Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-10-20
as best he might.

board the privateer when the mate COM
municated to the men the determine
tion of the captain, but they had too
much confidence in Varney's good sense
and judgment to find fault with The or
ders; and even had they been called upon
to face the Englishman openly and
boldly, they would have not hesitated,
so long as Sam. Varney was at their
head, or by their side. Consequently
all hands sent to work with a will, and
ere nightfall everything was ready for
sea.
Meanwhile Captain Varney had not
been idle, AS soon as Hartman left
him, he commenced pacing up and
down the pier, and for nearly half An
hour did he walk backyard and forward,
revolving his plans over in his mind.
At length he stopped. For moment
he stood in deep thought, and then,
while sudden beam of satisfaction
spread over his features, he started off
toward a small cove where a number of
fishing smacks were hauled up. At a
short distance from the shore lay the
hull of an old sloop, with her mast still
standing, which was kept nearly half
full of water, and used by the fishermen
as a receptacle for live bait. Upon the
shore, where small fishing boat had
just hauled up, stood four old fisher
men, and as captain Varney approached,
one ofthem, an old, weather. beaten son
of the ocean. hailed him:
"Well, Varney, the Englishman's
bound ye, eh?' 3
"That depends upon circumstances"
replied Varney as he came up to the
spot where the men stood. .,+.. t4
That is, Isuppose, whether the Eng
lishman making long stop, or not" re-
turned the first speaker.
mot quite" said Varney. '''There is
no danger but that the feIlow'll stay
there as long as there is anything to stop
for; but if you'll help me, think can
run out in spite of them" "s.-s- ...s =
Run outr iterated all four at
breadth. "How can we help you?"
''I'll tell you," returned.Varney. II
want to buy that old hull out there, and
1 want you to lend me a hand in get
ting her out Of the harbor. L have an
old foresail on board the schooner that'll
fit her, and if you'll let me have her on
reasonable terms I'll cheat that Eng
lishimaE an out of his prey"
Look here, Sam. Varney!" exclaim-
ed the old man who had just addressed
him, and whose name was Perkins, ''if
yon'll run you privateer out tonight
you shal II have the old sloop and well
come. She amt worth more than her
weight in fire-wood, at any late, and
what's more, I'll do what can to help
you" .
$50 will II" burst spontaneously from
the lips of the others.
"Then, if you'll bear a hand and
pump her out, I'll go around to my
vessel and get the forsail and an old jib,
and have some of men come and help
rig her." said Varney. t
The matter was easily arranged, and
each went about his own share of the
business, ,-Varney to get once more into
the field of his privateering, and the
fisherman to enjoy the satisfaction of
seeing the Englishman bamboozled.
When night. set in, it set in earnest.
Their was no moon, nor was there
scarcely star to relieve the darkness Of
the heavens. Quite fresh breeze blew
off from the land Offering a rare temp
tation to any craft that might wish to
put to sea. The British brig evidently
saw this, for as the darkness began to
contract the; bounds of vision, she came
nearer into the harbor and hove to.
Perkins and his three companions
were all prepared for their mission, and
at about nine o'clock they pulled on
board the old sloop, secured the painter
of their boat to the stern, and then
hoisted their sales! The old craft minus
her bowsprit, but a stay from the mast
head to the stem answered very well for
the jib, SO that, take her all in all, she
was in very good sailing trim. The
wind was from the westward, and as the
old sails were open in the breeze, Per-
kins slipped the .moorings, and away
started the dilapidated smack toward
the open sea. Her ungainly propor-
tions made considera BILE surging and
splashing in the water. and as she be-
gan to round the point upon which
stands the lighthouse, the commander
of the brig discovered her. Parkins
stood by the rail watching the English
man through long night-glass, and
just as thesloop's head had poked around
the point, he started back, exclaim-
ing;
"They see us, boys; there she flies
away. Yes, she's squared her yards,
and I believe sues letting fail her cour-'
ses.. Stand by the boat" "rt.l s,.z
AS Perkins ceased speaking, he closed
his glass and went aft. The English
brig could not be plainly made out stand