Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-18

officer and the doctor, young Morley
the second officer, being In charge d
the deck. But each Of them bounded
from the table, as he heard the shout d
"Sail, hop from The lookout Of the ton
gallant cross. ties.
| Where away, and what does she look
like y cried young Morley, in reply, !
Seawaif and his companions held
their breath and listened for the an.
swer.
i see three sails, sir, dead ahead
they seem square-rigged. and coming
right down before the wind, was the re.
ply. s,s,.,.s,..,......tr |
'Epglisbmen, and making for the
coast, I'll wager my first prize.money 7
said the captain, as he hurried on deck.
John Bull-men's be gar l shall gel
my instruments ready for amputat 7
cried the delighted doctor, French
man.
80 will ~ said Mr.. Doolittle, the first
officer, as he buckled on his sharp, but
short cutlass, and followed his COM
mander on deck. y. F.. .g
The breeze was fresh, and the schoon-
or, with only her lower sails and top
sails set, was going off to the eastward
on taut bow line, her top.gallant and
royal yards pointed to the wind, and, aS
she pitched into and threw it, she sent
the snowy foam over her Prov almost
as high as her fore-top.
See all clear for action, fore and aft
reeve preventer, stays and braces
have spare spars cleared away! Gun
ners, look to your children I; they may
have to play soon. Boarders and pike
men, 500 that your tools are in their
Places cried the captain cheerfnlly, as
be came on deck, and then he seized a
spy-glass and scanned the vessels in
sight. aa.aa oa''.
What do you make out, sir, If you
please asked Mr.. Doolittle, whose
hopes for work and prize-monsy were
now on tho rise. -.-.-..,,..
I see six vessels; but they are yet too
far off to make ont whether they are
armed or not was the reply. 4
Shall the gunner open the magazine,
sirY 80.
Yes, after all the galley.fires are put
out '..#' r.f.g.igte
The men went to their work at their
respective stations quietly, but with q
cheerful look which betokened o perfect
confidence in their vessel, and especially
in their officers. ...,.,..........,.....,
An hour passed, and the vessels we're
now hull.up ahead, yet Capt Seawaif
gave no order either to alter her course
or shorten sail m-
What about our colors, sirf asked
tho lieutenant. .aT ia
You can run 'sm up in rolls to their
places, ready to pull when order IL, Nj.
Doolittle,' said the captain, still keeping
his glass directed toward the approach
ing ships.
Get out and rig two spsrs, with iron
enough in them to sink them, for drags;
drop one over each quarter, ana ask no
impairment questions, Mr.. Doolittle,
'aid the captain, quietly.
Il beg your pardon, sir a hundred
times-I thought you was going to runl'
'aid the now delighted officer, as he has
jened to obey the order. a.a
Double shot with grape and canister
-gunners to your stations = cried tho
'aptain, now determinedly. Men, make
10 noise when announce it but with.
n an hour that sloop- of-war shall strike
Ter flag, or we'll 20 down with our
'olors flying. When she is taken,l the
merchantmen will be easy prizes.' ~
Had they not been cautioned, the
nen wonld have cheers so londly as to
'e heard gu board of the sloop-of-war.
The enemy were now rising, fast, not
more than four or five miles off; but the
nerchantman, obeying signals from the
loop-of-war, which had evidently dis
overed the nationality Of the schooner
y ber rig, hanled on wind and short
ned sail, while the man-of.wsr held her
Curse under clOrd Of canvas. II
Take your stations for working ship
ried Seawaif. The men bounded to the
heets and braces. Hard up the helm = I
ase off the sheets, and round in the
FEATHER braces = cried the captain.
'Tarnel thunder you're not going to
IN from one sloop-of-war, are you, sir r
sked the lieutenant, in agonized won {
or. +r .,me 5a 80 IL
After the drags were rugged and low ,
L :