Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-02-21

Jumps! The way she tosses the water
| with her bows, won't have TO wet jib;
| she does that herself! Ii we don't get
into the river, and them chaps over
haul US, what in natures to be done,
! DeaconP ..a aaasW .s. ...-s..r
at won't do 10 lei 'em capture the six
big guns, and two barrels O. powder, and
ton of shot that we've got for the fort,
that's a fact 'Siah,' said very decidedly,
Deacon Paul Bu,,eriield, who both own
ed and commanded the Polly, which
had been, few days before engaged by
the Government agen, in Boston to con-
vey armaments and ammunition TO Fort
! Hume well. = -8
This enierprize, the Deacon, for he
was q lawful deacon, in his own town,
which was Hallowell, forty miles up the
river, had cheerfully undertaken, assur-
ing the agent he could g,. The Polly Ann
into the river safely in spite of the crui-
sers. Srewd, bold and cool, the
Deacon saw that by running only in the
night and hugging the shore, he
would probably be able TO get into the
Kennebeck undiscovered, especially as
the cruisers used 70 stand off shore at
night league or two for an ofling. and
run in again at sun rise. The agent felt
that q small coas.ing vessel. with so
skillful captain as Deacon Butterfield,
would be quite as likely to get into the
river as larger one, if not more So,
aud gave him the commission. For the
sum Of two hundred and fifty dollars, the
Deacon had bargained TO take the can
con and munitions to the Kennebec, and
also he bound himself if there was dan
ger of being captured, 10 scu.ile the
sloop and sink her. We now see him
thus far in the progress Of his enter.
prise. The cannons were long battery
,hirty-twos six in number, and were laid
athwart ships, side by slue, upon deck.
The sho. were piled forward, and in the
forecaslle was slowed the powder, in
casks, and securely protected under can
vass; tarpaulius also covered the guns.
If we can only stand Or len minutes
more sSiah, said the Deacon to his mate,
1 i don't fear them are two cruisers a
stick! One on 'em you see has la1ed
to try to cut US off. If 'twant for this
plague heavy iron we've got in her. Id
show The enemy how to make keel Gu,
blue wa;er through! But We must ge,
in, Lo,,' he added, turning TO a rugged
old man, who was now engaged in ten
ding The main-sheei, the slack of which
he held in his iron fist. . f.. .. ....
'ls's ge, in safely, Deacon answered
Lo, Bissel gruflly 'and ge, hundred
and fifty dollars, or iI's sink the sloop,
and no insurance! # .s.a ar
That's fact. Mr.. Bissel,' responded
the Y ankee skipper with emphasis; and
shifting his tobacco from his larboard TO
his starboard cheek. he glanced under
the man-sail TO see how the fort and
shore lay, and then hove his eye to the
windward aud took with it deliberate in
specton Of the enemy.
, Give small pull af. on the main.
sheet. Mr.. Bissel. 'Siah, haul aft the
lib BIZ! The Britsher is smoking his
r pipe! added the skipper quietly, as he
saw Jet Of smoke belched from the
bow o. the sloop-of-war. He had hard
ly got the words out when the boom o.
E gun me, their ears and simultaneously
shot passed whizzing over their heads
Il don't stan that are' exclaimed
.Siah, in very determined tone, which
: singularly contrasted with his awkward
rustic exterior. 'Gire me leave Deacon
, and I'll give them shot back, darn mt
if | don't!
your gun won't scare 'em, 'Siah.--
Ease off the main. sheet, Lot. BE ready
! to dodge, for guess lhere'll be anoihe
i O. them junks of iron this way. They
. amt got no pilot, or they wouldn't keeE
SO near the propose ledge rock
r Cool and steady the skipper stood a
his post, and directed the course of hi
!, little craft. All a. once he gave lout
! hurrah! The sloop.of.war had struck
under full sail, upon a rock, bare al low
water, known as porpoise ledge, and ev
: cry thing was taken aback, while he
mainroyal mast and yard went over tn
, side. 73
THAT is for not taking pilot on-'
; strange coast said the skipper dryly
Al WHllc his hccu Htuc e co ioiiiy SuVCiC'
with pleasure; but he made no furthe
: demons .ralions Of joy; but after takin.
second glance at the sloop-of-war, ant
seeing that matters on board Of her wer,
|, in too much confusion for them to troubl
: themselves about him, he now gave hi
whole attention to the brig. which wa
about mile and half from him in I
, straight line, and about equally distan
! from the entrance to the river.
Upon seeing the accident that had oc
Cured to her consort. she bore down ;
i little, and hosted signal. II was re
). sponded 10 on board the sloop, when th'
brig resumed her course. A
'The sloop-of-war, l suppose. say,
she dom, want any aid; SO the brig i
left at liberty to intercept u.s.; SAT-
: the skipper. II looks too, as if sh
. would be likely to get to the entrance a
: soon as the Polly; and then guess it
j, all up with US! But l dont give up a
lnnu az n timber hangs 10 her, or cal