Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-09-16

toC S0Rtaiu AutCnAO9 ~ AAAOH NHNA AtS
ports and show bis sham guns, and that
of course, the schooner would take fright. |
But when he began to talk about death
in such a serious strain, / began to feel
very uncomfortable: and being natural
ly no warrior, / wished myself anywhere
else than on board the Patrick Henry.
There Twas, however, without chance
of escape; and / suggested to the cap
tain that it would be as well for me to
put letter into the bottle also, in case of
any accident to US both, which was agreed
to; and we arranged that if either sur
vived and had the opportunity, the
letter of the unfortunate should be for
warded TO its destination. After this lit
tie piece of preparation the captain took
me by the hand, !.
"'Tis well,' said he, ARE you willing
TO bear with me the post of danger p
Do not suppose that l am unaccustomed
to the perils of sea fight, no, young
man I've supported the glory of thir-
teen stripes in many gallant action, and
have witnessed the death of those hon.
ored and esteemed as the sons of liberty.
Yet they were fighting for their country,
and it was their duty to hold their lives
cheap; but you are a passenger and
should be under my protection-yet ]
ask you to share my danger. / wish
some one TO stand by me on the platform
and help me TO manage the swivel
Hands are scarce, and don't know
where else to place you.''
The hardy fellows eyes glistened as
he made the proposal, to which /, of
course, instantly agreed.
Thankee, thankee," he replied, and
relapsed into his former character.
Twas strange; he had always ap-
peared on board his vessel as a common
Yankee captain, with little to say, and
with a rough uncouth manner but little
removed from his men. Yet he at once,
though evidently inadvertently, assumed
the air and manner Of a polished gentle
man; and it certainly struck me that the
latter character appeared more natural to
him than the former. There was evi.
IDENTIFY mystery about him, and deter
mine1 to find it out when more opportune
circumstances should occur.
} We went on deck, and the men were
still hanging about, waiting for the orders
; of the captain to make them start. Thes'
+. were soon given. The cooper and th'
: carpenter were ordered to bring all til,
: hatchets and other weapons, and with th
muskets and rifles they were distributes
t among the crew, who received their or
ders not to use them in repelling any al
lGuIpl " UOdlO'
The schooner had come down With
half mile of us, when she suddenl
took down her square sail and haule
= her wind, to bave look at US. | dar
say she did not know what 10 make
! our seeming Indifference. Presently
, cloud of smoke burst, and a ball cam
t" skipping over the water and passed aster
II of US.
Il thought so" said the captain ''no
lads, show her stripes"
~ A ball of bunting flew up to the en-
: of our mizzen peak, rested an instar
and fluttered out into the American el
: sign. The smoke drifted away from ii
: schooner, and she run up at her gaff. Il
ensign of the Columbian republic.
- "That's 'tarnally the way with the
Il blackguards, they're always making
: fool of some republic"
- Scarcely were the words out of |
or mouth, when another column of smol
4 burst from the schooner and another b,
ad came skip-skipping along towards
nd catching swell, it plunged and we 81
cL no more of it.
Ilv "That fellow now, / take it, is 60
7 shot, so we'll not wait for another. CT
ms up the mainsail, boys haul aft the wea
IL er main braces; clue Of the foresail |
m her little more-steady," burst from {
captains mouth.
nv The orders were obeyed with the qui,
ar ness of well disciplined crew, and {
vas ship was hove TO.
et- Now, my lads, take your static
four to each port on the weather side,
will do nothing till / tell ye."
nj The men took their stations, as dire
to ed, round each log on the weather 81
the and ! followed the captain to the p
or form where our carronade was mount
be 1t was loaded to the muzzle with bit
ev- iron, musket balls, Jumps of lead and
to, rious other missiles, for be conjectu
nIy, truly, there were no balls on board.