The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-04-07
THE BOAT
BY JOHN \. STUART.

Strange: says the captain, sweeping the horizon with
bis spyglass, that we see nothing Of the Trunkard and
Hilton. Raise that pine sapling at the head, that they
may be sure Of US if they see u.s.
A few minutes after making this signal, We saw a
boat, also carrying a pine aapling at her head, outside
The Bay Point surf, on the side next to the sea. 1t came
nearly opposite the point, and then rowed swiftly back
and out Of sight around the bench eastward. Two men,
a short time after, walked down TO the point, raised a
.apling, planted it ia the sand. and retired among the
aandhills.
Something wrong! They see us and answer our
sigoai: but cannot venture ou,. We must break of
lehing, and 60 to them at once. In with your lines,
and up with the anchor
When this order WIS given, tie whole aspect Of the
wide panorama, in the centre Of which We Aoated, was
undergoing a rapid change: aud the deep noontide 81
lence Of nature, long unbrokcn except by the noise in
our boat, was lost in the ~mingling Of many sounds.
First, . shoal Of ~porpoises came ~plunging and putting in
from the sea with antic leaps, turning head downward,
and showing their hukes, as they went f~rolicking past
as in the bay then IN immense hock of ~sea-biras, rose
in q black oblique line from the bank of the southeast {;
gathered into y dense cloud ranged themselves wedge
,xise into detachments, and wcuded landward then a
brisk breeze from the southwest swept its invisible
mantle across the face Of the watery mirror, tracking its
march With blue, and waking the sleepy waves to rock
liz merrily With clam0rOus motion. The wind came in
puts the clouds, which had been gradually marshal
ling in the south, we're extending their columns the
irigate in the ofing was scudding under shortened sail
before the force Of the gust which had only brushed us
with its passing skirts aud abiding to the white caps
# the general mob Of waves, and to breakers on the
banks now rearing their giant crests frantic and foam
Jog, old Sam, not having the dread of the bathos before
bio eyes, said quantity enough, that Broad River was
going to shoY himself, and had put on his rutleshit.'
Ilcud after cloud passed rapidly across the sun, throw.
;ne broad belts Of indigo shadow athwart the bay, while
between these the flashing pillows cleaned like emerald
,h.sed With pearl in the narrow strips Of sunlight that
ssxcaLed the bsiae at intervals less and less frequent,
until the whole lapdseaPe daIkened into one sonbre
Gone under the frown OF the gathering storm.
Our anchor was shipped, and the boat trimmed, when,
"a he was balancing his oar for the first stroke, Old
Sam pointed astern, and said, Trouble coming: Free
Tony in De starn o dat boat make sign to me-
We looked again the canoe boat, which had been
anchored above, just out Of hsiling distance, was labor
;nx hard against the food tide, and bearing down to US.
the marsh Of Bay Point, then to Paris Island, and, last
~, to the bottom of the boat; aud while he signalled to
rs With his opened palm to hasten onward, / saw a white
face, for an instant, above the gunwale near him. The
discharge Of a cannon doomed heavily from the schooner
70 the north ; and simultaneously, as she attracted our
attention, and we saw her with sails unfurled, beating
down the river, a long dark boat shot rapidly out from
the creek beyond Bay Point Island, another from around
the point of Paris's bank, and, ip the canoe boat, now
within musket range, about twenty men started up from
their concealment; Eve or six sailors sprang to the
thwarts, snd ran out oars the rest were armed British
eolAiers.
I'VE must make for Bay Point or out to sea, ~ our
Gully chance said the captain, in q low voice to himself;
asd then c~heerflIy to the hands, Stretch to your oars,
shers's no danger! Nothing this side Of St. Helena
can row With Deyilfsh. Put it to her Justify, and give
the rascals q wide wake Of dead water.
4 volley Of ~musketry ratified sharply from our pur.
susrs, most Of the bullets singing wide over head, a
eide Of the boat, and one carrying Maurice's new beaver
by the board; aud twirling it along the water.
Shall We get our guns 2 said William, eagerly.
mo !, not yet! Uncase mine-but keep yours dry
till We must use them
The enemy had chosen a 6rst-rate plantation boat
and were evidently nearing US, although We seemed to
aash through the waves, as, with a rolling sound the
oars ratified and rung upon our gunwalee, in rapid but
'Sit down, Massa, for Gods sake " cried Sam, as the
captain raised himself, and stood to bis full height.
Without knowing his motive, the rest Of US on the plat.
form initiated him, and rose also.
down with you, boys! You'll spoil the trim Of the
asd then, lowering his voice, said to me, Our danger,
James, is that the negroes may take a panic, and be
good for nothing. DO all you can to cheer Them
Shot after shot now followed in quick irregular sue
eession.
Sit down, sir. you are hurt =" said /.
Only skin deep replied the captain, showing his
arm, which was grazed and bleeding a little. 'Cut
loose those fish, flom tie side Maurice and William,
throw the rest overheard mind your oars, boys, and
nothing else row deep and don't catch crabs. You'll
uot be hit-they' re firing Ut me, and over your heads.
We hold way with them as the boat lightens: they
don't gain Oh US now. Hand my gun, James! you put
bail in one barrel"
Yes I! the left"
Now, stop rowing "a minute and he knelt on the
seat and drew his aim. Old Thunder spoke: and the