The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-30

SHaWNlS VlciOuSly III HIS quiz, ana uTuIuuilue
on the latfrail with a finger that seemed as hard
and brown as bronze.
THE BONNYBELL SLIPS sEAwARD.
1t was an anxious time when the BOnnybell,
under full head of steam, went darling out
OF the bay; her look outs straning their eyes
to pierce the mist. and give warning to the
helmsman of vessels ahead; while tritchard
walked to and fro, too fdgetty and eager to
endure conversation, listening every instant
for some sound that was to Indicate that the
Federal cruiser had taken the alarm. But on
we went, without check or hindrance; and we
all drew our breath more freely as the lights
of the town began one by one to vanish. as ii
the sea had swallowed them, and the dark head
lands faded away into obscurity. The Ameri-
can gunboat was neither seen nor felt as a
circumstance which did not the less regret
because perceived, not only by the display of
the cannon alluded to, but by the resOlute de-
meanOr of several of the crew, who stood
grouped about couple of uncovered arm
chests that our pigmy foe would not not have
found an entirely unresisting prize.
HAIL.
One slight circumstance, hardly, as thought,
worth mentioning, did occur before we had
run half q mile to seward. There came
long, faint hail, from so great a distance as to
be hardly distinguishable even to q sailors
practised ear, but which was announced to be
addressed to us.
"Some boat with message perhaps for
passenger. The lubbers deserve ropes ending
for being so late. Can l lie-to safely do you
think p said Prtchard to the pilot irresolutely,
and giving the word. "Slacken speed" What
the pilot answered, know not. / only caught
the concluding phrase
Yankee tricks; SO, cap, you'd best look
sharp about YOU"
So Pritchard thought. He gave the word to
go on at full speed, and we heard no more
about the matter.
The run was speedy aud pleasant over dimI ling
summer sea, with no bosler"us behavior on Nep-
tvnes pat to make even the lady passengers uneasy
We saw veral vessels but none of hostile charac-
ter; and the yage was as agreeable and safe hith
erte as any yachting excursion in ho iday waters
We were all disp' sed to be pleased and the pilot,
although satul nine and mOrOse parsonage, viewed
through this rosecolOred haze of satisfaction and
hope became popular man on board. Captain
PIitChard unreservedly pronounced him to be
worth hil weight in gold for if there wore no
gales or rOugh cas- to thwar purp fOgs were
r. her fequrnt, and here the p lots intimate &C.
quaintance with the rocks, hOals ana inlets- many
of which were not noted down in the chart more
than once "a, ed The Bon, ybe ON ugly thump
upon some hidden obstacle Fer an American lack
tos'er was sipgularly silent: yet there was some
thing elephantine about his high forehead and nar-
row dark eyes, which ed shrewdness rather
than vacuity. He did his work answered when
81 oxen to, but seldom addressed any one
Land no sung out the lookout MN at the mast
head and frtchard and the pilot, who were porting
together over the map close to the pinnacle looked
up while the passengers edged nearer to hear the
news. Pritchard lifted his telescope while Foster
went a oft for a better view.
LANDUO!
''Fdisto Island, as said, ap.," hailed the pilot;
land beyond it is the Carolina coast. We're close
to home, gentlemen and ladies "
Thtre was cheer from the little group gathered
near the helm, but directly afterwards came two
shrill cries of Sail hO
Uncle Sans bankers; we must put out few
miles yet, Cap )" said the pilot he leisure de-
scendcd the rope ladder There were my gool
glasses on board and we all gaZed eagerly through
them and with beating hearts we recognized The
porthOles the grinn!ng cannon, the star-spang ed
flag, and walike display of the Federal bOckad ng
squadron: The steamer was put about, and we
lost to view. The di>appoin ment Of the pa>sen-
gers, who had been granted a mere glimpse of he
land that 10 them was home, was conSd' rable; but
none could doubt the prudence of delaying our en-
trance into har'estOn harbOr until night shOnld
assist us in GLIDING the hostile war vessels. There
was no going to bed on board the BOnnybell that
night; we a kept to the deck. eagerly gazing out
over the SPARKLING and phosphorescent sea, glim-
m ring and glancing with st. ElmO's fires There
was pale young moon-a mere sickle of si,ver-in
the sky; ano objects were so family dscein be that
the utmost caution was neces airy. The second
mate took the helm. vhie he first mate sup rim
tended the amos constant heaving of the lead and
the captain and pilot stood on the forecast'e noting
the rep les of the sale chanted they in the
shrlll monotone in accordance with old custom.
Ten falcons sheer! ty the deep nine! BY the
N 'rk, seven! called out the leadsman from the
chains
.sWater alters es shosl here, Cap I know the
cham l. though, as well as know my parlor ashore
at Nanucket-at savannah, mean" sad the pilot,
with some confession
]y the mark, five! was the next call
Captain PIitci ard here grew Uneasy. He did not
pretend to equal Tue pi OF in local knowledge, but
he was too good seaman not to take alarm at the
abrupt lesserng of The deplh of water. He gave
orders to reduce the speed and moved but slowly
on, the lead g ing as before
Are you sure, 'r EOst r, you are not mistaken?
It seems to me the water sh ais at the rate of Il
fathom for every hundred yards reversed. We may
have missed the swash left Mouitrie to t eeWard
and got into the network of sandbanks near. nil-
ca. what's that ahead OF uss j. BATS, as I'm q
sinner!'
At the same moment the lot Trust his hand rap.
jlv into The brea Of i- coat, drew out something
and fang it on he deck there 1t int tutly beg
sluter and hiss, ani dire tly afterwards the lurid
el,ie o. hlueght flashed throi gh the darkness, ),
showing funn and Iigg ne the pale a es OF the
passengers the channel Oh the fretted wafer,
AID ifs andy i-lets either bow. Norwas this Il,
for by the ghasily li2ht we could di'tinguish twh
DIRK obje is on he fopm sea ahead ns-boats,
ful of men Ruling lltly but noiSeessly towards
IS and TO doubt with mutiled oars
ry the mark. two! Shoal water - we're
agrou' d.! cried an -bodlng vol that OF the
to check throwing mOstof the landsnen from tEeir
ieet, wni c the ominous roo ing OF the Keel told
thar the steamer va aground Aloud ciamor IN
of inquiry, dsmay or command; but even above
this turmoil arose the HUI rah of those who manned
the boats and VINO now came dashing up pulling
and cheering he IN tdmen
.reachery! trea hery !" cried several Of TIE :as-
seng rs and crew. poi ting to where the pi OF stood.
cside the bue-ligbt that his oan perfoious b md
had kind!ed while ALREADY the man. Ofwars men, for
sush we could not doubt them to be, bagan to scram
BILE on board.
sApTURED.
1.-THE Yankee b,oodhounds sure enough; bat goa
shall not live to share he lie ney! " exclaimed
Phi chard a'ching up landslide and aiming
blow at Mr.. lack Foster that would have been q
iethal stroke had not that astnte person swervfd
aside receiving the weapon his left hou der. Our
men set up faint cheer, and shot was fred, pcki
| Nv without effect. But rcss. ance would have been
madness, 80 thickl did he American siilors crowd
our gangway their pistols and cutlasses ready for
| the fray, while among them were nine or ten ma
| rines wei armed with musket and bayonet and who
drove the Bonnybe'ls crew below the matches with
out anv serious shaw of fighting. The federal lieu
tenant III command, to do him justice, seemed anx-
ious That no needless vole' &c should be used; AMI
while p oclaming the vessel prize to the boats of
the United sta6es warbrg Dacoah he yet restrained
! the fury Of that precious guide Mr.. lack Foster,