Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-06-30

in an open fight. 1t is too late to cut her
out now, and to engage under the guns Of
the battery might he called rash by our ru-
lers After the men have had breakfast |
will take her if she comes outside. Quar-.
termas,cr, 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 u hammock
hung for him between two of the quarter
deck guns.
Quartcrmaster Hunter" said quarter.
gunner, "what do you make Of the old man!
He's gone to sleep, like a troopers horse, all
standing. and means to wake up and fight
that heavy craft the sailors Of the last prize
told Us Of Amt he mad!"
"Na, na," said the big -whiskered Scott,
who, from being The most athletic and faith
ful fellow on board, was the Captains fancy
man; "Na, ma, if we ha to fghte a wee bit
it will ma hurt us, we ha been playin' and
scrimmagin long enow."
Scrimmagc, is it," said Brown, the first
speaker; do you call it scrimmage to take
those two big letter O marks-both twice
as big as u.s. Powder and shot! what do
you call fight, then"
al ca Trafalgar fshte, and Aboukir a
fichte, when we had our eighty's matched
wi eighty's, each choosin' a bird and peckin
at it---and pickin it by the hour"
"Well, but that's no sign" said Brown !;
"you fought man agn man, and gun agIn
gun, and now look at that are fellow, sheet.
in home his tops;,ils. and say if he aint more
nor a match for the likes of u.s."
They were now joined by several of the
petty officers and men, who, mustering upon
the forecasle, watched closely the cncmy's
movements, and gave their opinions as to
the probable result of an engagement. All
except Hunter were evidently alarmed at the
prospect before them, and tried hard to per.
suade him to join them in carrying request
to the Commander, that he would not en-
gage an enemy Of such an overwhelming
| force.
"What for should gang wi ye9" said
Hunter; | ha as many lives as the Captain,
and will warrant we've as many friends in
hell us he has"
This profound reasoning did not suit the
unintelIectual minds of the group, and it was
determined that boatswain's-mate, captain
of the forecastc, and a marine, should COM
pose the deputation. It was delayed until
after breakfast, i'll the hope that it might
prove unnecessary.
Meanwhile the Captain slept as soundly
as if pilowed on down, receiving the reports
of the encmy's maneuvres with simple
every WELL" and sleeping again.
Eight bellies were reported to be struck,
the sentries were releved-the hammocks
had been stowed-the decks made clean
and spotess-the sails sheeted home-and
everything done with as much regularity as
if no enemy were in sight. The men were
hardly seated around their mess-kids when
the Captain stepped from under the sail
which had been spread over his hammock
as an awning, and, casting quick glance
alof and along the decks, touched his hat
and babe me good morning." at the same
time thanking me for the first refreshing
sleep he had had for several nights, ano
pIayfully complimenting me on my skill as
sailor.
But, Doctor" said he, chow is it you
have run away from the prize? See where
she is, hull down, astern.