The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-07-23
"But I'm in earnest.s

r. iVou " Vus AL NY Htu0 huouy ou
take her before she knows where she is.-
Now. will you help mel"
.'l'll foller yer, cap n, ef yeou go t'thun.
der" was Jabe's hearty response, as be
saw the old man was in earnest
Capt. Nightingale took his mate by the
arm and led him off. The night was dark
but still there was busy scene on board
the schooner Rhody, which was the heav-
lest fishing vessel in the place. Torches
were cleaning 10 and fro all night long.
hammers and saws were sending forth
their music. and when the morning dawn.
ed the Rhody was ready for sea. The old
iron signal gun had been hois,ed on board,
and placed upon rude sort Of carriage
amid ships, and cod-lne beckets and bait
boxes had been cleared away, and. take
her in all, she bore some faint resemblance
TO an embryo pirate or privateer.
She was manned by twelve men, oil
whom Jabe Haskins took the command
The people wondered where Capt. Night.
ingale was. but Jabe set their hearts at rest
by telling them that he would get outside
as soon as the schooner did.
In an hour after daylight the Rhody
hove up her anchor and made sail, aud in
less than five hours she poked her blunt
nose into the waters of the blue Atlantic
Shortly alter, the schooner had passed
White Head light. the Englishman was
made out about two miles distant. to the
souih'rd and west'rd, just off the Ledges,
and hauling his sheets fiat aft Jabe brought
his vessel up to the wind, which was fresh
from the north'rd and east'rd, and stood
off towards the latter point. This looked
amazingly like trying to run away--at
least, SO the Englishman thought
consequently the clipper was Immediately
put in full chase. and though she was some
what to the leeward, still, it was evident
that she would not be long in overhauling
the Yankee.
About four o'clock in the afternoon. the
EngIshman came almost within hailing
distance. and fired gun. As the shot
came whizzng over the isherman's deck
Jabe llaskins at once hove to, and ere long
the clipper came up. e
"Schooner ahoy!"
"llello!' returned Jabe.
'.Do you surrender!"
"Wal, ef yeou want t take us, s'pose
| cant help myself"
The clipper hove her fore -topsal 10 the
mast and lowered boat, and in some five
minutes afterwards her commander, fol.
lowed by fifteen men, came over the Yam
kee's side. The first object that met his
gaze as he stepped upon the deck, was the
old iron gun, amidships. and though the
thought Of an American pirate made him
feel sore, yet he could not help laughing at
the almost ridiculous scene thus presented
to his gaze. The twelve green looking
fishermen, together with that gun did pre-.
sent rather a lldicrous appearance. 4
$50 you are on a pratical expedition?"
remarked the British officer.
"ldono," returned Jabe, with an Offend
ed air. 81 s'pose eff I'd cum across one o.
your crafts at could ave took, should
ave done il; but dono as | should
been pirating emmy more'n yeou are
ne0w."
''Iiow many men have you got?"
Here's twelve on US, an of yeou've got
Twelve men at ken lick US, I'd like tew see
'em."
"'Never mind about that, Jonathan.
Wen take you into Halifax. and there per-
haps. you will find your match"
The schooner was searched fore and
aft, but all that could be found were doz-
en- old pistols, and about as many swords.
which were in the cabin. while in the hold
they discovered nothing but an array of
empty boxes and barrels. The English
man left twelve of his own men to take
charge OF the prize, and took six Of the
prisoners on board his own vessel. leaving
lhe other six under charge Of the officer
who had been appointed to the command
Of the Rhody, and also left orders that the
schooner should be kept close in his wake
during the night, as he intended to see
her safely out Of reach Of the Yankee
coasters.
Until nine o'clock at night the Rhody
stood on after the clipper. with all sail set.
while the latter only carried her nlainsail
and two jibs. The six Yankees who had
lsen left on board were secured in the |
ong.boat, while the lieutenant in command |
and five or his men bad the first watch
When the clipper struck two bells. the ves-
'els were not more than two cables length |
apart, the prize being a little to westward,
as owing to her bad sailing, the lieutenant
wished 10 keep the weather gage. The
night was quite dark, and the wind. which /
had fallen soma since sundown, had yeer
d slightly to TO the northward.
While the prize masters were earnestly |
engaged in keeping up with the clipper. a |
,ery novel scene was being enacted in the
,old. One Of the boards, which seemed |
Q form part Of a stationary floor, was lit
ID from its place. and the head of old cap
ain Enoch Nightingale appeared through
he aperture. In q moment more another
BOARD was removed, and ere long. forty
tout fishermen, all well armed. had come
up from their place Of concsalmeDt. II
vas but moments work to leap on deck.
md ere the hunder.slruck lieutenant could !