Connecticut western news., 1874-04-24
over the schooner's side as lenders to prevent chafng. & .s tr

Our Yankees listened to the haunting remarks of their captors in silence, and doggedly assisted in breaking bulk, save now and then the old pilot grum- bled out his spleen in anything but the choicest language, as he cast rather Q wolfy glance at the mass of heads that peered down upon them from the rail- ing of their enemy. r. ..
 About thirty barrels had been trans ferred when the frigate, which was now at the leeward, suddenly threw out a signal to the Prometheus to follow her in chase of strange sail, apparently 8 large vessel which had just appeared in sight. Not stopping to take in the hammocks, and determined not to lose their present prize second time, they seized the schooner's cable around the foremast, and, taking it on board the sloop-of-war, made it fast. They then ordered our skipper to make sail, threading if he attempted to escape to sink him on the instant. The Prome- theus soon started in chase, with the Fox in tow. The wind blew pretty fresh, and the schooner dashed along at merry rate in the wake of her captor, her speed being such as to cause but little hindrance to the sloop,
 It was past noon when the chase com menced, and for two or'three hours the Prometheus and her prize slipped along in fine style, when, thinking that now or never was the time to effect an escape, Henssler, after consulting with the cap- tain, crept along on his hands and knees with hatchet, and succeeded in sever- ing nearly all the strands of the cable which served as 8 tow line, taking the precaution, however, to leave the out ends as though the cable had parted. In 8 short time afterward the pilot managed, by waving, the schooner, to bring pretty hard strain upon the cable, and they had the satisfaction of seeing it snap like a thread. The schooner after this continued on her course as though she did not mean to attempt to give her captor the slip-but somehow or other her helmsman steered so widely that the sloop-of-war began fast to forge ahead of her. Thus the captor and her prize stood on the same track until the sun began to get low, by which time the former, by her superior sailing, had run herself nearly hull down. -t.
 "Nearly time to bout ship, skipper?" said the pilot, inquiringly. "1t will take longer legs than that craft has got to overtake us now, I'm thinking"
 "Ready about !" said the captain, and in moment the little Fox was on an- other tack, once more running from the enemy. i-.-' >aS.
 As the night fell the wind increased, ,. and before night heavy gale was raging. The fugitives held on their way as long as they could, until it was absolutely perilous to run any longer, when they were obliged to lay to. The wind blew furiously, and there was 8 bad sea running, but the Fox was 8 mo- ble sea boat and she rode it out bravely. To prevent her making so much lee drift, a " drag was thrown over, which checked her from falling off consider ably. Tine gale continued unabated through the night, but so anxious were our Yankee crew to keep clear of their late captor, they thought little of the l storm. - -... ts ..e.,'
 When the morning broke so that ob- jects could be discerned at any dis tance, what should greet the sight of the wearied watchers but the self-same cruiser, still moving like phantom ship around them. The vessel to which she and the frigate gave chase proved probably to be one of, their cruisers, and she had put back, following in the track of the Fox like hound on the | scent. The gale, however, brought her to bay, and when she was discovered she was lying to under the snuggest sail, about two miles to leeward. For tunately for our Yankee, the gale still continued, and the sloop of war made so much lee-way that by noon, to the great joy of those on board the schoon- CT, she had drifted out of sight. The weather moderating soon after, the skipper thought it best to cut sticks and make tracks, which he immediately did. E. .s- "a-[ 'a-..
 Making the best of his way along, by sundown he found himself on Montauk Point, intending to run into New Lon. don. Thinking it best, however, after so many narrow escapes, to see if he had clear way before him, Bill was sent to the masthead to reconnoiter. Shining up the back-stay, hand over fist, Bill had no sooner arrived at a point where he could have full view, then he bawled out "Sail, ho sail, ho p
 "Where away ?'
 '' In the sound," shouted Bill. "By George, there's whole fleet of them. J True enough, there they were, whole squad of the enemy. .l. =.
 "We must run for Newport, D said the skipper; "are you acquainted along here, Mr. Eldridge ?"
 "Never was here in my life, skipper, but we will try and feel our way along. We've got 8 good departure, and when we get hold of Point Judith light we shall manage well enough, if the wind holds, dare say"
 The night shut in pitch dark-a cir cumstance which, though at first deem ed unfavorable, proved in the end theil salvation perhaps. The wind had now become rather light but in due time Point Judith light was made, whicl having passed some distance, theJ dropped their mud hook just off the town of South Kingston, not little rejoiced at their safety.
 Secure, however, as they deemed themselves, their perils were not quite over for about daylight next mornine boat came alongside, and youne man who was in it hailed the pilot, wht happened to be on deck alone.
 "How did you get here, or rather why are you here? This is no place for you, sir
 "How did we get here, youngster We didn't grow here that's certain but what it is it to you why we cam' and how we got here ?" said the olt man gruffly. ... ..t
 "Don't get wrathy, old fellow-m, only object is to serve you. Do yol know you're in bad neighborhood ? : "In bad neighborhood, say you sir?" said the skipper, who had nov come on deck, attracted by the strang , voice. .-.- ... ) "Yes, sir," the young man replied ) "An armed schooner, the Liverpoo ) Packet of Halifax, is at anchor jus . l un6er fhn 1ipht Tncyv for vOu sir i