Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-03-03
nd it was evident she meant to come near

Us.
My captain took long look at her
We'll =" said I, standing at his elbow, and
taking the glass from his hand.
You have good eyes, darling said he,
zee what you make of her.
i adjusted the glass to my eye, and
looked intently. IL is an armed vessels
said !. see ports end large gan amid.
ships
You are quite correct-ss usual sold
my captain.
But she does not look like man of-war, ,
said l, and l do not think she is Eng
lish.'
No more is she,' said be. Either war
has been declared, and she is privateer,
or she is q cursed pirate
was never coward. held the glass
steadily in my bands, and watched the
brig as she bore down with all sails set,
and it was evident that she was a good
caller. There had been talk Of war before
we left England, but my father did not
believe in Il. Ishuddered at the idea of
its being pirate
Whatever che may be- said my cap
tain, she has no business with US. / shall
ship, and stood OF in the contrary direction
from that in which We had been sailing
The stranger bad tackled also before we
were we'll on our course. In half an hour
she had gained perceptibly.
She can beat US on the WiUd, said nv
captain, looking very serious. There is
nothing for us but to show the cleanest pair
Of heels We caD.'
Round We went to the best point of sail
ing out went the studding sails, the cargo
was shifted to give our ship the best pos
sible trim, the sails were wet; but it was
soon apparent that. after ell We had done,
the brig waB gaining on us-slowly, indeed
but certainly gaining.
"A stern chase is,a long chase, Calissa,
darling said my captain, cheerily; but i
could see that he was not OF oil satisfied
with the aspect of affairs.
You know that am not coward said
/; tell me just how it is.'
4 know your soul is bigger than your
boGy, darling Paid be. This rascally
brig gains on ~. II We eau have foul
weather tonight, we may charge our
course and lose sight of her. l see no
other hope. We are not strong enough TO
fight her,
There are muskets and pistols in the
cabin, said !, 'and we have two cannon on
deck
Well enough to brighten savages or beat
of the Malay pirates;abut that brig is we'll
armed and must have plenty of men, BY
the way they handle her. Ifshe is q pri
Vateer, we must surrender. If pirate,
we must fight. Her Long Tom will make
oven wood Of rs, but We must take our
O. Q ,ce.'
We held on, praying for night, and
storm and darkness. The full of The moon
rode high in the heavens, and silvered the
waves through which our good ship plow-
ed gallantly. Nearer and nearer came our
purSuer. Once the wind freshened, aud
We seemed to gain slight advantage, but
it soon fell of again, and the brig crept
nearer and pearer. Few slept. By the
full morning light there lay the handsome
brig, full over our staff-rail, bounding along
with bone in her mouth. My brave hus-
band walked the deck in sore trouble. He
had made the best possible preparations
for defense, the crew were ready 20 obey
his orders, but the case was hopeless.
As the light increased, watched the
brig closely through the glass, trying to
ascertain the character of our pursurer. A
flag Of Etars and stripes went up to her
masthead. and the smoke of q cannon
curled up from her deck. 1t was the first
signal. The commander of the brig was
in the field of my glass, and my worst
fears were dispelled,
'LookP said to my husband, giving
him the glass; that man is not pirate
l could not be mistaken. He was fine
looking man Of IS or 40 in an undress ma
val uniform. His bearing was manly, and
his face, when l got look at it, was clear
and open. My captain took the glass and
gave an anxious look.
4 believe you are right, my darling
said he. That man is no pirate. Then il
ia war, and we shall soon be his prisoners.
It is hard case, but there is no help for
it,
DO not be cast down, my brave captain
said l; father has more ships, and he can
deduct this one from my portion
just then anOthe. ehot from the long
gun came alongside, and showed that we
were in point blank range. The order was
given to take in sail, and we waited for
the brig to come up. As she came on,
dashing CALAMITY through the waves, nv
captain took bis trumpet and hailed her.
The hail was conrtennsiy responed to. It
was Yankee privateer demanding Cur
surrender.
ooh, for tier of guns, and half q
chance ct himP exclaimed my captain
but the disparity of force was too OVER
whelming. In answer to the question, he
gave the name of our good ship and his
own.
Then /, who was watching the deck of
the enemy still through the glass, though
We were now so near, saw q strange move
ment. The captain of the brig suddenly
put up his glass, which be had turned on
mg husband. Then he appeared to give
some order to his lieutenant who was pre-
pairing to board us, and soon spraug into
the boat himself, and came 90 board Of
as.
He was received with o not very cheer
ful politehess, but his manner, ss he step
ped upon our deck, justified the opinion
had formed of him. He raiaad lis net to
me with graceful bow, and my husband
invited him to enter our cabin, which he
did with every courtesy. Wine ard other
refreshments were brought out in plenty.
and the stranger told Us Of the outbreak Of
the war with America, and alec Of ether
events which were new to rs at that
time.
We're we prisonersi Was this our cap.
tor, quietly cOnversiDg with us, and court
eOusly drinking to our prosperity He
looked OF me attentiVely, when my eyes
were turned away, and thought / saw
strange smile on bis face.
My husband opened locker and taking
out the ships papers, laid them on the ia
BILE with heavy heart, bat he would not
show it, but he said with an air Of assumed
cheerfulness: