Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-01-18

Wnat ner present operation ISL would not ventur
to say" s@ eEt@s' 81. 20 -. ~ esss E5s-
'We'll soon see that,' said the Captain =
Mate show your bunting" ssa5o
The stars and stripes were quickly floating a
our peak, and in few minutes, as if to refute m,
assertions, the smeteor flag of England rose ma
jestcally from the strangers deck, and futtere,
aloft, stirred by wanton breeze that dallied, en-
amored of its folds! .s asa f9gea,sa j. .
"There, sir," said the major pompously, 81 toll
you so; knew there could be no vessel of equa
symmetry out of the Yatch Club .saear 7s. liz
"Do the vessels of the Royal Yatch Club carry
a long, Tom on pivot, major!" asked /, taking
the glass from my eye, with which had been ex
amining the schooner. .as .5..- ..sv-.t.rg =
/ "Why, sir?'' ,s .r-.5 liz. -r .:f,...+-e,..<
Because our friend there seems rather heavily
armed for pleasure yatch.''sss ,.ft,.,~z4~s .i4
''Yatch be darn'd!' exclaimed Captain iona
than, ''she's bloody pirate! and rather guess
we'll soon know more about her,, a-.tr. ~.
"Do you think he'll attempt to capture us, skip
per-! asked the major, sand have you an idea OF
resisting?" .....-....-. ...... ...,.. .--..
. I watched the captain closely as these questions
were put for upon his frmness and conduct might
depend our lives. There was fire in his eye, and
a flush spread over his weather-beaten counten-
ance, as he replied with much energy:
s'Idea Of resisting! Jerusaem! Irayther think
have! Do you think Reuben Jonathan is going
to give up his brig and cargo to them bloody
Spanish thieves, without showing fight, and let
himself be pitched overheard like an old swab in
to the bargain! 1t may so be as he will not dis
turb US. The Mary Anne' is not exactly the kind
of prize for him, and these fellows don't like to
throw away their amunition; but if the worst
comes, gentlemen, ace mast fight" e4. e~.a a.
We all agreed readily with his propositions, land
under his direction proceeded to arm ourselves,
which, from the briggs magazine, and our own re-
Sources we were enabled to do pretty effectively;
fowling- pieces, muskets, pistols and cutlasses
enough for all being found. On mastering our
force, we had, including the crew, twenty efec-
tive men, -, .-...,...>--. ---
ssWe must keep down, gentlemen" said the
skipper E'and not show too much strength, or he
may pepper us at long tow; though these fellows
don't like to use their big guns when they can do
their work quietly.-there's to many cruisers in
these ATTITUDES. ,
By this time the schooner had come up within
hailing distance astern Of US.
"Brig ahoy!" sang out voice from her deck.
81 '.HiIoa!" replied our skipper, through a mon
ster trumpet.
@'eWhat brig is that!'' a'
"The MARY Anne, Of Portland. What schoon-
er is that!''
"The Rlaek Saahe, Heave to and send boat
Oh board.'' af. aaerlsa, - .s4 t.5a.-s
ssCan't do it, my boats are all on board, and
slowed for the voyage
ssHeave-to, then, while send my boat on
board of you.''
'You'd better not; we Yankees don't admit
the right of search"
!! The schooner was still coming up with US:
though the brig had commenced to forge ahead
under the influence of steadier breeze: Both
vessels were laying near the wind, in which point
of sailing the schooner had an evident adVan-
tage. Our skipper quietly ordered the man at the
helm to keep away, and as the brig fell off before
the wind, it was perceived on board the schooner,
which made q CORES ponding movement. while
another fierce, hail came, ordering US to ''heave-
to!'' AS our skipper was about to raise his trum-
pet to reply, the major intertered: .s..... ~
"Perhaps she is government vessel, skipper,
and you had better comply ss-..l-. -n
"Even if she was, what right has she to bring
an American vessel to! raythur guess the right
of sarch is settled said the skipper. a..
The major seemed disposed to argue the point,
when quietly touching his arm, pointed to the
schooner, on board of which rapid change had
taken place: Her deck was swarming with arm
ed men, and preparations were making to lower
her boats. while the English ensign had been
hauled down, and in its place there went up the
significant black flag, with its horrid blazonry of
scull, supported by cross bones.
s.Do her majesty's cruisers sail under that sort
of bunting, major!''
"A pirate! By Cd! VIC must fight for it.''
: The two vessels were nav running parallel
with about equal speed, making perhaps some
two knots an hour. In few minutes, three
boats of armed men put off from the schooner, and
scattering in different directions, pulled with the
evident intention of attacking US on both Sides
Every preparation the circumstances of the case
would admitted, was made to give them warm
reception. fo.,.,..
ssWe must never let them get foothold on
deck, gentlemen said the skipper, who showed
an activity and courage which ELECTED our admir-
alton. -,
:. The plan of the boats to attack US from differ
ent points at once necessarily delayed their oper-
atoms. In the meantime, as is often common in
these seas, a current of wind struck the brig
pressing her more rapidly through the water
An idea-a bold and happy flashed on the
brain of our skipper. @4 - Is.
ssOnickt gentlemen T have it, We are safe -