The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-04-06

nation. He ordered the GrampuS to
be kept Off two or three points and a
fore-top-mast studding-sail set bat in
the hurry of the moment by some mis-
hap the tack got unrove. A couple of
hands were ordered alof. to rig in the
boom and reeve in tnck anew. Isaac
Coffin, son of Jethro, who had smuggled
himself on board against his fathers ex
press 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 foreshrouds, crept out
on the top of the fore-yard ike mon
key, and then out on the bare boom.
But before he had half done his task the
F'renchmen brought their long tom,
charged with small shot, to bear upon
the yard, and let fly at Isaac thinking,
probably, the additional sail might ena-
bic the Grumpus to escape. Young
Coffin was unharmed, though the balls
whistled about him like hail, and he went
fearlessly on with his work.
siThey are charging the gun again, )"
shouted Jethre. ''Come down, my boy;
creep in creep in Catch the halliards,
and come down with a rum
Say, ay!" cried Isaac, as he finished
reeving the tack, and gathering O few
fathoms in his hand threw the coil down
on the forecastle, and the men then
hoisted the sail Instantly The French
man aimed his gun again, but Isaac was
descending like flash, and as he reach
ed the deck the sailors fairly hugged
him in their Joy and admiration of his
bravery.
The hasty strides of Seth were again
arrested by another shot which passed
tlror / the sail over his head. He
clenched his hands and looked up at the
torn sail.
'tBy heavens !" said he, 81 will not
part with SO fine ship and cargo with
out deadly struggle
''Swear not" said Jethro, sit viii not
help us in our strait. We had better
yield quietly to the necessity. Put down
thy helm, Seth, and bring the ship to-"
yield quietly, didst thou say? Did
[ understand thee right when thou bid
me bring the ship to ?' The eyes of
Seth glared upon Jethro, and his nos
trils distended like bull at bay
''Put down the helm, indeed Jethro
Coffin, who is commander of the Gram
pus, thou or I ?" demanded Macy, in q
heat of passion.
Jethro answered calmly, "Ihou sure
ly art hor captain. Save the ship, if
thou canst, but thou canst not. We have
no means of defense, and if we had it
would not be justi6able to oppose with
arms"
''Jethro, I will save this ship or sink
In her. What yield to that little gad-
dy-a gallinipper that is scarcely larger
than our long boat p
Another shot, better directed, splin-
tered the main-mast little and wound
ed two men.
''There, Jethro that is some of the
tender mercy Of the French pirate-a
foretaste of what we may expect if ia
ken"
'Yield, Seth The longer thou delay,
the more hazard to the lives of our peo-
pie. Yield he is man of war;"
''Go thou below, Jethro I command
here Yield, indeed l'' he muttered, as
Jethro began to descend 81 will sink
first"
''Stand by there, men |" Seth shout
ed, in voice that made every sailor
start. It was evident that he had put
off the Quaker, and the men responded
heartily to it. ''Get the long boat to be
launched at moments warning, clear
away the quarter boats, and see all clear
to lower them in an instant. Mate, take
in all the small sail at once"
Macv's voice and manner were reso-
lutte and peremptory, and the men exc
cuted the orders promptly and were
ready for the next, though wondering
what the captain meant to do. The
Frenchman was also at fault, taking the
maneuvering of Seth for an intention to
give up his ship, and hove the schooner
to, and waited the lowering Of boat
from the Grampus. In rounding to, as
Seth had calculated, the Frenchman had
given the advantage of the wind to the
ship, and while his men stood agape at
the management of the larger vessel
which they looked upon as a prize, Seth
seized the helm in his brawny hand.
The men scarcely needed the word, but
anticipated his intention as he put the
helm hard up, and in compressed but
concentrated voice, which was heard dis
tinctly from stem to stern, he said
''Let go all the braces and bowlines,
slack on sheets and tacks, and square
the yards-Quick :"
1t was done in twinkling, and Macy
shaped his course as though he would
bring his ship under the lee quarter of
the privateer. This feint completely
deceived the enemy, when Seth sudden
ly changed her course, and brought her
head to bear directly upon the hull of
the Frenchman. Her crew discovered
now. but too late, the design of tie
Grampus, and dire confusion ensued up
on her crowded decks.
eff thou dost intend to run her down,
said Jethro to Seth, hurriedly, project
ing his head q moment from the cabin
gangway-s'if 'if-nay, hear me, Seth for