True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-09-02

Poor Bob had been falsely arrested as
deserter in New York, and knew that
be would never be permitted to leave the
lrigate until she was paid off at the end
of four years. When he saw the clipper
range alongside, his heart bounded with
hope he thought he might drop over
board nnperceived, and stand chance Of
reaching the clippers rudder, and hang
ing on, but remembered that, unlike a
man of war she had no rudder.ropes !;
and also, that it would be almost impos-
sible to drop overheard without being
seen, as the officers were ranged along the
frigale's gangway and quarter, facing the
crew of the Flying Cloud, so he stole a
loft and decided upon another plan. The
officers and men of both vessels were TOO
intent, watching the progress of their
respective vessels, 10 look aloft, and be-
sides, the slaysails concealed the lee head
yardarms of the frigate from the view of
the officers.
Bob made rope fast 10 the fIigate's
lee-foretopsail arm, brought the end down
on the foreyards, made a standing bow
line knot in it, placing the blight under
his arm, land stood ready for swing, the
first favorable chance. At first, the ves-
sells were too far apart but Captain Brag
became savage, swore he would up helm
and run the Clipper down, if she did not
leave. Up went the helm and off flew
the frigate. almost grazing the Clippers
head yards, and Bob swung but unfor
tunaleIy few turns in the rope wound
him round and round, and he bounded
back on board the frigale.
"Hard up" shouted Captain c., to
avoid the threatened collision, and obedi-
ent 10 her helm, off she went.
There was not second 10 spare. Des
perate and excited, Bob dashed his heels
into the belly Of the frigate's topsail,
bounded half way along the clippers
forelopsail, and would have swung back
again, but was most fortunately prevented
by the loretop-bowline. He grabbed it
for dear life, let slip the bowline from
under his arms, and hing by the hands
before the clippers topsail. He could
easily have reached the foreyard by the
weather leach of the topsail, but now all
eyes were diverted forward and aloft, ant
to have done so, would have placed him
full in view; the frigate would have de
manded him, and a severe Aogging woult
have been the consequence. He seized
two reef.poinls, one i'll each hand, ant
hung for moment undecided how ht
could escape observation he was no
sure that the points would hold his " ueigh
for they were only sewed in the eyelet
holes, and might draw through. Wha
to do was to him vital question. HI
could not hold on five minutes his arms
ached already with his weight; to eas'
them he held on with his teeth. and trie'
to knot two points together, that he nigh
rest in the blight, but all in vain. If b,
let 60, his brains woud be dashed out oil
the forecaslle. Casting longing ganc
to leeward, he at last decieed to try an
spring from point to point till he reache
the bunllines amidships He succeeded
but the buntlines were not fast on deck
and consequently he could not lowe
himself by them. He felt it almost i'm
| possible to reach the leeleach Of the sal
but this was his only hope. Nervou
i and savage by turns he braced himself I
: the task, and dashed along the poin
o hand over hand, apparently reckles
: whether he held on or fell. He grasped th
J. lee foretop-bowline with convulsive ene
S gy, he was safe ! The next second h
4; was crawling along the yard, toward tn
!, sings, hid from view.
d The frigate had again hauled her wint
: and SO had the clipper, occasionally bacl
!. ing her mizzen-topsail 10 prevent rangin
n ahead. Captain c., having tormente
Captain Brag till he beat retreat into tn
" cabin, set the clippers mainsail, roya
/ and flying.jib, and passed the frigale
n beautiful stile. The moment she emer
1t ed from the frigate's lee, she sprang
h head, going at the rate Of fifteen knot
and leaving wake straight as an arroV
n In less than an hour, she had crossed Il
d frigate's bow and was a mile and hs
!. dead to the windward, then hauled h
e main sail up. backed the main and mi
zen-topsails Until the frigaIe came in rang
~ when once more she kept before the vii
. and crossed the frigate's stern, salutiI
- old Brag at the same time, braced up Il
:" after.yards, luffed alongsidei set the mai
~ sail, and away she went, ahead and
j . windward, having described circumbe
3 dibus around the frigate. That evenil
\, before sunset, the frigate was hull dow
astern and TO leewar,l, fa
is Bob all this time was slowed away
o by The sings Of the foreyard, and did n
If make his appearance till the next NOR
70 ing. After hearing the story, Captain
lp was very kind to him, and when the sh
10 arrived al San Francisco, gave him cloth
10 and money enough TO carry hiU to
mines. The Flying Cloud made the p'
er sage from New York to, San Francis
is in eighty nine days,a passage which !
ID mains to this day unrivallell. The fl
,b ate touched at Valparaiso, where she /
ie NAMED a week, but was one hundred a
torty days at sea before she reached 81