The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-07-23

bound hand and foot, and so were hi.
men, while the poor prisoners were set free
from the long-boat. Obed Nightingale
took the helm, and his father, pointing q
cooked pistol at the head Of the English
officer, said: ,3gr
do you think we are in earnest, OF
notl" F.
Il should think you were," replied the
trembling officer.
"Then fyou do not obey me. you will
get bullet through your head in an in.
stant. Now hail the clipper"
"Scorpion ahoy!''s shouted the lieuten ant,
as ii for dear life.
ln the meantime the Yankee had been
let off little from the wind, so that she
was now within little more than cable 8
length Of her captor, while the bold fisher.
men were nearly all crouched beneath the
bulwarks. ,f
Some one from the clipper answered the
call. .,..,.-... ......
"Tell them that the schooner has sprung
a leak. and the cussed Yankees must have
thrown the pump, brakes overheard"
The poor lieutenant looked first at the
stern face Of the old man. then at the muz.
zle Of the pistol. and then stretching his
lungs TO the utmost, he obeyed the order.
''Now tell them TO heave.to, and you'll
run alongside"
The frightened officer obeyed, and on
the next moment the clippers helm was
put hard down. and her main boom showed
over to windward.
Seven of the Yankee fishermen were
stationed along the lee rail, with stout
graplings in their hands, and in less than
five minutes the Rhody's bowsprit loomed
up over the clippers weather quarter
Obed showed the helm down, and letting
20 the sheets fore and aft. the Yankee
schooner shot gracefully alongside.
"Why in - didn't you come under
our lee quarter?" shouted the English cap
tain. as the fisherman thumped against the
side of his vessel; but before he could ut
ter any more OF his wrath, with which he
was Utterly boiling over. he found his deck
swarIning with strangers.
The whole thing had come about so un.
aocountably. and withal. so suddenly, that
hardly q blow was struck by the astound-
ed EngHshmen. and before they were fully
aware that they had been captured by their
own insignificant prize, they were secure
ly bound and most Of them slowed away
below under a strong guard.
"Wal, capt'n, said Jabe Haskins-who
had been released from durance vile as
he came ait to where that funcrionary
stood by the side of old Nightingale,
"when dew yeou think of takin' us intew
Halifaxl"
The Englishman looked very hard at his
uncouth tormentor, but he disdained any
reply. q
IL say, capt'n," continued Jabe, in
rery unieeling manner, ~ rayther guess as
heow'l that ere exploit o. yourn won't
amount tew great deal. will il! But.
look here. don't. for mercy's sake. go home
an tell yeour king at yeou got took by
Penobscot cod-lisherman, cause it might
hurt his feelins So ,r
This time the Englishman s answer was
more wicked and unieeling than had been
Jabe's, for he not only swore terribly, but
he even wished that every Yankee in
was in the immediate king
dom OF that horned and hooied individual
who is said to reign somewhere beneath
the earth.
Before the sun had set on the next day.
The English prisoners were all landed at
Belfast. and Captain Enoch Nightingale
|ound himselfin cammand of as hand
some a privateer as Aoated in American
waters, and until peace was declared and
The embargo raised, he carried on most
destructive trade among the British mer-
chantmen.
nSncn