The mountain Democrat., 1863-10-03

TePly1 tuOuRu tue CIeW uSNe nAu tuII Hce'
dom on sn06e, 4sN,x 49,. AIct} p4Sss.&a Car;
Isle and Keswick.'
They know the rules Of the ship, Mr..
Merrick,' said the commander, sternly,
and how treachery will be rewarded
Let the crew sleep with one eye open, SIR;
we may have work for them
The watch was set, while the remainder
of the crew turned in all standing which
signifies, in sea parlance, with all their
clothes on, ready for prompt and inmedi-
ate service. The cargo on board the craft
that now rounded the mouth Of the shelf
ering cove, was contraband and valuable,
and the object Of the commander was to
land it safely, and return again from the
main land to the island sometime before
morning
The lugger held on her course until
rounding the northern point of the island,
when the captain, who had not yet left
the deck, discovered off his starbOard bow
a vessel, whose indistinct outlines, alone
diScerhible in the darkness of the night,
appeared to be those Of large craft; at
the same moment the lookout forward dis
covered and announced the stranger as q
Sloop of-war under eaSy sail.
The course of the Dolphin was changed
two or three points more northerly, in the
hope Of passing the strange sail a distance
not to be noticed by her crew the effort
was successful, the commander Of the
sloop not expecting his prey at this hour,
was not on the lookout for the smuggler.
On board the wcll-regulated lugger, all
was silent as the night itself. while every
sail expanded with the stiff ireshcning
breeze.
Mr.. Merrick,' said the captain, when
silence was no longer necessary, pipe the
crew to quarters, sir. | have few words
to say to them that may serve as a rough
night cap for even these sea dogs
The wakeful crew, most Of whom we're
already upon deck, having heard of the
proximity Of the stranger, gathered quiet
ly aft near the sacred precincts Of the
quarter deck, where they stood with their
hats off and their hair waving wildly in
the night air. A well disciplined ships
crew look upon their captain with much
the same respect as does a courtier upon
his king, save that if possible, the former
is most profound, as is the authority Of
his superior more absolute.
My lads said the young commander,
addressing his attentive crew, most of
/ you saw that strange sail we passed with.
in the last hour do you know that moth
ing save treachery could have placed that
vessel in the direct track of the Dolphin
night course y
1t does look mighty 'spicious, your
honor said an old seaman in the front
rank Of the crew, but Shiver my timbcrs
if believe we've got anybody shipped
aboard this ere craft but loves the saucy
Dolphin and your honor too well TO play
them a scurvy trick
There has been treachery l have said
is there one of my crew that can tell me
its penalty aboard this ship?'
Death at the yard arm I sounded from
the deep cultural voices of the crew. who
shrank beneath the piercing eye Of Their
captain.
1T is my duty said he, to watch over
your interests and my own with q jealous
eye. never deceive YOU, my men !; the
traitor shall receive his punishment tho
( | pursue him to the foot Of the THRONE
Enough-to your duty
The hours passed on-the busy crew
landed the cargo. and in the hands Of con-
fidential agents it was soon hidden from
: the most LGELS1Asearch ost%oy0VsNue Of
ticers. The greatest danger was yet to be
encountered. The cargo landed, the lug.
| ger must again sail for sheltcring protec.
ton of the island, but the rising moon
now threw its mellow and unwelcome
! light at least, to those on
board the DOlphin-acroSs the hcaving
swells of the Irish Sea. Hardly had the
lugger got under weigh before the cruiser
was again discovered lying nearly midway
between the English coast and the island;
the course the Dolphin steered, and in
fact the only route she could take, would
bring her in full view Of the cruiser and
within range Of her guns. The captain
of the lugger viewed the dilemma with
calm and quiet countenance, giving his
orders in tone that inspired those about
him with fresh courage. The two vessels
were now fast nearing each other, when .
hoarse hail came down across the water
from the sloop:
What vessel is that?'
The captain Of the lugger knowing that
every moment he could gain in delay was
Of the utmost import in the furtherance
of his purpose to run the gauntlet of the
cruisers broadside, made mumbling and
inaudible reply through his trumpet, so
that the query from the sloOp was put
What answer do you make!'
The breeze still freshening, drove the
lugger, with her wide spread canvass,
swiftly through the water. She was al.
ready nearly abreast the cruiser, who,
having tackled, now stood In the same
course as her adversary.
what vessel is thatP' was the question
again put from the commander of the
sloop, to which he added, answer or I'll
fire into YOU
No reply being made to this hail, the
captain of the York, for so the cruiser
was called, ordered a shot fired into the
lugger 'to wake her up as he observed,
the ball passing through the white field of
the mainsail, struck the water far to wind
ward.
The compliment was Immediately re-
turned froma heavy gun amidships of the
lugger, the ball Of which Aimed by the
hands of the captain himself, shot AMY
the foretopmast Of the York. which fell
with all its hamper on the deck-a fierce
broadside from the cruiser followed this
discharge. making sad havoc in the sym
metrical rig of the Dolphin. =.
The armament Of the lugger consisted
OF four small pieces Of ordnance and one
gun amidships, revolving upon . pivot,
which was Of superior metal to that Of
any gun aboard the York. From this in
strument of death the missiles Of destruc-
ton were SO faithfully aimed that already
had the foremAst of the cruiser come
l.