The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-05-12

In t1e Ioll OF inc year lOl-, some
three or four months after the declaration
of war, feet of eight or ten small craft
was fitted out of Salem, by William Paul
and others, intended for the Philadelphia
-four trade. Among them was tho
schooner Fox, little iore-and alter of
about fifty tons Samuel Hodgdou, mas.
ter George He1ssler, mate--an old and
experienced pilot, by the name Of Ell.
dredge. and tho boy Bill, from whom, tv
the way, We derive these particulars,
formed her complement Of men. Our
little Fox was in balast--save In her
hold snugly slowed against the bulkheads
for those were not strictly temperance
times. was a barrel Of American gin.
Thus appointed the Fox topped her broom
aud was off, with fair wind aud good
promise OF success, for late arrival stated
tnat no cruisers were to be seen 10 tho
bay.
On the fourth morning they found
themselves off Great Egg Ilarhor and
much 20 their ch0grin, i'll the close neigh.
borhood Of strange sloop. oiwar. Run.
ming away was out of the question-and
in answer to Que or two rather pressing
invitations, by messenger not over par
ticuar in regard to forms and ceremonies
the Fox hauled her wind aud stood for
her unwelcome neighbor.
'Nabbcd, by Jupiter' said the old
pilot, squirting a small cataract OF tobac-
CO juice to leeward, as he saw boat put
off from the sloop. .oi-war filled with men.
In few moments Capt. Hodgdon had
the pleasure Of being told that he was a
prize to his Britannia Majesty's sloop-of.
war Pronctheus, Of seventeen guns, and
that the company Of himself and mate was
particularly requested on board. With
as good a grace as could be mustered the
requisition was complied with, and the
captain and mate repaired on board
With the consent Of the commander
the captain and mate wero permitted to
60 on board their own vessel for the night
which was in charge Of a mildly and nine
men. During the night the two vessels
were to lay off and on iu the harbor, close
in company, although with such u force
on board the schooner Of course not the
least suspicion was entertained Of an at.
tempt to recapture. Not relishng, how.
ever, the idea Of making so Improbable a
voyage nor OF seeing their little craft
burned and themselves prisoners if it
were not, Henssler. the mate, and the
boy Bill laid their heads together to re-
take the schooner. Rather formidable
undertaking, it must be confessed, with
ten armed men on board and the guns oil
the sloop' of.war, like sleeping thunder
trowning upon them. Undeterred by the
almost hopelcssness of their task, Hens
slcr and the boy arranged the plot giving
the captain and the pilot hint of theil
intentions. which they readily acquiescet
in.
The night set in and our determined
fellows set about the accomplishment o
their work AT this time the two vessels
having made considerable oiling, were ly
ing to-tbe sloop. .of.war under reeie(
topsais, and the schooner immediatel,
under her guns, with her helm lashcd d.
lee, her fore and mainsail trimmed clos
aft, and her jib hauled to windward
About O'Clock Henssler and The pilo
turned in, while the captain and middl
sat chatting together in the cabin over
dim light-thc boy Bill in the mcantim
being on deck with the sloop.of.war'
men, who were lounging around the wind
lass, cracking jokes, telling long yarns
listening apparently with the greatest 10
terest to the stories of old salts.
Il say said one of them, as he woun
up his yarn, you have been sitting ther
chuckliDg this half hour-bad manners t
you-can't you do something towar
helping out the evenings entertainment
What can | do p was Bills laughin
reply.
Have you plug of tobbaco about yo.
youngster have been on short allow
ance Of tarred rope for two months.
i have no tobbaco, said Bill If
could get at the skippers chest, migt
smuggle bite for you. But tell 20
what he added, lowering his voic,
there's barrel Of gin on board, and
you'd like to whet your whistles, l guel
| can hook a drop, The old man won
mind it, seeing he is going to get clear t.
morrow will that do p
OF course this proposition received IL
eager assent of all hands. A buck
and dipper were soon found, the hatch
silently removed, and Bill cropt sly
down the hold after the coveted liquo