The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-04-25

hoped TO surprise and capture her there. The
Racer proceeded under easy sail, and soon lost
sight OF her late anchorage. The day passed
without encountering aa enemy and when
] evening came she was put about and retraced
her course, under more canvas and with q
| either side of Deerhnven Bay was formed If
steep cliffs, rising directly from the sea to the
| height of some hundred feet. There was deep
water to their very base and from the deck Of
hrst-rate You might chuck o biscuit on. the
shore The entrance to the bay itself was not
more than q quarter of a mile in breath, q sort
OF chasm or rent, i'll the surrounding noun
tains.
Awaiting himself of the pecuIiarities of the
coast, Capt. Beaumont kept the frigate within
the shade of the headlaDds. Thus, while she
remained unseen the eremy would be plainly
visible in the moonlight, did he venture to ap-
pear.
1t was midnight, and Lloyd Pennant paced
the deck pondering on his situation, and deei-
ding upon the steps he should take. The Ra-
Ger was now close upon her station. There
seemed but small chance of an engagement
and he had no prospect before him but the
maddening one of being forced to land in q
place where his disgrace might, ere this, but
too probably be d matter of public notoriety
when suddenly a beacon light famed ofr-She
crest of lofty headland, to the southBaFG.
The men were at once sent noiselessly to quar-
tiers, and everything prepared for action. Some
minutes of deep suspense elapsed, o profound
silence reigned on board, and Capt. Beaumont
44ydf , ilbrrr M
under whose shade they were calling, cast its
glare upon the water beyond. The vessel in
stantly hove to and quietly awaited the result.
There was half an hour of intense excitement,
but still no enemy. The captain of the Racer,
acting upon the opinion he had already formed
as to the enemy's position, announced his de-
termination TO proceed ut all hazards, although
the LIST lieutenant suggested the improbability
of q second signal being made were the French
man already safe within his port. They had
when, just as the British frigate opened the
bay, sail appeared, standing towards her
from the opposite side. The moment the Racer
was perceived, the stranger, now within gun
shot, at once bore up, while the frigate crowd
ed all sail in chase, and opened fire from her
bow guns, a shot from which disabled the
| French ships rudder, when che flew round to
the wind, for the moment unmanageable. Du-
ring the confusion, the Racer ranged up, de-
ivered her broadside, and boarded. The ac-
ton was short but decisive. Pennant jumped
first upon the enemy's deck, and the ship was
carried, after desperate but unavailing re-
sstance.
The admirars station lay some leagues to
the northward, and ttiither Capt. Beaumont at
once proceeded with his prize
/ by uUUu the next dry Petrnnnt was travelling
to4xartis-nuhlin- -IrisI1-post- horses
could take him, charged with dispatches con
/ tanning an account of the action, iH=whieh his
own conduct received particular notice, and
! carrying documents of great political impor-
lance, found upon the prisoners. The enemy
Ger suffered but slightly in the conflict, and SIS
it appeared from papers discovered in the
French vessel, that her consort followed close
| ly in her wake, the admiral decided that by
nightfall Capt. Beaumont should sail again aud
return to his post, in the hope of capturing her
| also.
I The Racer was proceeding on her course; q
slight land breeze filled her Sails and all hands
| of the watch not actually engaged on duty, ia
! tigued by their late exertions, were slowed
! away in convenient places round the deck, and
7 md Iyrl rn1A Cnf in Enn Ina
hammock nettiugs, close by the fore rigging,
were the only persons awake in that part of
"WefI, JIM" said one, a tat ill-favored
sailor, :" you had narrow escapealast night.
| If 'twasn't for the fust IeutenantS hardness,
'twould have,gone hard with you, chummy."
"Aye, that's true, Dick, Lowe him my life,
| and more. I'll pay him. too; that Pm deter
mined on"
! "Well, in that I think you're right. Tight
fhaRd SIS he is, and often as he has stopped my
! grog-and tickled my back, tool can't help
| saying he deserves good turn at yonr hands.
| HADN'T is been for him, the Frenchman's cut
lass would have spOit your brain7box.o
Aye, aye, Dick, / know it; and you owe
him something, toa--aRd hope God may soft
en- your heart to pay>html,"
90 i F' retorted Dick, with hoarse laugh; /
maybe l wouldn,t pay him, too, if 1 could,
that's ALL"
The otLer man raised himself from the re-
dining posture in which hS7lay, and >alacing
his hand upon his companion's shoulder, while
looking fixedly in his face, he said in a low and
HUSKY voice, Dick, the fust lieutenant is
Squire Ulicks SON" ~
Phe tall man gazed at him some moments in
silenco-his face was deadly pale as he slowly
repeated, Squire Uick's son 70 @Stuff,n he
exclaimed when he seemed to have mastered
his feelings; " how do you know thaf3 Ale
you beginning your old nonsense a2ainf / tell
you, Jim I'll not stand it; let's have no more
OF it, 'i''>a 5ft -
Dick" replied tue other, calmly, +" m tell
you how found it cut. You may recolIect
some years ago, whom we touched at Carnavon,
portmanteI, when he got sbore-leaye to see his