Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-22

be true to the course he had given her; an
having seen TIA. sae sheets zen. securely be
| .a'ed, ana that nothing OF aPv vain. Was ieft OF
ard; he's nc ms crew 6 into tas BOAT am
| iu..cd ir tie :. Polly Ann a
Away wer the schooner In fne style, a. shini
we foam {! ON before her, aud leaping over I'M
ent waves a. defan.ly a. could be: Capt: Wa
q o. his glass ard went aloft. He could nov
az appeared to be lying to
By the course upon which the old schoone,
mi'es from the brig: and that, too, before many
minutes.
"Hi-yi." cried Wait. "There she goes."
| A he spoke q wreath of smoke curled up from
the Eng ishmsn's desk, and in a moment more
the report Of heavy gan came booming over
Hes taken the bait,- shouted jenkins
Another and another gun doomed away from
| the deck OF the brig. but the schooner did net
| stop. She da- he'd away over the water with her
Gag flying, and showed NO disposition to obey
Hi! Looki'' cried Wait, as n round shot
plouehtd mp the water under the stern of the
fyine schooner.
But this was not to last mach longer. The
brig soon put up her helm and bore away, and
cracked on all sail.
Away went the schooner. and away went the
brig. Bang'-bang,-bang!-w the English
mans guns; and the Yankee coaster seemed 10
by the faster. But the brig was gaining rap
Idly. Ere long one Of her round shot tore the
poor ssEliza 8" qusrter-rail Off and next a shot
struck. Nearer and nearer came the brig; and
shot after shot riddled the poor devoted schoon-
er. Presently her mainmast went by the board
lay, a helpless, sinking rotten, useless mass
upon the water, which must soon open its
bosom to give her rest.
Meanwhile the Polly Ann" had run up her
anchor and made sail; and as the brig overlook
her prize, the successful Yankee was passing
behind Seguin. In a short time the vessel was
left upon her starboard quarter and once more
she was in full view of the Englishmsn.
hcaye-tO here a inst A
the fun, said Wait.
This was readily agreed TO: for the "POlly
Ann" was just in the mouth of the river. with
the wind fair for running her up at any mo-
ment.
SO the schooner was hove to, and all hands
gathered aft to watch the operations OF the
evening. Beside the heavy guns which Wait
had slowed away under the main hatch. for the
priyateers. he had q lot of muskets. He had
Yankee flag got ready for running up the main
peak.
The brig was seen to overhaul the poor. rid
died. dismasted hull, and our Yankees fancied
they could almost hear the British curse and
swear. "But won't they cuss a leetle more
when they see usoo'' said Jenkins.
81 reckon they WILL" responded Captain
In few minutes from that time the brig was
seen 10 put up her helm. and very soon after
wards the old bulk gave lurch and went
down.
They see us.r cried Wait as the brig put
her head about.
And so it would seem; for the man-of- war not
only put about, but her men crowded upon her
fOrecastle and gazed OF to where the Yankee
schooner lay. Up went her studding-sails, be-
low and aloft, and she came ploushing through
the water at a swift rate.
AT length she fired one of her bow guns, and
the ball fell directly beneath the end of the
Yankees flying jib-boom.
Up with the helm.'' cried Captain Wait.
''Haul over the main sheets. Get out the mus
kets,'
The muskets were taken by the men even the
man at the helm going in for one, and soon
a. the vessel was fairly headed up the river.
they gathered along by the traff-rsil. The Stars
and Stripes were run up to the peak. and a. the
slorious ensign opened its magic folds To the
breeze. the captain gave the order to fire.
The reports Of eight muskets rang out upon
the air; three hearty cheers were given by the
homeward-bound men; and then the Polly
Ann" danced away up her native river.
Surely the officers and crew of the blOcka ling
brig must have felt particularly foolish about
that time. And that they did feel so is evident
erman whom he Overhauled for fish OH the even
ing of that very day. 1t was fisherman who
had ventured down OFF Cape Small Point after
haddock. He asked the fisherman if the ssPolly
Ann" had entered the river.
"Ye-e-es sir, answered the poor fellow.
q Did she carry up much of a load"
"Gerewsalem; yew'd thought 80, reckon, -
answered the fisherman, who seemed DESTROYS
Of giving an emphatic reply. - She was loaded
daown to the gunlls, sir. Its marcy at she
didn't sirkln
"---.'' said the Englishman.
which being interpreted, meaneth a very ex-
tended and very deliberately wrought sentence
of oaths. 81. wish she had sunk! I never was
so fooled before; and never will be again!"
But the man spoke without counting his cost.
The ':Polly Ann" stopped at Bath and un-
loaded her large gins and arlmunition; and
three days afterwards two sprightly privateers
sailed down the river, and captured the brig-of-
war, and carried her into port.
Meanwhile the successful schooner kept on up
the river. carrying gladnes to all patriotic
hearts; furnishing food for hundreds of famish-
ing bodies; and inspiring many Responding souls
with new hOues and aspratiODs,