Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-02-16

" atupis anu went Out AT the eNOpsAe sue
through well rounded hole, with l:ttle
splintering ca the outside The men were
all moro or less hurt the bed ard door had
bruised all on the weather side Of the table.
and broken pieces Of glass had severely cut
and laceratcd those who were so unfortunate
as to have taken leeward seats 1t seemed
a miracle that no one was killed; but they
were well sobered, and put under my hands
instead Of the boatswain's mates their fur
Their punishment deferred until their wounds
were healed, or they had redeemed their
character by good conduct in action.
Before this little prelude was concluded.
symptoms Of approaching day had made their
appearance --the heavens for a moment had
frightened up-and then deeper darkness
covered the waters
Doctor, said my Commodore handing me
the right glass with which he had been watch
ing the motious Of the euemys brig Of war
about sen miles from us---'Doetor, pray keep
the deck an hour for me; you are non com
Blatant and may sleep while we are at work.
1t is too late to cut her out now, and to en-
gage under the guns of the battery might be
called rash by our rulers. After the men
have had breakfast, ! will take her If she
comes outside. Quartermastcr. keep the
prize on our lee quarter, and shorten sail if
you fnd we arc getting away from her And
so saying he threw off his hat and laid down
in hammock hug for him between two Of
the quarter deck guns.
.Quartermaster Hunter said a quarter.
gunner. what do you make Of the old man 7
He's goue 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 be mad 7
Ma, ma said the big whiskcrcd Scott. who.
from being the most athletic and faithful fcl
low on board. was the captains fancy man;
Ma ma, if we ha to fighte a wee bit il viii IA
hurt us. VIC ha been playin' and scr:iamagin
long enow'
.Scrimmage. is it, said Brown the Gss,
speaker; do you call i, scrimmsgr 10 take
those two Ing letter O marks both twice as
big as US. Powder and shot, what do you
call fight, them
| Il ca Trafalgar 6gate, and Abonkir a
fghtc, when we had our eighty .atched wi
eighty's, each cnoosin' bird and peckin at it
and picim it by the hour
well, but that's no sign said brown !;
syou fought min agin man, and gun agin gun,
and now look at that are teller shectin' home
his topsails, and say if he amt more ,han a
match for the likes of us!'
They were now joined by several of the Of
fcers and men, who mastering upon the fore
castle, watched closely the enemy's move
nents, and gave their opinions as TO the prob
able result of the engagement. All except
Hunter were evidently alarmed at the pros
pcct before them, and tried hard to persuade
him TO join them in carrying request to the
Commander, that he would not engage an
enemy of such an overwhelming force.
what for should I gang wi We 2 said Hun
ter, 81 have as many lives as the Captain,
and I'll warrant we've as many friends in hell
as he has,
This profound reasoning did not suit the
unintcllectual minds of the group and it was
determined that boatswain mate, captain of
the forecastle, and marine, should compose
the deputaiion: 1t was delayed until after
breakfast in the hope that it might prove un-
Necessary.
Meanwhile the Captain slept as soundly as
| if pillowcd on down, receiving the reports of
the cnemy's manCuvcrs with simple very
well, and sleeping again.
Eight bells were reported to be struck, the
centres were relicved-the hammocks had
been stowcd-thc decks made clean and spot
less-thc sails shcetcd home-and everything
done with as much regularity as if no enemy
were in sight. The men were hardly seated
around their messkids when the Captain step
cd over his hanlmoc rs an awning, and cast
ing quick glance aloft and along the decks,
touched his hat, and badc me good morning.
at the same time thanking me for the first re-
freshing sleep he had had for several nights,
and playfully complimcnting me ON my skill
as sailor.
sBut, Doctor said he, show is it You have
run away from the prize See where she is,
haul down astern ?
The fact was, we had been SO busy with
the thoughts of the mornings DANGER and
the enemy's movements, that we had forgot
ten the prize altogether.
1t was now, however, apparent that the
brig-of-war had given up the idea of over
taking us, which had at first seemed his OBJ
ject, as we sailed too fast for him, and was
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