The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-08-25
the wharf at which the schooner was Sc
cured, 81 am going out"
|

81 am going out"
"But that English brig is out there yet,
darn her pictur," returned Springer.
Capt. Wait seldom SWOre, but on the
present occasion he could not help it, for
he distinctly uttered a pretty round oath
IN connection with said brig, and then
continued
"lve got an idea, and it may get us out
in safety: but nevertheless out / go, at
all events"
"WeI," returned Springer, ''if the Old
Polly goes shall 90 with her"
-Four men and the cook composed the
schooner's crew, exclusive OF the two of
ficers, and they readily agreed to stick by
the old "P0lly," as long as her timbers
held together
Capt. Wait went on shore and procured
an old anchor and cable, which he carried
on board the schooner, and deposited near
the StarbOard quarter, securing the end
OF the cable to the large quarter elect, and
placing the anchor so that it could be
easily tumblcd overheard.
About an hour before sundown, just as
the tide began to ebb, Capt. Wait cast
off his shore fasts, and with a good fresh
he spread his sails and started off down
the river Together with the assistance
of the tide and wind the Polly was not
over an hour in making the mouth of the
river, and, just to the eastward Of Seguin,
she cspicd the English brig standing in.
The Englishman noticed the Yankee
as soon as she hove in sight, and keeping
away to the westward she evidently in
tended to cut her Oft. CroWding as close
upon the wind as possible, Capt Wait
ran his schooner for Cape Small Point,
the immediate vicinity Of which, from the
number of large black rocks that 0rna-
ment the water bear anything but an
agreeable aspect to the Stranger, but
nevertheless, some Of the coasters can
very safely wend their way among them.
As the Island of Seguin happened to
be somewhat in the way Of the brig, she
had been forced to tack twice, III order
to get upon 4 direct chase, and conse-
quently the schooner had the weather
gage. The latter vessel had already
reached the rocks, and, just as the brig
came sweeping around the island, our
Yankee captain had prepared everything
for bis manWuyre The schooner was
now heading nearly south, and, Of course
her larboard side was towards the Eng
liShman, While the latter was heading dl-
rectly for her, Oh the larboard tack.
"IWont do to stand on much longer"
said Springer, as he worked hard to keep
the schooner just on shver.
"a few minutes longer returned Capt.
Wait '.The brig won't fire till she gets
Il, I INF, lDt
shoal water ahead, where we can have
plenty Of sea room, for when ! square
away want clear sea-
Five minutes more passed away, during
which time the schooner had reached the
clear water alluded to, while the brig had
been gradually opening her starboard
battery.
"Now, stand By, boys" exclaimed
Capt. Wait, as he cast an anxious look
towards the Englishman'Sgu 'I-et her
come up.
In an instant the Polly came into the
wind, and as her sails began to flap and
tiutter, but before headWay was wholly
checked, the old anchor was dropped
overheard from the starboard quarter
and a dozen heavy water casks We're in
oldllllN IOllcu Ohcl vi luC ottlllC oltic'
which gave her quite heel to starboard
"Schooner ahoy y shouted an officer
from the Englishman.
"Blast the CuSSed rocks :" rOarcd Capt
Wait, springing to the helm just as the
short cable tautened and brought the
schooner up. "Jump to those head
sheets. Haul over the starboard jill
sheet, quick. Catch hold Of the larboard
fore Sheet, and haul it taut."
The order was quickly obeyed, and the
result answered a twotold purpose 1t
not only served t. keep the schooner's
head to wind, but it also appeared to the
Englishman as though the Yankees were
making great eXertions to get Oft from
some hidden rock upon which theT had
struck
For a few moments the Polly braVely
headed up against the wind, by the aid
of her back winged foresail jill, but the
force of the anchor coming upon the
quarter, it was evident that she must
soon swing round unless some eXpedient
could be adopted by which to prevent it.
AS fortune would have it there were two
long logging poles, with iron pixies at the
end, on board and in a moment, they
We're got over the larboard bow in which
direction the schooner inclined. This,
again, answered two purposes, fOr as the
water was shoal, the poles easily held the
schooner in her position, While, to the
eyes of the astOnished Englishman, il
| added another evidence Of the supposed
calamity.
II thought So" exclaimed Capt. Wait,
No ,bo1 l,ic hands IN, l,irl1 y1aa
"there goes the Englishnan's topsail tC
the mast. Stand by to slip that cable
the moment | give the order. Get those
two big rocks out Of the boat, and lay 'en
down under the quarter-rail."
The Yankees supposition mad proved
correct, for no sooner mad the schooner
come into the wind, heeled over to the
Starboard, and laid perfectly immovabe
before the fresh breeze than the English
officer naturally supposed that she had
run upon i rock, and instead Of running
their own brig in the same danger they
hove to-, and lowered boat, into which
some fifteen men Immediately descended
and put oft for the unfortunate schooner.
.Litt that heaviest rock on to the rail, y
said Capt. Wait, as the boat approached
the schooncrs larboard quarter.
A block of granite weighing some eighty
pounds-a regular down-ea boulder
was lifted to the rail, and two Of the men
stood by to throw it overheard. 1t was
now quite dusky, so that those in the ap-
preaching boat could not see distinctly
the nature of these minor movements on
the part Of the Yankees.
"Hallo, Jonathan! got into bad
scrape, haven't you ?" hailed the officer
of the boat, as she began to round under
the quarter.
"Darn it all yes, roared Captain Wait
in perfect fury Of passion and chagrin
"But if hadn't run onto this cussed rock
I'll be blassed ef yeou'd ever ave ketched
US you thunderin' old Britisher."
"Well," returned the officer, with a
laugh, 81 am sorry for you, but we've
got you now, certain. Stand by with the
oathook, forward"
The man with the boat hook never
DhpVp1 thnt or1pr for hardly had tha