Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-09-06

making great exertions to get off from
some hidden rock upon which they had
struck
For few moments the Polly" brave
ly headed up against the wind, by the aid
of her back-winged foresail jib, 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 il there were two long
logging poles, with iron pixies at the end,
on board, and in moment, they were
got over the larboard bow in which di-
rection 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, it ad-
ded another evidence of the supposed ca =
lamity.
II thought So" exclaimed Capt.
Wait, as he rubbed his hands in high
glce; there goes the Englishman's top
sail to The mast. Stand by to slip that
cable the moment | give the order. Get
those two big rocks out of the boat, and
lay 'em down under the quarter-rail."
The Yankees supposition had proved
correct, for no sooner had the schooner
come into the wind, heeled over the star. &.
board, and laid perfectly immovable be-
fore the fresh breeze than the English Of
icer naturally supposed that she had run
upon 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 off for the unfortunate schooner.
Lift that heaviest rock on the rail, ="
said Capt. Wait as the boat approached
the schooners larboard quarter
A block Of granite weighing some eighty
pouuds-a regular down-east 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 distin city
the nature of these minor movements on
the part of the Yankees.
Halo, 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 a perfect fury of passion and
chagrin. "But if hadn't run on to this
cussed rock Ill be blassed ef yeou'd ever
have ketched us, you thunderin old
Britisher.'
We'll" returned the officer with
laugh, Il am sorry for you, but we've
got YOU now, certain. Stand by with
the boat hook, forward"
The man with the boat-hook never
obeycd that order, for hardly had the
words escaped the officers mouth when
-plump-smash came the heavy rock
tearing and crushing through the bottom
of the boat.
LET go that cable !" shouted Capt.
Wait as he showed the helm hard star
board. Haul over the jib. That's it,
now ease off the fore and main sheets.
The schooner paid off in an instant,
and with a good full sail she darted off
under cover Of two small islands, that
stand between the Cape and Seguin, and
which protected her from the guns of the
brig.
The last that our Yankee crew saw Of
the boat that had been sent after them,
was just as she swamped, with the fran
tic men still clinging to her sides, and in
a moment more another boat came to her
assistance. The gloom, howetver, shut
out further observation, and whether the
Englishmen were any Of them drowned,
our heroes never knew. All they knew
was, that their clipper schooner got safely
out to sea. and that they had caught
THE Englishman at Fault "a. Z.
Bmdick.