The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-30
A YANKEE CAPTAINS ADVENTURE.

| There lived many years ago, on the cas-
tern shore of Mount Desert, a large island
off the coast of Maine-a now fashionable
place of summer resort-an old fisherman
by the name of Jedediah Spinnet, who
owned schooner of some hundred tons
burthen, in which he, together with four
stout sons, was wont to go about once a
year to the Grand Bank for the purpose of
catching Goldfish. The old man had five
things about which he loved to boast-his
schooner "Betsey Jenkins " and his four
sons.
The four sons were all their father repre-
scented them to be, and no one ever doubted
his word when he said their like was not to
he found for fifty miles around. The old
est was twenty-five, while the youngest had
reached his sixteenth year; and they answer
ed to the names of Seth, Andrew, John
and Samuel.
One morning stranger called upon Jcde-
diah, to engage him to take to Havana
some iron machinery belonging to steam
engines for sugar plantations; the terms
were soon agreed upon, and the old man
and his sons Immediately set about putting
the machinery on board; that accomplished
they set sail for Havana, with fair wind
and for several days proceeded on their
course without an adventure of any kind.
One morning, however, vessel was deserted
off the starboard quarter, which with some
! IL !
pirate. There was not much time allowed
them for doubling, for the vessel soon
saluted them with a not very agreeable
whizzing of an eighteen pound shot just
under their stern.
"That means for us to heave to-
remarked the old man.
"Then 1 guess we had better do it,
hadn't we?" said Seth.
"Of course"
Accordingly the "Betsey jenkins was
brought up into the wind, and her main
boom was hauled over to the windward.
"Now, boys" said the old man, as soon
as the schooner came to stand, call we
can do is to be as cool as possible, and trust
to fortune. There is no way of escape
that can see now, but perhaps if we are
civil, they will take such stuff as they
want, and then let us go. At any rate,
there is no use crying about it, for it can't
be helped. Now. get your pistols and see
that they are surely loaded, and have your
knives ready, but be sure and hide them,
so that the pirates shall see no signs of
resistance In few moments all the
arms which the schooner afforded, with the
exception of one or two old muskets, were
secured about the person of our Down
casters, and they quietly awaited the COM
ing of the schooner
Zone word more, boys" said the old
man, just as the pirate came round under
the stern. "Now watch every motion
make, and be ready to jump the moment
speak"
AS Captain Spinnet ceased speaking, the
pirate luffed up under the fisherman's lee
quarter and in moment more the latter's
deck was graced by the presence of dozen
as savage-looking mortals rs eyes ever
looked upon.
care you captain of this vessel?" asked
the leader of the boarders, as he approached
the old mate.
eyes, SIR"
"What is your cargo?"
Machinery for steam ingins.'
"Nothing else ?' asked the pirate, with
searching look.
At this moment Captain Spinnet's eye
caught what looked like sail off to the
south I'd and east 'rd, but not a sign betrayed
! the discovery, and while a brilliant idea
shot through his mind, he hesitatingly
replied:
"Well there is little something else"
"Ha, what is it?'
"Why, sir, p'raps l hadn't ought to
tell said Captain SpiDnet, counterfeiting
the most extreme perturbation. You see
it was given me as sort of trust, and it
wouldn't be right for me to give it up
You can take anything else you please, for
can't help myself
rate" said the pirate; "but if you would
live ten minutes longer, just tell me what
you've got ON board, and exactly the place
where it lays"
The sight of cooked pistol brought the
old man to his senses, and in a deprecating
tone, he muttered-
"Don't kill me sir, don't; I'll tell you
all. We've got forty thousand silver dol
lars nailed up in boxes just for ard O. the
cabin bulk-head, but Mr.. before did't sus-
pect anybody would have tn enght of look
ing for it there"
"Perhaps so," chuckled the pirate, while
his eyes sparkled with delight. And then
turning to his own vessel, he ordered all
but three of his men to jump on board the
Yankee.
In a few minutes the pirates had taken
off the matches, and in their haste to get at
the "silver dollars" they forgot all else;
but not so with Spinnet; he had his wits at
work. and no sooner had the last of the
villains disappeared below the hatchway,
than he turued to his boys.
CHOW, boys, for your lives. Seth, you
clan YOUR knife across the fore and peak
halyards, and you, John, cut the main.-
Be quick, now, and the moment you have
done it, jump aboard the pirate. Andrew
and Sam, you cast off the pirates Crap
ping, and then you jump-then We'll walk
into them three chaps aboard the clipper.
Nou for it,
No sooner were the last words out of the
old man mouth, than his sons did exactly
as they were directed. The fore and main
halyard's were cut, and the two grapplings
cast off at the same instant, and as the
heavy gaffs came rafting down, our heroes
leaped on board the pirate. The moment
the clipper felt at liberty, her head swung
of. and before the astonished buccaneers
could gain the deck of the fisherman, their
own vessel was near half Il cables length