The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-11-20

ing wave-they rose over the rendere
q subservient to his purpose. Within tw
hours he deserted the lights of the luggel
de knew them, for he had given direction
for their use, and similar lights wer
hOisted from the cobble which be steered.
"All's well - said Harry, and in bis me
mentary joy he forgot the tempestuous Sc
in which they labored. They reached th
lugger-they gained the dec.
"Put back, friend, put back" was tn
first salutation of Harry to the skipper
the camp is blown, and there are shark
along shore"
''The devil p replied the captain, VIII,
was an Englishman, land what shall W,
do ?"
Back, back" answered Harry; that i
all in the meantime"
But the storm now ragged with NOR,
6erceness; it was impossible for the boat I,
return to the shore, and Harry and BIZ
comrades were compelled to put to sea will
the lugger. Even she became in danger
and it required the exertions of all hands t.
manage her.
The storm continued until near day
break, and the vessel had. piled many mile,
from the shore; but as day began to dawn
and the storm abated, an enemy that they
feared more appeared within quarter of !
mile from them, in the shape Of a cutter
brig. A gun was fred from the latter, a,
a signal for the lugger to lie to. Conster
nation seized the crew, and they hurried
to and fro upon the deck in confusion.
"Clear the decks!' cried the skipper
they shan't get all without paying for it.
Look to the guns, my hearties."
"Avast Master Skipper" said Harry;
though my property be in danger, see
no cause why | should put my neck in
danger too. It will be time enough to fight
when we Gamma better dow; and if we can
keep them in play a day there will be sma'
danger in wur glen them the slip at
night"
GAS you like, Mr.. Teasdale," said the
skipper, "all's one to me. Helm about,
my lad," added be, addressing the steers
man, and away went the lugger, as an ar
row, scudding before the wind.
The cutter made all sail, and gave chase,
firing shot after shot. She was considered
one of the fastest vessels in the service;
and though, on the part Of Harry and his
friends, every nerve was strained, every
sail hoisted, and every maneuvre used,
they could not keep the lugger out Of
harms way. Every half hour be looked at
his watch, and wished for night, and his
friend, the skipper, followed his example,
There was a hot chase for several hours;
and, though tubs Of brandy were thrown
overheard by the dozen, still the whizzing
bullets from the cutter passed over the
beads of the smugglers. 1t ought to be
mentioned also, that the rigging of the lug
ger had early sustained damage, and her
speed was checked. About sunset shot
injured her rudder, and she became for a
time, as Harry described ber, 'as helpless
as a child" The cutter instantly bore
down upon her.
"NOw for it, my lads! !" cried the skip
per: "tbere is nothing fotSit but fighting
now; l suppose that is what you mean,
Master Teasdale p
Harry nodded bis head, and quietly drew
bis pistols from the breast pocket of his
greatcoat; and then added:
"Now, lads, this is a bad job, but we
me must try to make the best ont, and. as
we hae gone thus far" (and be discharged
a pistol at the cutter as be spoke), ''ye
knaw it is o nae use to think O yielding it
is better to be shot than hanged"
In few minutes the firing Of the lugger
was returned by the cutter, from two large
guns and number of small arms. Harry,
in the midst of the smoke and fame of the
action, and the havoc of the bullets, was as
cool and collected as if smoking his pipe
upon the beach at EmbletoR."
"See to get the helm repaired, lad, as
fast as ye can" said be to the carpenter,
while in the act of reloading his pistols.
''Let us fight away, but mind ye your avn
wark."
Harry's was the philosophy of courage,
mingled with the calculations of worldly
wisdom.
The firing had been kept up on both
sides for the space Of half an hour. and the
decks of both were stained with the blood
of the wounded, when a party from the
brig, headed by her first mate, succeeded in
boarding the lugger. Harry seized cut
lass which lay unsheathed by the side of the
companion, and was the first who rushed
forward to repel them.
''Out o my ship, ye thieves" cried be,
v. e, with bis long arm, he brandished the
deadly weapon, and for moment forgot bis
habitual discretion.
Others of the crew instantly sprang to
the assistance of Harry; and, after a short
but desperate encounter, the invaders were
driven from the deck, leaving their chief
mate insenslble from wounds, behind them.
The rudder being repaired SO as to rem
der her manageable, the lugger kept up q
sort of retreating fight until night set in,
when, as Harry said, ''she gave the cutter
the slip like knotless thread"
But now a disagreeable question arose
amongst them, and that was, what thew
should do with the wounded officer. who
had been left asa prize in their hands
though a prize that they would much rather
have been without Some wished that he
might die of his wounds, and SO they might
get rid of him; for they were puzzled how
to dispose Of him in such way as not to
lead to their detection, and place their lives
in jeopardy. Harry was on his knees BY
the side of the officer, washing his wounds
with Riga balsam, of which they had store
on board, and binding them up, when one
desperate fellow cut short the perplexity
and discussion Of the crew, by proposing tt
fling their prize overheard.
On hearing the brutal proposal, Harry
sPrang to bis feet, and hurling out bis lonl
hony arm, he exclaimed, ''Ye savage =
and, dashing his fist in the face of the ruff
fan, felled him to the deck.
The man (if we may call one who cOult
entertain SO inhuman an idea by the name