under weigh, and crack
ing along at spanking rate. The old Don
kept very quiet, giving little or no trouble,
except that some one or other of us was
continually tumblng over him; for the rest
less creature would totter about the deck
all day and nearly all night, muttering to
himself, and every now and then irrever-
emily Tapping down on his knees. This
conduct at last greatly scandalised Bill Jen
kins, who argued that a man who threw out
such an enormous number of that sort OF
signals must have an uncommon queer car
go to run; and Bill darkly limited that if
extra bad weather should come on, or any
out-of-thc-way mishap occur, he should
know who to thank for it, Nothing how
ever happened contrarywise, till we were
within hundred miles of our destination
when, just as day broke, the lookout hat
reported a strange sail on the weather-beam
All eyes and the only glass on board were
| Immediately turned in the direction of the
stranger, who proved to be a French wal
corvette. Bill jenkins glanced at me, anc
then at the Spaniard, as much as to say,
told you what would come of having tina
precious rascal on board and then made
preparations to hoist every stitch of canvas
the schooner could carry But spite of al
our exertons, the corvette gained rapid
upon US, and the prospect OF French prls
on became momentariy more aud more dis
tlnct, and apparently inevitable. Our gran
dee seemed struck with utter madness : h
stormed, raved, gesticulated and eXecrate
the advancing ship with fury scarcely hu
man AS something more to the purpose
we were preparing with sorrowful hearts, +
] II Ioc 4 L., IL
go, in order to tighten the schooner, whe
jenkins, who had gone up with the g lass t
the ioretop, sung out Avast heavln
there; here comes a customer for til
Frenchman-hurrap We all ran to tn
: side, and gaZed to where Bill's arm point
: ed; and there, sure enough, about fou
miles a-head-the wind was right on on
bealn-was British ship of war, Just rour
ding headland, and coming on like rae
5 horse. Up went our ensign-we had hitl
5 erto modestly concealed tin a brace
shakes; we crowed out three lusty cheer
and fired our two little brass popguns, {
g valiant as turkey-cocks, at the corvette.
= soon as the Frenchman perceived his ne
\ friend, he lutied up into the wind, and seen
c ed for few minutes doubtful whether
: show fight or a clean pair of heels. IT
(; British vessel was the Scorpion sloop
war, and about fair match for the gent
$ man who had so nearly snapped up my
). theirs son and his inheritance of market
BILE sundries. But the Frenchman final
| made up his mind for tussle. In lit
= more than ten minutes the Scorpion swe
= close by US, and we were hailed from Il
quarter deck, with, What schoouers that
'The Blue-Eyed Maid, of London was Il
l. prompt reply. Heave to, and wait he
n till our return was the as quick reioinde
'Ay, ay, sirP shouted Bill Jenkins, at Il
h same time respectfully touching his hat, al
adding in lower voice, Well see y,
Y, smothered first + In those days, gentleme
a merchant vessels were by no means des
ID GUS of too intimate an acquaintance wi
of his Majesty's cruisers. They had a pes
as lent way OF carrying of the best hands, al
at both shippers and sailors, like the sheep
re the story-book, used to make ugly compa
D, sons between the wolves and the shepherd
D. so we kept on under as much sail as I
lie sticks would bear. The appearance of t
r British cruiser had changed the delirio
Of rage of the Spaniard into the widest 10
s. aud when the fight, of which we had ca