The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-11-25
From the Berkshire Eagle
The Strategy of a Quaker Captain.

on board; and she was commanded by
Seth Macy. friend and companion of
jtthro's from boy hood These two men,
rs we'll rs most of the crew, were Quak-
ers. 3ut the greater part Of Seth's lilc
had been spent on the high seas, and his
experience i'll lI-governed Spanish ports,
and among savage islanders had taught
him that though non-resistance did very
well on Nantucket it was neither u safe
nor easy road to travel anywhere else !;
and while the Grampus was loading for
her voyage he had urged Jethro to arm
her with tour siN-pounders; for England
was Mt that time at war with France, and
OF course the colonies were dragged into
it also But Jethro, true to his principles.
rejected the proposal with righteous in
dignatior, and they set sail, much to
Seth's disgust, armed only with lances
and harpoons for warfare with whales, in
search of which they We're to proceed,
after diSposing Of their cargo in London
They had accomplished about two o-thirds
Of their voyage, and the ship being under
easy sail, some OF the men We're lOunging
about the deck, and some We're gathered
on the iorecastle listening to a yarn from
a man-otwar' 's-mAn who had been i'll TIE
English navy
.. Forward there shouted the first
mate, who had been sweeping the hori-
zon with his glass.
LAY, ay!" answered the men readily;
and the marvellous story was cut short,
"Jump alolt one of you who has good
eyes" continued he, land tell me what
YOU make out Of that craft with such rtk
inc masts, on our weather bow !"
'Ay, ay," and several men spran@ alott
'Alain-t gallant, there" :" hailed the
mate.
GAY, av,n replied the man with the
glass (rhese Quakers did not use the
atliN, sir. in addressing their officers
every man, high or low, was called by
his given name. and titles of all kinds
were eschewcd from religious principle)
>'What sort OF a craft is to windWard,
and how is she standing ?" cried the mate.
"It is u small black schooner, all legs
and arms, replied the sailor ''and She
is bearing down for us under a press Of
sail Now she runs up flag, and by
the flash and smoke she spits, She has lust
fired a gum
a dull, heavy report came booming ON
The breeze, and laundering sound echoed
against the ships side. The mates glass
was bent upon the schooner whose hull
was not vet visible, but the flag WAS found
to be French.
"Steward' call the captain" cried the
mate in alarm ''forwarl there call on
hands ON leck-Stand by to put the ship
about -
"Ay. ay," responded the well-trained
sailors, and every man stood at his post
ready for prompt action. Both Macy and
Coffin appeared upon deck, wondering at
being sent for ami surprised to find every
man ready for the word OF command to
change the course of The ship.
'What does this mean?" asked the cap
tain, .Why dost thou change the ships
course ?"
Il don't intend to without Thy orders -"
said the mate, = but ! thought best to
have everything ready for prompt ma
nnuyering, We have q suspicious-look-
ing sail on our weather-bow, and she
shows French colors BY the rake OF her
nasts and her general rig, / think she's a
clipper, with, long-tom amidshlp5; she
has given US q gun Already
"Rather u dangerous neighbor for Us"
said the captain, land think she will
prove one OF those plratlcal raScais that
cut up the commerce of these seas but
keep the ship away" continued he, rais-
inc his GLASS again, land see if she fol
lows us
Away went the Grampus. with Il free
wind, and the rush of race-horse. turn
ING the spray from her bows handsomely,
on her altered course. The Frenchman
changed also, and gained steadily upon
her. The ship was deeply laden with oil
and would be prize of great value, and,
as Seth thought, was enincnty worth
preserving, though the Frenchman was
determined she should change owners.
They managed their little craft with great
skill. altering her course with Macy's and
gaining all the time. The breeze was
only brisk, but it Just suited the schooner,
while the ladened ship, though the fleet
est of her class, couldn't show her heels
to advantage without a stronger wind.
Macy tried her on every tack, but escape
he could not-the wedge-like schooner
gained upon him at every turn.
"Now / would give half our cargo for
few guns to speak to that saucy rascal
in his own language" said Macy, turning
bitterly to Jethro; 'now is the time for
those six-pounders urged thee about be-
fore we left port; | fear thou will pay
dearly for not taking my advice. All
there comes salute number two
A gun was again fired by the French
man across the bow OF the Grampus,
warning her to heave to. Macy paced
the deck in agony of spirit, mutterlng
words as he went that sounded much like
s'dtt1l71ation" lie ordered the Grampus
to be off two or three points and a fore
top-mast studding-sail set; but IN the
hurry of the moment by some nshap the
tack got unrovc A couple of hands were
ordered alott to rig in the boom and reeve
in the tack anew. Isaac Coffin, son of
Jethro, who had smugged himself on
board against his fathers express orders,
and who had hardly made his peace with
him vet, heard the orders, and seizing the
end of the rope with his teeth ran up the
fore -shrouds, crept out on the top OF the
fore-yard like monkey, and then out on
the bare boom. But before he had hall
done his task the Frenchman brought
their long tom, charged with small shot,
to bear upon the yard and let fly at Isaac
thinking, probably, the additional sail
might enable the Grampus to escape
Young Coffin was unharmed, though the
balls Whistled about him like hail, and he
went fearlessly on with his work.
"They arc charging the gun again,
shouted Jethro. Come down, my boy
creep in creep in Catch the halllards
and come down with a run ~
SAY, ay" cried Isaac, as he finished
reevng the tack, and gathering It few
fathoms in his hand threw the coil down
on the torecastle and the men then hoist
ed the sail instantly. The Frenchman
aimed his gun again, but Isaac was de,
scending like flash, and as he reached
] the deck the sailors fairly hugged him IN