The Winchester appeal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1856-1856, 1856-05-10

and hnrrying down to the deck, made
the crew set the top-gallant sail and
square sail. Then had a light run
up at each masthead, as the schoon-
er astern of me had already done, so
as to deceive the ships ahead of me,
which lay in such a position that
must pass close by them. The fellow
astern now knew me by my bearings,
and soon showed by the change in his
bearings and the motion of his lights, |
as they swung to and fro from his ben
ding spars, that he was following in
my wake under press of sail. He
kept continually sending up rockets
and blue-lights, and ! initiated as near
ly as possible each signal that he
made, for | knew that if the heavy
ships outside of me once smelt the rat,
and found out who | was, a single |
broadside would be dose enough for
my poor little schooner.
Apparently exasperated at my good
imitation, the craft astern waved from
her course and fired a couple of shots
at us, but as we paid no attention to
her harmless shots, and she only lost
ground by firing, she stopped it and
pressed on in chase. We too cracked
on every thread of canvass which our
craft would bear, knowing that ever
ything depended on passing the ship
outside without receiving fire from
| them.
Once more took my glass and went
forward to pick the best spot to pass
their line. Just ahead of US were two
lights pretty close together, which |
thought, from the heights at which
they hung, might be suspended from
. the gafIs of frigates or corvettes, and |
made up my mind to run boldly under
. the stern OF the rearmost OF them, and
try to pass myself off as one of their
tenders, knowing that nothing but
stratrgem could save me. Still show
ing similar signals to those of the
schooner astern, | held my course. In
> few minutes we neared the stern
most ships, and then saw by her light
ed ports that she WAS three-decker
line o'-battle-ship. reckon | was
little skeered just then, but | didn't tell
, my men so, and they seemed to be as
; cool as white bars on an iceberg.
, As we came within hail of the sew
} enty-four, a gruff English voice shout
cd through trumpet:
Schooner ahoy! Is that the Ne
reide"
Thank God for that hint, thought |,
f as | answered:
"Aay, aye, Sir!
! whats in the wind!" he again hail
J, ed. "Your signal-oflicer must be
7 drunk; we can't understand you. Ex-
plain yourselfp
I'm in chase of bloody villain of
Y Yankee, that's trying to run the
, blockade!' shouted |.
!. "Oh very WE'LL he answered; Il hope
t you'll catch the sneaking scullion~
$50 do |, and keep him after he is
| caught; but hopes are slippery things,
=, as the old woman said of the cells
? which she was SHINING, when she
!. lost them overboard!"
g Another moment and We were be-
3 yond his hail, and outside Of the line of
: ships, bowling off at the rate of elev-
en- or twelve knots. In few minutes
: we doused every light, then altered
our course four points to the south
ward, and were in few moments hid
D den from the enemy by the darkness.
t l soon saw the pursuing schooner
run under the stern of the seventy-four,
t and then, by the signals made, knew
r at once that my stratagem had been
discovered. The seventy-four fired
I guns, and at once the lights of the
|, whole line commenced changing their
: bearings, and | saw that a general
3 chase had been ordered. didn't care
: now, however, for knew that my lit
tie craft had the heels of 'em, and with
l the darkness to aid me, feel assured
of escape.
Before day broke, was away down
of the Capes of the Delaware, with
f everything astern ofme midtown, and
as shaped my course for the West In
: dies, | laughed to think that the Eng
lishman's "HoPE" had proved so slip
perry!
A New MEAsURE.-Six show dye
: dos" make one acquaintance; two &C
quaintances make one invitation; three
invitations make one friendship; two
friendships make one avowal Of feel
ing; one avowal of feeling makes one
marriage; one marriage makes any
quantity of children; and any quantity
of children makes one poor.
Alteration is greater enemy to the