The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-12-27

ward, we m managedto keep away sufficient.
ly to maintain the distance we had first
possessed. But gradually the wind fresh
ened the billows began to roll their white
crests over in the sunlight, the sails strain
ed under the press of the breeze; and the
waters, rippling loud and fast under our
bows. went splashing along our sides with
a gurgling noise, and then Kissed by the
rudder as they were whirled away astern.
''What a provoking breeze!" said West.
brook. .'Here we are at a convenient
distance, as O'Shaughnessy would say,
from yonder chap. having besides the
whole night before US to plan an escape
from his clutches, and 10! breeze springs
up just when it ought to be calm, leaving
US at the mercy OF our huge friend up here
with prospect of dangling from a yard
arm if he tsrns out to be an Englishman. -
..Shure an well blow ourselves out OF
water said O'Shaughnessy himself, hap
|pening 10 overhear the conclusion OF
Westbrook's remark, "rayther than do
that same"
.'And Tito j, also, eh!'' said West
brook.
O'Shaughuessy made no reply. bu,
Struggling his shoulders, the conversation
dropped.
The strange sail had by this time been
made out TO be a three e-decker, and so ra-
pidly did she gain on US that we now count
ed upwards OF forty guns on side. AS
the breeze freshened, moreover, her We
locity increased. Throwing out fold af
ter fold Of canvass, until pyramid OF
snowy duck rose towering above her
decks, and the water rolled in cstaracts
of foam beneath her gigantic bows. she
seemed determined 10 oyertake us before
the breeze which she brought with her
could by any possibility subslde.
Mean while we made every effort to es-
oape but without success. The very
freshness ofthe breeze, owing to our COM
paratively light canvass, was in favor Of
our adversary. In vain we threw out ev-
cry sail; in vain the ropes were hauled as
taut as they could be drawn; in vain as
last resort, our sails were wet down
even to the ;rucks--every endeavor to in
crease our speed only appeared to weary
out our crew, without altering the relative
velocity Of the two ships.
.'By my faith bu, yonder fellow sails
well, said the skipper; 81 little thought
anything that carried canvass could come
up in this style, hand over hand 10 the
sancy FIRE FLY. What think you, Mr.
Stevens :"
The lieutenant shook his head, and an.
swered;
II fear, sir, we shall have TO choose be-
l.
LAY, ay-that's true said the skipper,
abstrac;edly, "but she's not oyerhaulsd us
yet. and there's many slip betwixt the
cup and the lip, you know
.'Pray God it may be so nowQ''
By this time the man Of war had come
up within long cannon-shot of the schoon-
er, aud just as the lieutenant finished his
ejaculation, the stranger luffed beautifully
uk point or two, and the next minute a
sheet OF flame streamed out from one OF
her bow.guns, and shot whisting past
us aloit. plunged headlong into the sea TO
leeward. AT the same moment roll of
bunting shot upto the gaff of the stranger.
and slowly unrolling blew out upon the
air..
"The English crosby all that's ho-
VI calculated the skipper.
There was a dead silence Of more than
a minute. Each one looked into his neigh
boris face. The captain. with compress
ed lip and disturbed brow, gazed, with
out speaking, on the an-of-war; while
the discipline OF the service, as well as the
sudden knowledge, Of our peril, were sui.
fcient TO restrain the officers from CONVEX
sation. Directly, however. the English
ship luffed again; another sheet of fire
blaZsd from her bows; and ball sent
this time with more certainty of aim, went
through our fore topsail just above the
foot.
..Show her the bunting" growled the
captain through his clenched teeth, "and
get ready the long gum
We looked at each other in mute as
.tonishment. | thought of Paul Jones in
like emergency. But no one dreamed
of expostulation, even If such thing had
been allowable from interiors. The flag
was brought.
.'Send the bunting aloft.''
..Ay, ay, sir! !"
The huge ensign, at the word, futtered
to the gaf, and whipping out on the breeze,
disclosed the cognizance of the common
wealth, emblazoned on its surface. No
sooner did it unclose its folds than the
|maD-of-war luffed rapidly, and several
points more than at either the preceding
times; while simultaneously sheet OF
continuous firs rolled along her side, and
a shower of balls, ploughing up the sea
betwixtihe two vessels, fell like hail around
the schooner. At the same moment
heard a noise like rattling thunder at my
side. and looking up saw the mainssi
coming down by the run Quicker than
ihoughtit lay q wreck across the schoon
err.
I'VE are sinking shouted voice. 1
was that Of the purser. The terror OF the
speaker betrayed itself in every tone
.God have mercy On US, for We are going
down.
..Silence, fool !" sternly said the skip
per, and then raisjng his voice he thun
dered, "what have they hurt u
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