The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-02-12

distance so as to cripple the chase elect.
ually without sustaining any damage ouI.
selves. But It was not long that we wert
suffered to maintain the combat on oui
own terms. Worried beyond endurance
by the havoc made among his spars, IVY
chase soon put his helm up, wore round
and hauling up his courses In gallant de-
fiance. came down boldly toward us.
we shall have It now, whispered West
brook as he stood by the division where
he commanded, 'they must outnumber us
two to one-but wen give them a lesson
for all that 81. t.r.
.Ayi hand to hand, and foot to foot,
will be the struggle, and God defend tue
right . ;,
No sooner had the chase altered his
course and showed q determination To nc
cept our challenge, than the firing on
both sides ceased, and the two ships
steadily but silently approached each
other.
The eve Of. battle Is q solemn time:
However men may talk In their jovlal
hours, or feel amid the maddening ex-
element OF the contest itself, there Is
something inexpresslbly awe-inspiring IN
the consciousness that we are soon to be
arrayed In deadly hostility against our
fellow-creatures; and now as gazed
along the silent decks, and beheld our
brave fellows gazing, as II spell-bound,
upon the approaching foe, perceived that
their emotions were akin to my own. Yet
there was nothing of fear In those hardy
bosoms. There was compression of the
lip. an occasional flashing of the eye, and
half-suppressed word now aud then
among the men. which showed that amid
all their other feelings deep, unflinch-
ing detestation of their tyrahts was up
permost I'm their hearts. At times
their eyes would glance proudly along
our sanded deck. with all Its apparatus OF
cutlasses. boarding pixies, and cannon
balls, and then turn Indignantly, and nj.
most triumphantly, toward the enemy,
now bearing down upon us. Meantime q
death-like silence hung upon them; not
sound was heard except the signing of the
winds through the hamper and the dash
Of the waters under our bows.
The chase had now approached almost
within musket shot, and yet no demon
stratiOn of an attack had been made. We
could see that the chase was alive with
men. From every port, and lookout, and
top,a score Of faces warned US OF n bloody
battle. Each man was at his post, deter
minatiOn stamped on his cOtntcnance. As
gazed upon this formidable array OF
numbers and behcld the comparatively
gigantic hull Of our adversary, steadily
advancing on us, like some pOrtentl0gi
monster of the deep, l almost trembled
for our victory; but when my eye fell
again on the brawny chests, and determin-
ed visages of our gallant crew, felt that
nothing but determination could prevent
them from hoisting our own flag above
the proud ensign of our foe which now
tapped lazily In the breeze. But my rev.
erie If such It might be called-was cut
short by percciylng sheet of flame roll
ing along the Englishman's side. and,
while his tall spar reeled backward with
the recoil shower of shot came hurling
toward us. In an instant the gaff of our
mainsail fell; our sails were perforated
In various places and cannon ball strik-
| ing us amid-ships, cut through both bull
warks, and laid one poor fellow dead up
on deck. The men started like hounds
when they see their prey.
| Stand to your glns-my men! thun-
dered the captain In this emergency. let
not shot be fired until II give the word.
Bear steadily on your helms and lay US
across their bows
The moments that elapsed before this
cndeavOr could be consummated seemed
to be prOtracted into an age. Our gallant
fellows could meanwhile, scarcely be re-
strained within the bounds of discipline,
AS shot after shot came whizZing over us,
the crew grew more and more restive'
casting uneasler glances ut our commands
er at every successive fire. Several ol
the spars had by this time been wounded
and our hull showed more than one cyi
dence of the toes skill In gunnery. ~
length q shot came tearing through the
bulwark but a short distance from where
I was stationed, and after knocking the
splinters wildly hther and thlther, struck
poor fellow ut his quarters, and laid him
mangled and bleeding across his gun. ]
ready lifted the mans head up, and laid II
carefully In the lap of a cOmradc. The
face was dreadful pale-the features nn,
Irresistible, was written In every line o
him, and he opened his eyes with groar
Unsettled as was their gaze. they took III
the anxious group around him. lie saw
on every face, the deepest commlseration
His glazing eye llghtened for a moment.
How are you, Jack" said the shipmatt
In whose lap he lay.
The dying man shook his head mourn
fully.
Don't you know me, Jack?' said his
messmate. There was no answer. Tht
eyes OF the sufferer were closed. Goo
knows little tho't you were to dle thus! !!
'For twenty years, In gale and calm, ii
winter and summer, We have sailed TO
gethcr, and now you're going to part com
lpany, without being able even to bid ~
old messmate FAREWELL and he wiped tho
cold sweat from the dying mans brow
Jack, Jack, don't you know me? Can
do nothing for your :,
The sufferer opened his eyes, and made
n gesture as II he wished to be lifted up
His desire was gratifed. He looked
around eagerly until his eyes fell upon the
enemy.
Bury me- he family articulated, 'aftel
you've-hauled-d0w her flag. And
and Rover and his voice, for an instant,
became stronger, send the prlze-money tC
the old woman-and-a-a" he gaspcd fol
breath.
what? In Gods name, whatT But
the senses Of the dying man began to
wander.
Speak !-Jack-fo the love Of God.
| A-ll's-we-ll! murmured the man
brokenly. He ceased. a qulvcrlng mo.
ton passed across his face. His shipmate
gently laid his head upon the deck.
Hes dead!-and now, boys, for re-
vengev said Rover, rs he started to his
feet.
The crisis had come. So rapidly had
the foregoing scene passed, and so intently
had we all been gazing upon the dying
man, that, In the interval, the schooner
had gained position on the bow
OF the enemy, and rs the sturdy sea.
man rose up from beside the murdered
companion. we ran short across her In q
raking position; and before the words had
died upon the air, the long-expccted com
mand came from the quarter deck to open
our fire.
.Fircr shouted our leader. zone and all
pour II into them-rcmeniber you figh'
for your all!'
'Glye Il 10 'cm, my boys Numbered the
gunner, that's II; there goes her spirit