The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1876-05-18

1 u
of command to change the course Of the
ship.
"What does this mean n asked the
captain; "Why dost thou change the
ships course n
don't intend to without orders /"
said the mate, "but I thought best to
have everything handy for prompt ma.
neuyering. We have suspicious look
ing sail on our weather-boW, and she
shows French cOlOrs. By the rake other
masts and her general rig, 1 think she's q
clipper, with long-tom amidships; she
has given us gun already"
Rather dangerous neighbor fer us. 2
said the captain, and think she viii
prove one Of those piratical rasCals that
cut up the commerce of these seas; but
keep the ship away" continued he, rails
ing his glass again, J." and see if she
follows us"
Away went the Grampus, with free
wind and the rush Of race-horse, turn
ing the spray from her bows handsomely
on her altered course. The Frenchman
turned 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 eminently
worth preserving, though the Frenchman
was determined she should change own
ers. They managed their little craft
with great skill, altering their course
with Macy's and gaining all the time.
The breeze was only brisk, but it just
suited the schooner, while the laden ship,
though the heetest of her class, couldn't
show her heels to advantage without
stronger wind. Macy tried her on every
tack, but escape he could nOt--the
Wedge-like schooner gained upon him at
every turn.
CHOW I would give half our cargo for
a few guns to speak to that saucy rascal
in his own language" said Macy, turn
ing bitterly to JethrO. "Now is the
time for those six-pounders / urged thee
about before we left port; fear thou
viii pay dearly for not taking my advice.
All ! there comes salute number two"
A gun was fred by the Frenchman
across the bow ofthe Grampus, warning
her to heave to. Macy paced the deck
in agony of spirit, muttering words as he
went that sounded much like profanity.
He ordered the Grampus to be kept OFF
two or three points and a fOretOp-mast
studding-sail set; but iii the hurry, by
some mishap, the tack got unrove. A
couple Of hands were ordered aloft to
rig in the boom and reeve in the tack
anew. Isaac Coffin, son of Jethro, who
had muggled himself on board against
his fathers express orders, and who had
hardly made his peace with him yet,
heard the order, and seizing the end of
the rope with his teeth ran up the fore
shrouds, crept out on the top of the fore
yards like monkey, and then out on the
bare boom. But before he had half done
his task the Frenchmen 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 unnamed, though the
balls whistled about him like hail, and he
went fearlessly on with his work,
"They are charging the gun again,"
shouted Jethro. "Come down, my boy;
creep inl creep int Catch the halliards
and come down with a runw
Gay, ay!" cried Isaac, as he finished
reeving the tack, and gathering a few
fathoms in his hand threw the coil down
on the forscastle, and the men then
hoisted sail instantly. The Frenchman
aimed his gun again, but Isaac was de-
scending like flash, and as he reached
the deck the sailors fairly Rugged him in
theiE Joy and admiration of his bravery.
The hasty strides of Seth were again
arrested by another shot which passed
through the sail over his head. He
clenched his hands and looked up at the
torn sail.
BY heavensp said he, /" / win not
part with 80 fine q ship and cargo with
out deadly struggle"
"Swear not n said Jethro; ''it will
not help us in our strait. We had bet