Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-04-23
Gbt 5torg-Gellsr.
TuE PRlCATE'S TENDER.
OR
THE RUSE.

|
the progross of the last war with Great
Britain, that a Young naval officer,
walking on the Battery at Now York.
had his attention drawn to a group Of
persons earnestly engaged in watching,
two vessels that were just visible down
the harbor.
What is it, my friend ? he asked, in
a frank, hearty tone, as he joined them.
The tender, again. chasing in a
schooner. sir. answered an old tar.
touching the point of his hat. As he
noticed the anchor button on the officers
coat.
Here is q spy glass sir, said a mas
ser's mate, who stood near, and at the
same time respectfully handed it to
him.
Thank you. my man, answered the
lieutenant. with smile, as he took the
instrument and placed it to his eye.
BY it, aid he could clearly distinguish
an armed schooner Of about ninety tons.
erowdins sail in chase ofa trading fore
aud AFTER that was making every exer-
ton to escape, both by towing aud wet
ting her sails.
The chase is about half mile ahead ,
SIR" said the masterss mate : but
the tender sails like shark in chase Of
a dolphin. The fore and after dom
stand any chance Of getting in past the
fort
'Tha. tender can sail. and am the
one that oush. to know it, said stout
weather. beaten man. She VISA pilot
boat, and the fastest craft that ever
danced over the water. Three weeks
ago and my crew were out in her,
when yon English fi,ate suddenly
made her appearance out of fog bank.
and brought US to. But took to my
yawl, and pulled for the land leagu,
away, aud escaped for the ioy was 50
thick that the Enslisam IN could aos get
a glimpse of me. 1t is my schooner
they have turned into tender. sir, and
that's made so many captures the las:
three weeks of our small coasters"
"She carries forty men and long
thirty-two. so hear observed sea-
man in the group.
REFER" added the masters mate.
ut would be blessing" observed q
man OF wars man, " ho had not yet spok
en-, "if tha. craft could be caught nap
ping. l, amt safe for sloop to pat
her nose out of the harbor, beyond the
cape but white the friyatc was there
alone, they could slip along the coast
in light water, and show her their heels
But now everything that ventures out
is brought to by the long gun Of the ten
der"
That's fact Sen" responded anoth.
er seaman. "She has taken Or driven
back in port no less than twenty-sx
craft in the last three weeks. l shall be
,, glad for one, when our triyate laying off
there gets her armament aboard for
then | think we'll swallow the English
friga,e outside, and pick our teeth with
the tender
All these remarks were heard by the
Young officer, who all the while continued
to look through the spy-slass at tho
tender and her chase.
There goes a gun - cried several of
the spectators as fash and jet Of smoke
came from the tenders bows.
"Tha, is bold enough observed the
young officer. as if speaking his thoughts
aloud "the impudent tender is almost
mp to the fort. and dares to fire at the
, chase in tho very face of the batteries
"lt's only to try and do her mischief,
sir" said tho masters mate "for she
find, the fore and after will escape her,
so she fires gun to cut away some
thing"
you are right, my man. responded
the officer, for sho has put about and
stands seaward again"
He continued to watch the retiring
; tender for some moments in silence.
"I.'s pity that we hadn't an armed
cutter in port that would sail faster than
she can, so that we might give her chase
out. said lad, approaching the group.
His dress was that OF midshipn; n,
and his air sinsularly free and care
! less.
"Ah, Frank. are You here = said the
lieutenant. "Come aside with me,
: said he. putting his arm in that Of the
midshipman. 81 have conceived plan
for capturing the tender"
. "ln what way, sir !" demanded the
:. youth.
II will show you. The tenders
game appears to be the CO. sting vessels
from which she takes men to impress in
British navy, and also plumbers the craft
of such things as they contain which are
8 of any value My plan is to chatter an
r old sloop, the worst looking one that it
). is possible to find in port, yet tolera-
, BILE sailor, for she must work well and
!. readily obey her helm. will load her
deck with hen coops. filled with poultry
pens crammed with pigs, and a
few sheep. and a calf or two. by way Of
variety. You laugh, Frank but the
). commander of the tender will find it nc
4 laughing matter. if succeed as l an
. ticipate. shall ship about thirty-hvt
q men, and conceal them in the hold, and
3 taking command of my craft, with only
one hand visible on the deck. l shal
set sail out Of tho harbor. When | gel
j.. outside, think l shall be able to show
# rohn Bull Yankee trick he will not bs
likely to forget very soon. But al
will depend on our good management o
g the affair. Now you see what would
Y be at. Frank! Will you join me p
"Heart and hand. sir responded
. Frank Talbot, with enthusiasm.