The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-07-22

my instruments ready tor amputat!
cried the delighted doctor, French
man.
$50 will ~ said Mr.. Doolittle, the
first officer, as he buckled on his sharp,
but short cutlass, and followed his COM
nlander on deck.
The breeze was fresh, and the schoon-
er with only her lower sails and top
sails set was going off to the eastward
on a taut bovine, her top-gallant and
royal yards pointed to the wind, and her
larboard tacks aboard There was quite
a heavy sea rolling; and us she pitched
into and through it, she threw the snowy
foam over her PROV almost as high as
her foretop.
"See all clear for action, fore and aft
reeve preventer stays and braces
have the spare spars cleared away! Gun
ners, look to your children; they may
have play soon. Boarders and pike
men, see that your tools are in their
places" cried the captain, cheerfully
as he came on deck; and then he seized
a spy-glass, and scanned the vessels in
sight.
"What do you make out, sir, if you
please?" asked Mr.. Doolittle whose
hopes for work, and prize-moncy were
now on the rise.
II see six vessels; but they are yet
too far off to make out whether they are
armed or not" was the reply,
"Shall the gunner open the magazine,
sir?"
eyes, after all the galley-fres are put
out"
The men went to their work, and
their respective stations quietly, but
with cheerful look, which betokened
a perfect confidence in their vessel and
especially in their officers.
| An hour passed, and the vessels were
now hullup ahead, yet Captain Seawaif
gave no orders either to alter the course
or shorten sail.
''What about our colors, sir ?" asked
the lieutenant.
You can run 'em up in rolls to their
places, ready to pull out when I order
it, Mr.. Doolittle;;" said the captain, still
keeping his glass directly toward the
approaching ships.
The enemy were now rising fast, not
more than four or five miles off; but the
merchantmen, obeying signals from the
sloop-of-war, which had evidently dis
covered the nationality of the schooner,
by her rig, hauled on a; wind and short
cned sail, while the man-of-war held
her course under Il cloud of canvass.
'"Takc your stations for working
ship!' cried Seawaif The men bound
ed to the sheets and braces lizard
up the helm--ease off the sheets, and
round in the weather braces!" cried the
captain.
''Tarnal thunder! you're not going to
run from one sloop-of-war, are you,
sir ?" asked the lieutenant in agonized
| wonder.
"Get out and rig two spars with iron
enough on them to sink them, for drags;
drop one over each quarter, and ask no
impairment questions, Mr.. Doolittle,"
said the captain, quietly.
II beg your pardon, sir, hundred
times-I thought you was going to runv'
said the now delighted officer, as he
FASTENED to obey the order.
"Double-shot with grape and canister
! -gunners, to your stationsW cried the
captain, now determinedly. "Men,
within an hour that sloop-of-war shall
strike her flag, or we'll 20 down with
ours flying! When she is taken, the
m erchantman will be easily priced"
Had they not been cautioned, the men
would have cheered so loudly as to be
heard on board the sloop-of-war.
After the drags were rugged and low
cred over the side, held by stout haws-
ers, and not seen because sunk beneath
| the water, the schooner did not 90 more
than three knots, although-under full
spread of canvass-she seemed to be
running away from her antagonist,
which now could be seen coming up
hand over hand, her decks crowded
with men, and her ports showing a
battery of twenty-four guns.
On she came, the red cross of St.
George Haunting from her peak, until
she was within nearly a mile of the
schooner, when she fired a shot from
one of her bow guns.
"Show them our colors and name!'
cried the young captain, while his pale
face flushed with smile of terrible joy.
1t was done in an instant; but the ves-
sells head had not changed, nor sail
touched.
Rapidly the Englishman closed up,
heading a little to leeward, so as to
range her larboard beam.
Crouch well behind the bulwarks,
men; stand by your larboard guns, but
40 no touch a match until the order