Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-09-26

Sail or cried the lookout from the mast
head
sWhe,eaway, asked the officer of the deck
Son the lee-beam.'
We had been dcdging about the horse lati-
tudes for several weeks, most of the time be-
calmed; and of course, without meeting sin
gle vessel At this announcement excitement
prevailed the decks the watch above placed
below crowded up the gangway to catch a
glance of the stranger if possible.
In due time the character of the chase be-
came evident She was a heavy, fore-topsal
schooner, and apparently man-of-war. In
stead of flying us, as was the case with most
vessels, she stood boldly on her course, and in
consequence was soon within range. Mean
time, through our glasses, we could see that
her decks were filled with men. who appeared
10 be scrutinzing us.
Show him our flag at last said our cap
tain.
The roll of bunting ascended to the gaf, and
blowing out, disclosed our country's ensign,
the white stars sprinkling the field of azure,
and the crimson stripes cleaning out against
their white backg ground
No answer came from the schooner, however.
She had apparently taken us for friend, but
now being assured contrary, and aware also by
This time of our greatly superior force, she
tackled hurriedly, and went off almost dead be
fore the wind.
Give her a shot, cried the captain. and see
if that will bring her to-
The ball went richochetting over the waters,
and passing through the mainsail, plunged into
the water short distance ahead. A moment
after the red cross of Britain shot up TO the
schooner's gaff where it glared blood-red in
the brazen sky. But instead Of lying to, the
chase steadily kept on her way.
Another shot, cried the captain; and let
US see if we can't cripple her
The ball vhstled sharply across the air.
but fell short OF. It's mark; and another, fired
Immediately after shared the same fate. 1t
was evident that we were scarcely within
range As every shot deadened our progress,
the captain ordered the gunner to desst !; and
IN place of firing, directed the sails to be wet
down The enemy, with truer perception of
the character of the combat had declined from
The first, to return shots, but had turned all his
energies TO spreading what sail he could. and
throwing water on his canvass from an engine
on board.
A Stern chase is long chase said the
captain But there is no help for it.
However. as the vessel is schooner, and
we are square-rigged. do not despair of even
,ually overhauling him. wonder whether he
really Is an Eurllshman he looks more like a
SLAYER to my eye
The chase was indeed, one of the most beau
,iful craft | had ever seen. She was painted
of jet black. relieved only by crimson streak
in the line of her ports. The mould of her
bulI was clean and graceful: her bows were
sharp as a knife, and her tall, whip-stalk masts
that rose to an immense height. faked back
wards with an air at once saucy and beautiful.
A high bulwark, with monkey rail running
aft. concealed her decks entirely; but the nun
Der of faces peeping at us, and the row ofports.
proved her to be no mere yacht, as otherwise
might have been supposed,
That craft replied, was never built In
England There's not naval architect IN the
whole three kincdoms-take my word for it
who could turn out such beautiful model
I'd bet months pay that good, solid Kappa
hammock timbers hold her together, and there S
more than one shipwright in Baltimore has
handled the adj upon her
Then she must be a SLAYER.
Il think not And you will agree with me,
when YOU have reflected moment We are a
weeks sail ont of the track of such scoundrels.
Besides that craft carries too many men for a
SLAYER
You are right answered the captain, after
a amoments thought But what can she be Z
That is more than can tell. She may be
either an Englishman or pirate-more likely
the latter than the former for the British even
when they capture one OF the fast-salllng
schooners are not apt to commission them; the
lazy islanders think them too wet forward
"A pirate"
Yes, we have heard of several being about
the West Indies, and this may be one, having
followed the homeward- bound feet, in hopes
to catch stray prize, has been, like our
selves, set into these internal latitudes.'
you reason well, said the captain. 'How-
ever, we shall soon know We evidently gain
upon her. think we could now reach her
with our guns. But, he added, after hesitat-
ing moment, 'we'll keep on till we range
along side, and then give her a broadside that
will settle him at once
The plan of the captain was not destined to
succeed. He had scarcely spoken when the
wind began perceptibly to die away, and before
an bour it was almost a dead calm. Puffs of
air, indeed. would occasionally distend our
sails for while and urge us on space, but
the effect of this, on the whole, was to increase
rather than lessen the distance between us and
the chase, the latter making more headway In
a light breeze
BY the middle Of the afternoon we were
rocking on the surface of the deep, with every
sail set, vet without advancing an inch. The
day had been intensely sutry, and now that not
breath of air was stirring, the heat became