The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-04-29
will pay dearly for not taking my advice
All 3! there comes salute number two"

gun was fired by the Frenchma
across the bow of the Grampus, warnin
her to heave to. Macy paced the dec
in agony of spirit, muttering words as b
went that sounded much like profanity
He ordered the Grampus to be kept OF
two or three points and foretop-mas
studding-sail set; but i'll the hurry, b.
some mishap, the tack got unrove.
couple of hands were ordered aloft t,
rig in the boom and reeve in the tacl
anew. Isaac Coffin, son of Jethro, who
had struggled himself on board against
his fathers express orders, and who hao
hardly made his peace with him yet
heard the order, and Selling 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
longtom, 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.
Yonng 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 in! creep in Catch the halliards
| and come down with a runr'
"Ay, ay" cried Isaac, as he finished
reeving the tack, and gathering a few
fathoms in his hand threw the coil down
on the forecastle, 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
their 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 heavensl' said he, "I will not
part with so nne ship and cargo with
out deadly struggle"
"Swear not! !" said Jethro; at will
not help us in our strait. We had bet
ter yield quietly to the necessity. Put
down the helm, Seth, and bring the
ship to-
"Yield quietly. didst thou say? Did
I understand thee Alright when thou
bidst 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 II" demanded Macy, in a
heat of passion.
Jethro answered calmly, "Thou surely
art her captain. Save the ship, if thou
canst, but thou canst not. We have 10
means of defense, and if we had it would
not be justifable to oppose with arms"
"Jethro, will save this ship or sink
in her. What yield to that little CAD
Hy-a gallinipper that is scarcely larger
than our long boat"
Another shot, better directed, splin-
tered the mainmast and wounded two
men.
"There Jethro; that is some of the
tender mercy of the French pirate-a
foretaste of what we may expect if
taken"
"Yield, Seth! The longer thou de-
lay, the more hazard to the lives of our
people he is a man-of-war!"
go thou below, Jethro! / command
here. Yield, indeed" he muttered, as
Jethro began to descend; will sink
first!"
"Stand by there, men," shouted
Seth, in voice which made every sailor
start. 1t was evident that he had put
off the Quaker, and the men responded
heartily to it. "Get the long boat ready
to be launched at moments warming;
clear away the quarter-boats, and see all
clear to lower them in an instant. Mate,
take in all the small sail at once"
Macy's voice and manner were resolute
and peremptory, and the men executed
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 Frenchmen had given the
advantage of the wind to the ship, and
while his men stood agape at the man
agement of the larger vessel which they
looked upon as prize, Seth seized the
helm in his brawny hand. The men
scarcely needed the word, but antici-
pated his intention as he put the helm
hard up, and in compressed but concen
trated voice which was heard distinctly
from stem to stern, he said: Let 60
all the braces, and bowlines, slack off
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 suddenly 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 the Grampus, and dire
confusion ensued upon the crowded decks.
IF thou dost intend to run her
down." said Jethro to Seth, hurriedly,
projecting his head moment from the
cabin gang way" if-nay hear me, Seth
| for the sake of humanity-if thou art
determined to run her down, ease thy
! helm little and give them a chance for
their lives"
| "Stand by to lower the boats :" thun-
dered Seth, stamping furiously upon the
deck. A groan of horror escaped his own
crew, for not till this moment had they
really seen the design Of their captain,
and the swarthiest check grew shade
paler but it was for theirlives and thew