Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1856-04-17

| He passed Trinidad, and began to think that
he should be obliged to run round ON the North
side, to Havana or Matanzas, when one after
noon, as he was keeping close along the beach,
inside of the Isle of Pines, his eye caught the
entrance of little narrow channel that looked
just as if it would suit his purpose. The schoon-
ers helm was hard up, and off she went before
the wind, and in fifteen minutes she was inside
of the little harbor, that had probably never
been visited by an honest American vessel be-
! FORE
| Captain Josh Forbes vas not very often as
tonished at anything he saw, but he was taken
all aback that afternoon for when he got
abont quarter Of mile up the narrow creek,
he discovered, moored alongside of the bank,
half mile further up, the New Grenadian
schooner he had seen at st. Thomas. In double
quick time, the Sarah Ford was run alongside
of the bank, and tied up to the trees which
grew close down to the waters edge.
| Josh Forbes for once in his life, was in
quandary. He couldn't get out to sea again,
for the wind was blowing square into the creek,
and he knew that before the land breeze would
set in at night, the gentleman from the schoou-
er above would pay him visit and then good
bye to all hopes of marrying his little schooner's
namesake, for all that he was worth in the
world, and considerable more was in the vessel
| He had with him the whole proceeds of the
cargo which he was yet in debt for at Bangor
For five minutes the Yankee captain was
lost in deep study, when all at once bright
idea seemed to strike him, for he frightened up
and calling his little crew of FIVE, all told, aft,
he addressed himself particularly to a young man
who acted as mate of the schooner, aud said
Warren, do you think You can take the
Sarah Ford home to Bangor ?"
"Yes. cap'n. I do" replied the youngster :;
but what are you going to do? ?"
me? oh, Pm going home in that schooner
up there y
The other looked at him in establishment, but
! all enquiries were cut short by Captain Josh,
who again addressed his mate as follows:
Warren, you jump aft there, ana take the
bearing of that vessel by compass and then
take the compass ont and bring it along for
We must put for the bushes, if ever we want to
see Yankee land again. I'll tell you my plan
after we get into the woods"
| In two minutes the Sarah Ford was deserted
| 10y all hands. Captain Josh took the compass
| from Warren. and led his little crew back front
the creek about quarter of a mile, when he
shaped his course by compass, so as TO keep
along up, about PARALLEL with the bank. When
he judged he was about opposite the pirate, he
took the advance and proceeded carefully down
towards the creek. In few minutes, they
came in sight of the pirate schooner, and at the
same moment Josh made a grand discovery
which was that a little ahead Of where the
schooner lay. there was an arm of the creek,
which ran of about west, and opeuing out into
the bay 10y a different channel from the one he
| had entered. He saw at glance that, as the
wind was, vessel could run out by this chan
mel with free sheet About the time that
Forbes and crew came in sight of the schooner,
the pirates had mustered all hands and Just
started off down the creek to overhaul the Sa-
rah Ford
| As soon as they were ont Of sight in the
bushes, Forbes whispered to his men
| "Nows our chance--out knives and cut her
fasts. Then jump aboard and shove of, aud
then put sail on her"
The captains orders were promptly obeved,
and in less than ten minutes, the New Grcna-
dian armed schooner Brandy--the fayorite cruis-
er Of Mitchell the pirate-was under all sail
and passing rapidly down the western channel
At the moment that the pirates reached the
Yankee schooner, they saw their own vessel un-
der way aud going to sea. Instantly comlre-
heuuiS eue dithec tTiCh, anu uotIibg Win Tuge,
they Immediately got the Sarah Ford under
way and followed her.
In half an hour, both vessels were outside
Forbes, with his new command, was running
away to the westward, about point free, and
keeping the huff of his sails lighting so that she
shouldn't 60 too fast through the water. The
pirates were standing right on his wake, crowd
ing on all sail to overhaul him.
After leading them off about ten miles, Capt
Forbes suddenly tackled ship aud stood back on
the other tack towards the pirates, and passing
them to windward, just out Of pistol shot, he
hailed them:
"Now, gentleman, you will please to keep
on as You are going. If you attempt to haul
your sail, I'll sink you" So. ...--.
A yell of mingled rage and despair rang out
from the pirates deck and immediately the
schooner's helm was put hard down, in order
to 60 on stays.
| Before she was head to wind, nine pound
shot from one of their guns came crashing in
through the schooner's hulwarks, telling them
in the most emphatic manner that they had
better obey orders
And they did too. In an instant the schoon-
er's helm was put up. and she was kept of on
her course.
Captain Josh reefed his fore and aft sails, so
his vessel would just hold way with the other
schooner. and then he kept on after her, inst
within point blank range all through the night
j. which was clear and Observation-Disclosures the
pirates appeared to forget their orders. and be.
u gan to keep Oh, or haul to OF their course. .
- = !.