Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-03-30

i"ie "'11 o'S"s SNtii, dieeriIS Jnei
course With Macy's. and gaining a
the time. The breeze was only brisk
but it just suited the schooner
while the laden ship, though til
fieetest Of her class, couldn't shoy
her heels to advantage without
stronger wind. Macy tried her OF
every tack, but escape he could no
the wedge-like schooner gained
upon him at every turn.
"Now would give half our cargo
for few guns to speak to that sauc,
rascal in his own language" sale
Macy, turning bitterly to Jethro
snow is the time for those six
Founders urged thee about before
we left port; ! fear thou will pay
dearly Tor not taking my advice
An. An there comes salutew1umbeI
A gun was fired by the French
man across the bow of the Grampus,
warning her to heave to. Macy
paced the deck in agony of spirit,
muttering words as he went that
sounded much like swearing. He
ordered the Grampus to he kept off
two or three points and fore-top
mast studding sail set; but in the
hurry by some mishap the tact got
unrove. A couple of hands were or
dered aloft to rig in the boom and
reave in the tact anew. Isaac Coffin,
son of Jethro, who had smuggled
himself on board against his fathers
express orders. and who had hardly
made his peace with him yet, heard
the order, andseizing the end of the
rope with his teeth ran up the fore
shrouds, crept out on the top of the
fOreyard like a monkey, and then out
on the bare boom. But before he
had half done his task the French
man 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 Cufiin was unharmed, though
the balls whistled about him like
hail, and he went fearlessly on with
his work.
"They are charging the gun again."
shouted Jethro. "C0me down, nv
boy; creep in! creep in Catch the
halliards and come down with
rum
"Ay, ayr cried Isaac, as he finish
ed reeying the tack, and gathering a
few fathoms in his hand threw the
coil down on the forecastle, and the
men then hoisted the sail instantly.
The Frenchman aimed his gun
again, but Isaac was descending
like a fash, and as he reached the
deck the sailors fairly hugged him in
their joy and admiration of his BRAY
cry.
The NASTY strides of Seth. were
again arrested by another shot which
passed through the sail over his head
He clinched his hands and looked up
at the torn sail.
"By heavens!' said he, / will not
part with so fine ship and cargo
deadly struggle"
"Swear not!' said Jethro; ''it will
not help US in our strait. We had
better yield quietly to the necessity.
Put down the helm, Seth, and bring
he ship to-"
"Yield quietly, didst thou say?
Did 1 understand thee Alright when
,hou bidst me bring the ship to?"
The eyes of Seth glared upon Jethro,
md his nOstrils distended like bull
It bay.
''Put down the helm, indeed! Je-
hro Coffin, who is commander of
he Grampus, thou or I?' demanded
Macy, IN heat of passion.
Jethro answered calmly, "Thou
urely art her captain. Save the
hip, if thou canst, but thou canst
lot. We have no means of defense,
md if we had it would not be justi-
liable to oppose with arms"
"Jethro. l will save this ship or
ink herr What! yield to that little
,ad Ay-a gallinipper that is scarce
y larger than our long-boat."
Another shot better directed,
plintered the mainmast a little and {
two men. {
"There, Jethro! that is some of the :
ender mercy of the French pirate
foretaste of what we may expect
taken"
"Yield, Seth! The longer thou :
elay, the more hazard to the lives
f our people; he is a man-of-warw
go thou below, Jethro! l COM ,
nand here! Yield, indeed!" he NUT
cred, as Jethro began to descend;
j will sink first!'
"Stand by there, men," shouted {
eth, in a voice which made every
ailor start. 1t was evident that he {
ad put off the Quaker, and the men
esponded heartily to it. "Get the 8
ong boat ready to be launched at {
warning; clear away the ,
uarter-boats, and see all clear to [
)wer them in an instant. Mate, |
AXE in all the small sail at once"
Macy's voice and manner was reso- {
ute and peremptory, and the men G
xecuted the orders promptly and '
7ere ready for the next, though won 7
ering what the captain meant to do. d
he Frenchman was also at fault TAX
lg the maneuvering of Seth for an T
ltention to give up his ship, and {
owe the schooner to, and waited the t
,wering of a boat from the Gram t
us. In rounding to, as Seth had Fl
the Frenchman had given F
ne advantage of the wind to the C
hip, and while his men stood agape e
the management of the larger ves- t
Il which they looked upon as prize, t.
eth seized the helm in his brawny f
and. The men scarcely needed the t.
ord, but anticipated his intention p
) he put the helm hard up, and in G