The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-12-10

II who, covered with blood and powder, ant
J, wounded as be wa. Eas again in the thick
s est Of the fray, dealing death at every blow
e There was no time for congratulat,on, how
} lever, for the enemy was pressing them OF
b every side; for, although Harry had beer
i Fnobly supported by Clark and Archer, viii
II thirty more men, yet the enemy had, b.
10 their numbers, hemmed them in on everl
d side, and would soon have cut them all 4
Il pieces, had not an unexpected attack from
behind suddenly changed the fortunes of th'
i day. This was no other than the old guar
! termaster, who had been left in charge 0
IKE brig, with the remainder Of the crew
b with ,trict injunctioqs not to leave her, hap
r pen what might. He had, accordingly, fol
Q some time, impatently looked on the strug
a gle, when, no longer bearing TO remain IN
active, be sung out that the ship might g
3 to the devil, but. .he would be hanged if b.
5 you'd stand still any longer aud see BIZ
Q shipmates cut to pieces by lubberly French
paen. So saying, be jumped upon the
j Frenchmsn, q deck, followed By the rest d
. tie crew, wbowere Sll as eager as himself
! and so sudden and furious was the attack
that the Frenchmen; suite dispirited BY this
unex pected assault, we're glad to seek shell
ter from their fury-some in the rigging,
others down the hold, while those who re
NAMED were fain to cry for quarter, which
was readily given them. The men in the
rigging had fed to the tops for shelier, but
seeing their comrades obtain quarter, they
also surrendered themselves at discretion.
The next minute the British ensign was
waving proudly in the br eze at the toPmast
of the Frenchman, and three long and
hearty cheers, which were responded t. BY
the people on the shore, told tn success Of
the engagement.
The loss on both sides was great, though
that Of the French greatly exceeded that of
the British. Harry, fearing that the French
might take it in their heads to set upon him
again, as they we've still so much superior
in number, ordered them below, and bat
tened down the matches upon them all, ex-
cept the surgeon and bis mate, whom be
kept to assist his own in dressing the wounds
Of the men On looking amongst tue slain
Of bis crew, Harry observed amongst them
the stiffened cOrpee Of poor Bill Curtis.
Harry could not help shedding tear to the
memory Of this brave fellow, who had so
nobly seconded him in the time Of need.
Bill was covered with gore but aH air of
defiance was still firmly seated upon bis
countenance, and bis hand still firmly
grasped his cutlass, which had that day been
wiel0ed with so much success against the
enemies of his country. The old quarter
master came up at this moment, and
Harry, shaking him by the hand, said to
him
" believe we must have you tried by
court martial for iisObedience Of orders. !
However," he added, more seriously y, 81
believe, had it not been for your DISC
bedience of orders, we should have all been
in the state of that poor fellow, pointing to
Bill
"Ay,' said the old quartermaster with
sigh, - braver fellow never stepped in a
black leather shoe. However, it's road
we must travel, once and where die better
than fighting for ones country For my
pars, would sooner die on ships deck,
with the thunder Of the cannon sounding
IN nv ears, than on a bed Of the finest
down."
The people on the shore, seeing that the
danger was over and that the British had
gained the victory, had now manned several
boats, and were approaching the ships. In
the foremost Of these was old Ben, who, be-
ing the proprietor Of the village in which be
lived took upon himself, in all expeditions
by sea, the Office Of commodore of the fleet. |
little craft" exclaimed Ben, as he ap-
preached the Ha,ok, he deserves to be
made an admiral, whoever be is. Gracious
Heaven, there is my own nephew, Harry!"
cried be, springing up the fore chains.
:" Nv own uncle, Ben - exclaimed Har |
ry, spriuging forward to embrace him. Cor
dial, indeed, was the meeting Of the uncle
and nephew, and perhaps it were difficult to
tell which was the greater-the joy Of the
nephew or the pride of the uncle.
But you are all blood, Harry" said
the uncle" you must be wounded"
"A mere scratch" said Harry; :" but
some Of my poor fellows have suffered but
as the wind favors, we had better get the
vessels into the harboT.
The news of the engagement had spread
like wild6re through the country, and as the
vessels approached the harbor, crowds OF
people were waiting to cheer the gallant
fellows who had fought so nObly. The
wounded were Immediately conveyed on
shore and distributed among the inhabitants,
who were eagerly striving which should re-
ceive them whilst those who had fallen,
both French and English, were deeently in
TERED, side by side, in that narrow house
where all feuds and animosities are buried in
oblivion.
The rest Of our story is soon told. Harry,
soon after the engagement, was united to
Maria, with the consent OF all parties. For
some time after his marriage, be still went
to sea; but, on the decease of Maria's
father, his property devolving upon him, be
retired to enjoy the society Of bis amiable
wife, and that domestic repose to which his
tolls and labors SO we'll entitled him.
clark, the first lieutenant, having fallen in
battle, on Harry's giving up the service,
Archer was promoted to the command of
the HdCk, and be soon after married Su-
san, Harry's sister. As for the old quar-
termaster, who bad borne 50 distinguished .
part in the engageme 1t, he was at last pre-
vailed upon by Harry to take up bis abode
in beautiful cottage upon his estate. A
clear stream runs by the cottage door, and
the situation commands fine view Of the
sea; and the old man may still frequently
be seen sitting at bis cottage door, on a
summer evening, enjoying the beauties Of
the scene or, if you rise soon enough, you
may perhaps see him taking his morning
walk along the beach, with bis spy-glass in
, bis hand. His chief delight. however, is
I IN Hary's house, where be is quite al
home. He is particularly attached to Har-