The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-02-17
Seawaif and his companions held their


Il see three sail, sir, dead ahead; they
seem square-rigged, and coming down
right before the wind" was the reply.
"English hnen, and m akiDg for the coast,
I'll wager my first prize- !" said
the captain, as he hurried on deck
"John- Bull Mems, be gar-I shall get
my instruments ready for amputat!p cried
the delighted Frepchman.
$50 vii! p said Mr., Doolittle, as he
buckled on his sharp, but short cutlass,
and followed bis commander on deck
The breeze was fresh. and the schoon-
er, with only her lower sails and top,sails
set, was going off to the eastwarden a
taut bow-line, her top-gallant and royal
yards pointed to the wind, aud her lar
board tacks aboard. There was quite a
heavy sea rolling; and as she pitched in
to and through it, she threw the snowy
foam over her prov almost as high as
her fore-top.
"See. all clear for action, fore and aft
reeve preventer stays and braces-have
the spare spars cleared away Gunners,
look to your children; they may have
play soon. Bsarders and pikcmen, see
that your tools are in their places'!" cried
the captain cheerfally, as be came on
deck; and then be seized spy-glass, and
scanned the vessels in sight.
"What do you make out, sir, if you
please 70 asked Mr. Doolittle, whose
hopes for work and prize-money were
now on the rise.
81 see six vessels; but they arc yet too
far off to make out whether they are arm.
ed or not was the reply.
"shall the gunner open the magazine,
sir I"
Eyes, after all the galley fires are put
out !"
The men went to their work, and their
respective stations quietly, but with a
cheerful look, which betokened perfect
confidence in their vessel, and especially
in their officers.
An hour passed, and the vessels were
now hull-up ahead, yet Captain Seawaif
gave no orders either to alter the course
or shorten sail
"What about our colors, sir I" asked
the lieutenant
"You can run 'em up in rolls to their
places, ready to pull out when | order it,
Mr.. Doolittle," said the captain still keep
ing his glass directed toward the ap.
preaching ships.
The enemy were now rising fast, not
more than four or five miles off, but the
merchantmen, obeyipg signals from the
sloop of-war, which had evidently discov-
cred the nationality and character of the
schooner, by her rig. hauled on wind
and shortened sail, while the man-of-war
held her course under cloud of canvas.
"Take your stations for working sbip!"
cried Seawaif. The men bounded to the
sheets and braces. "Hard up the helm
ease off the sheets, and round in the
weather-traces !" cried the captain.
"Tarnsl thunder you're not goin' to
run from one sloop- o. war, are you, sir %
asked the lieutenant, in agonized wonder.
"Get out and rig two spars, with iron
enough on them to sink them for drags;
drop one over each quarter, and ask no
impertineDt questions, Mr. Doolittle, said
the captain, quietly.
IL beg your pardon, sir, n hundrod
times-I thought you was goin' to run!"
said the now delighted officer, as be has
tened to obey the order.
"Double-shot with grape and canister
-gunners to your stations p cried the
captain, now determiDedly "Men, IN AXE
no noise when | announce it, but within
an hour that sloop- -of-war shall strike her
hag, or we'll go down with ours flying !
When she is taken, the merchantmen will
be easy prizes"
Had they not been cautioned, the men
would have cheered so loudly as to have
been heard on board of the sloop- of. war
After the drags we're rugged and low
cred over the side, held by stout hawsers,
and not seen because sunk beneath the
water, the schooner did not go more than
three knots, although full spread
of canvas--she seemed to be running a.
way from her antagonist, which now could
be seen coming up hand over hand, her
decks crowded with men, and her ports
showing battery of twenty four guns,
On she came, the red cross of StGeoree
floating from her peak, until she was with
in nearly mile of the schooner, when she
fired shot from one of her bow guns.
"Show them our colors and naue |"
cried the young captain, while his pale
face flushed with smile of terrible Joy.
1t was done in an instant; but the YES.
sel's head was not changed, nor sail
touched.
Rapidly the Englishman closed up.
heading little to leeward, SO as to range
under her larboard beam.
"Crouch we'll behind the bulwarks
men; stand by your larhoard guns, but
do not touch match until the order comes
from my lips; depress your guns, SO as
to take her between wind and water =
Sail-trimmers, stand to your sheets and
braces, and be ready for orders"
These orders given, Captain Seawaif
took his position on the larboard side of
the quarter-deck, and With il-coucealed