Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-11
6Nortester 1ailp Spp.
An Exciting Sea Story of the Revolution!
sEAWAIF;
OF THE Asst
TALE OF rRIvArEERINe IN l7s

A TALE OF PRIyATEERING IN l776.
CHAPTER ".
When Seawaif left the presence of fair Kate
Cringle, he met her father, who accompanied
him down to his boat, in vain trying to find
out what Kate had wanted him for.
The young captain sprung into his boat amid
the murmuTed good wishes of hundreds of
citizens who had gathered there to see the
privateer go to sea, and in a few moments he
was on board of his vessel
With clear, bugle-like face, which needed
no trumpet the young commander shouted;
"Man the capstan bars lads, and run the
anchor up with will. Stand by the lib and
1yingjib halliards-lay the head yards aback p
His orders were obeyed readily; and in a
few moments, the second officer, who stood
on the forecastle looking over the bows, cried !:
"She's broken ground, sir 70
"Very well, sir-run up the lib and fiying-
jib, and haul the sheets to starboard-man the
top-gallant and top-sail sheets and halliards !
Round with the capstan, men, and run the
anchor up to the bows y
Amoment later, and the headsai up, the
veering bow of the schooner proved her to be
all aweigh, and then came the order:
"Sheet home, and hoist away top-sail and
top-gallant sails p
This was done; and as the fore and aft sails
already up, filled, the schooner began to gather
Roadway. Then, as she fell off before the
wind, which was fair out of the harbor, her
square sails filed, and she shot ahead with in
creased velocity. The crowd on shore looking
with delight upon the splendid vessel and
gladdened, too, at the thought of her errand,
rent the air with cheers while Mr.. Cringe,
taking upon himself the part of gunner, fired
an impromptu salute from single gun, which
was kept upon the wharf to be used as a warn
ing-signal if the British approached.
The "Tyrannicide" replied to this by salute
of seventeen guns-her whole compliment.
"That's what l call darned waste O. pow
der" said pinched faced, dried-up anatomy
of man, whose thread-bare clothes, little eyes,
and long, greedy talons of fingers, spoke the
miser out and out.
ut isn't your powder, Moses Gelson," said
Mr.. Cringle, rather sharply. of it was, it
wouldn't be likely to be in a vessel destined to
fight for ibertyp'
"Tush-tush! what is this liberty to us g.
the war is running trade, and soon we'll all be
as poor as rats - said the miser, pettishly.
'It is a PITY that such mean curses as you
~erent poor you're too stingy to live! fyou
only had your due you'd get good ducking
In a horse-pond p cried out Mr.. Cringle, so
angrily and SO loudly, that his words were
heard by the crowd, and probably found echo
in their hearts; for they instantly shouted
"Let's duck the old miser-to the goose
pond with the old tory! p
And Selling the terrified wretch, they drag
him roughly toward a pond Of muddy water
near the residence of the merchant, and soon
would have put their intention into execution,
had not Kate Cringle, who saw their actions,
stepped out upon the balcony, and cried out,
in a clear, musical voice, which reached every
ear:
Shame, men-Shame! to treat an old man
so. He is weak and helpless let him go, and
save your strength for nobler purpose"
Her timely appeal and her beauty-for in
her excitement she really looked handsome
had the desired effect; and the old miser was
released, much to his own qualification, and
rather to the disgust and anger of her father,
who would have been really glad to have seen
old Gelson get lesson-for lie hated him heart
lily, not only for his lack of patriotism, but for
his misery meanness.
"Tll remember her-Tn remember that girl,
bless her! muttered the old miser, as he hob
bled away from the crowd as fast as he could
not stopping until he reached his own resi-
dence, which was also kind of a store-house,
IN which vast variety of all kinds of truck and
trash were stowed-old junk, secondhand an
chors sails, cordage, fishing tackle, nets, har-
poems, and thousand other things.
CHAPTER V.
Never was a craft in better battle trim on
deck, below, or aloft, than the Privateer, after
Seawaif had got her rigging stretched. Con-
sclous that he was ready to meet any foes of
his tonnage and weight of metal, he boldly
headed off from the coast for the track of in
ward bound vessels from ENGLAND.
One morning, soon after, he was at break
fast in his cabin, with the first officer and the
doctor-young Morley being in charge on
deck.
But each of them bounded from the table as
they heard the shout, "saH no p' from the look
out, at the top-galant cross-trees.
"Where away, and what does she look like 2"
cried young Morley, in reply.
Seawaif and his companions held their
breath, and listened for the answer.
II see three sail, sir, dead ahead; they seem
equarerigged, and coming down right before
the wind p was the reply.
"Englishmen, and making for the coast, I'll
wager my first prize-money p said the captain,
as he hurried on deck
"John- Bull-Men's, be gar-I shall get my
instruments ready for amputat p cried the de-
lighted Frenchman.
$50 will p said Mr. Doolittle, as he buc-
kled on his sharp, but short cutlass, and fol-
lowed his commander on deck.
The breeze was fresh, and the schooner,
with only her lower sails and top-sails set, was
going off to the Eastward on taut bow
line, her top-gallant and royal yards pointed to
the wind, and her larboard tacks aboard.
There was quite heavy sea rolling and as
she pitched into 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
preyenter stays and braces-haye the spare
spars cleared away Gunners, look to your
children; they may have play soon. Boarders
and pikemen, see that your tools are in their
places !" cried the captain, cheerfully, as he
came on deck; and then he seized a spy glass,
and scanned the vessels in sight
"What do you make out, sir, if you please 7"
asked Mr. Doolittle, whose hopes for work and
prize-money were now on the rise.
81 see six vessels but they are yet too far
off to make out whether they are armed or
not~ was the reply.
"Shall the gunner open the magazine, sir 2"
Eyes, after all the galleyfres are put out"
The men went to their work and their re-
spective 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
hauled up ahead, yet Captain Seawaif gave
no orders either to alter the course or shorten
sail
"What about our eolors, sira" asked the
lieutenant
"You can run em up in rolls to their places,
ready to pull out when order it, Mr.. Doolt-
tic" said the captain, still keeping his glass
directed toward the approaching ships.
The enemy were now rising fast, not more
than four or five miles off; but the merchant
men, obeying signals from the sloop-ofwar,
which had evidently discovered the nationality
and character Of the schooner by her rig, haul
ed on a wind and shortened sail, while the
man-of-war held her course under a cloud Of
canvas