Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-06-24
from the prize; the men are all drunk, and what

can do Z"
This came from boy who had been left b,
mistake when the Brazilians were brought away
"PHt the helm down." and, as if urged b.
one impulse, both vessels swung gracefally VI
into the wind The brig of.war kept under steer
age way until the maintopsai of the prize caueh
aoack, when she hauled up her mainsail and hove
TO.
1 The gunner went on board with his priae crew
4 and sent back the fellows who had, as the boat
1wain's mate said, " subjected him 10 extra duty
with bis cat" h..
1t appeared that the prize crew temporarily
left in charge had discovered case Of gin, and
placing it on the cabin table, had taxen out one
or more OF its square TASKS, and emptied them
with such diligence as to render themselves, In
common parlance, drunk as foo's I" that the
man from the hclra had joined them, and ibe9es-
sci, left " at her own sweet will" fell off before
the wind-her main braces having been care
essly belayed-her manopsa had filled away
and she was fairly running into port of her own
accord. From the bissful state of somnolency
produced by the too ardent use of the ardent
one shot awoke the quarto seated around the gin
case; not that an ordinary shot thrown at random
acr)ss the bow or stern, or dozen broadsides
thrown over them, could have induced single
man to stir, but this shot, having been well dl.
rected, went through the side, struck bed which
it forced through state-room door upon the table
and its snoozng guests, struck the gin-case
which it knocked TO atoms, and went out at the
opposite side through well-rounded hole, with
little splintering on the outside. The men
we're all more or less hurt the bed and door
had bruised all on the weather side of the table
and broken pieces of glass had severely cut and
lacerated those who were so unfortunate as TO
have taken leeward seats. 1t seemed miracle
that no one was killed but they were well So
bered, and put under my hands inslead of the
boatswain's mates their further punishment de
ferred until their wounds were healed, or they
had redeemed their character by good conduct
in action.
Before this little prelude was concluded, symp-
toms of approaching day had made their appear
ance-the heavens for a moment had frightened
up-and then deeper darkness covered the
waters.
doctor" said my Commodore, handing me
the nght-glass with which he had been watching
The motions Of the enemy's brig OF war about
ten miles from US" Doctor, pray keep the deck
an hour forme you are on.combatant and may
sleep while we are at work. 1t is too late to cut
her out now, and to engage under the guns Of the
battery might be called rash by our rulers. Af-
fnr aha haua had breakfast will take her il
she comes outside. Quarermaster, keep the
prize on our lee quarter, and shorten sail if you
find we are getting away from her." And so
saying he threw off his hat and laid down IN
hammock hung for him between two OF the quar-
ter deck guns.
Quartermaster Hunter" said quarter. gun
ner, " what do you make of the old man +? He's
gone to sleep, like troopers horse, all standing
and means to wake up and fight that heavy ciaft
the sailors of the last prize told us OF. Aint he
mad ?"
"Na, ma" said the the big -whiskered Scot
who, from being the most athletic and faithful
fellow on board, was the Captains fancy man
" Ma, ma, if we ha to fighte wee bit it will ma
hurt us, we ha been playin' and scrimmagiu
long enow."
Scrimmage, is it" said Brown, the first sp eak
err do you call it scrimmage to take those two
big letter . marks--both twice big as us. POwde
and shot what do you call fight, them"
81 ca Trafalgar fghte, and Aboukr fghte
when we had our eighty's mltched wi eightys
each choosin' bird and peckn at it--an pick il
it by the hour"
swell, but that's no sign" said Brown; "yo
fought man agin man, and gun agin gun, an
now look at that are fellow sheetin' home hi
topsas, and say if he aint more nor match fc
the likes OF us?"
They were now joined by several Of the pei
ty officers and men, who mastering upon th
iorecastle, watched closely the enemy'S move
ments, and gave their opinions as to the prohabl
result of an engagement. All except Hunte
were evidently alarmed at the prospect befOr
them, and tried hard to persuade him to jOi
them in carrying a request to the Commander
that he would not engage an enemy of such a
overwhelming force.
"What for should gang wi ye ?" said HUI
ter 81 ha as many lives as the Captain, and T.
warrant we've as many friends il hell as he has.
This profound reasoning did not suit the un
intellectual minds of the group and i. was detel
mined that boatswain's mute, captain of th
forecaste, and a marine, should compose th
deputation. 1t was delayed Until after bIeakfas
in the hope that it might prove unnecessary.
Meanwhile the Captain slept as souDdy as
pilowed on down, receiving the reports Of tn
enemy's maneuvers with simple " Very well
and sleeping again.
Eight bells were reported to Oe struck, the sci
, tries we're relicved-the hammocks had bee
stowed-the decks made clean and spotless--tS
sails sheeted homeland everything done vii
as much regularity as If no enemy were in sigh
. The men were hardly seated round their mes
kids when the Captain slept over his hammoc
' as an awning, and, casting quick glance ale
e and along the decks, touched his hat, and ba,
e me " good morning" at the same time thunkir
me for the first refreshing sleep he had had
" several nights, and playfully compimenting n
l. on my skill as a sailor.
Il "But, Doctor" said he, " how is it you ha
run away from the prize? Sec where she
d haul down astern."
p The fact was, we had been so busy with O
thoughts of the mornings danger" and I
enemy's movements, that we had forgotten
Is prize altogether.
Il