The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-12-05

tack but soon, - il crn.ilerins he ril'r'
vain, a.ain iell Of and ran bciO,r the wind.
"'A stern chase is long one" said The
wcrthy Spray.
I 90 But we shall soon he within gunsho''
and Long Tom will have an ego to those
delicate splrs, and will be apt to let the
wind through some Of tina; snowy canvass
or am completely out Of my reckoning
"A tue blue ireads. her quarteI-dsek'
whoever he is,' said an old seaman, whom
the captain had dubbed master.
$50 much the better answered the cap
tain, he will give Us the more Touele 10
take him, which will make The prize, alter
We have conquered il. all the sweeier. But
,ie fellow really has a swill keel. All hands
clear ship for action -
"The men gave one cheer, and .ei' 10
their task with will. In a moment all
was hustle and conlusion-Ihe men vieins
with each other iOF the honor VI clearing
tie first broadsiie. Lons-Tom was s.riPPed
OF his lead.cOlo'ed jacket, and put into COM
plele ilghIing order.
1--WE are closing rapidly said the cap
tain. Be ready alor there, Mr.. Chase, to
take in the light sails at the moment OF
command
ave had managed to keep well to the
wintwari, which brought Us wiIhin Iange
much sooner than II We had followed direct
I ly in her wake, while he main gun could
be used, with only slight deviation from
our present course, by Bringing the head OF
the big liltlO moro to the wind. The
gunner claimed the irsi shot, and, when
the captain gave him permission, sighted the
piece, aud, watching favorable moment,
fired. The explosion which followed stag.
gcr,d the big Tor a moment, while u shout
woo, ~ from the crew as they saw rent
ia the mainsail cf the cutter.
"'Bnvo!' cried The capilin; met bad
shot Tor toe distance, ard Ton has certainly
made ~, maik. Bu, no more for the pres
cn', he said, tuning 10 he gunner, 'ior |
10 not wish to ruff, the iealheis OF our
prize (lor such she will be in very short
time) any more than | can help
THE distance between ~ hal gradually
Icssened until we coali now Distinguish the
'orns upon her deck. A movement there
convinced Us that hcwas about 10 reily with
4 s.lm chaser. In momen, we saw the
lash, and a sho, came skipping over the
waves, and buried iisllf la mle,sly TO The
lacwatd Of US. On gunner spirited long
Iiue Of tobacco juice over the leo rail, as an
expression Of biz contempt.
"'lI that is a sam.le Of sunae'y,' said
he, the captain i, perfectly right in not
wasting cur powder upoa him"
'SilI keeping the wea,hcT-guisc, we bore
Town rapidly upon him, h. continuing to
,ir hi, -llal, s'grn-gun upon u without
lain. any mischief Bot all things have an
eul, ard 80 dill this chase We RANGED
LolgsiLe, received hi3 feeble broadcast,
which wounded a few Of our men aud cut
ap The rigging, and replied with perfect
crasher. which brought bis Dag down ia
rlcc. We then hove 10, bJd,ded him, AMI
found three men killed, and a number
with splinterS The captain or
l,rrd a pant OF the prisoners on board the
hris; aul, having puta p,izo crew ia the
cutie, sent her to the States with the resi-.
Thus ended ca, i,sl engagement; bu, the
second was VI very didsren. nature, in
which the odds were greatly against us.
Goa the DAY following, another sail was
5cI olcj, which, at fret, we took IOr large
merchantmen, but which proved 10 10 an
English sloop o!-war, OF eighteen guns
In, captain was IL doubt what course to
pursue; no, that he wa, lacking in courage;
bat he was considering, ia his own mind.
whether he would be justified by those en-
trusted the big to hts charge, in exposing
ner 10 a force 80 superior. Not man on
b1ard was more eager ios the encounter
'han himself; but duty caused him to hest.
'a'e. While thoughts like these were had-
hgr ia las minds, the elements coGspited
10 leave him no choice; Cor the wind which
hlJ been light lull,d into dead calm and
We soon saw demonstrations from the enc
my which convinced us tha, he was fitting
out his boats TOR ava attack.
"Tbe captain Jaw that he would now be
compelled to defend Inc brig, which he re
solved to do to the las, extremity, aud los'
40 tine in putting her in complete state
Of defence. The guns were double shot,ed.
and even Old Tom had to swallow an addi-
,;oual dose. The light sails were Glued up,
the d cN cleared, an extra gun mounted on
too lurcca,tle; mu,kets, pistols, pixies, and
cutassgs we've distributed nmonS the men,
nuJ the prisoners secured below. By the
,iac ,hs sloop had launched her boat., we
wore thoroughly prepared 10 NEE, them
and the captain resolved to receive them as
We lay, btoadsido exposed. When they
were hi,!y underweish, he said to the gun
nes:-
".Briag old Tom to bear a, the earlies,
moment you can reach them. 1t will get
your haGd in practice, and will serve 10 keep
,hc boats in a line, 80 tina, We shall not have
them all upon Us at once"
All" exclaimed the lieutenant, rubbing
his hands with delight; ",h,t is something
T. the purpose, aud will Try the me,le OF
the boys. There IS no,Ain: lac an exhibit
,ioa O, This kind, sir, Ior Bringing GU, your
tue men on both sides
al know that can rely upon my Officers,
and have but lille fear lor the men," said