Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-07-15

1cA uSA anu OOy iOE tuiS HUI
schooner, and such fine-looking men
too |" exclaimed he. "Well, my brav
fellows, your vessel is seized as Lawful
prize, and if had my way I'd drai
every man of you aboard my ship as
British seaman ; as it is, you'll be sen
ashore at the nearest point of your owl
beggarly coast. OF course one of yo1
has got to go to the provinces with tn
prize to condemn her, but he'll find
passage back easily. Which man vii
you recommend ?"
He turned to Captain Folger as h,
spoke, he having been put forward &
receive the enemy by tacit consent, ant
he, gravely looking over the bronzet
faces before him, replied
Well, sir, don't know. Most o
us have families and business, you see
and it would be hard for us to make {
trip to Halifax just now, but there's oul
man Dan, if he'd do. He's simple
sort of a fellow, mighty little help aboard
ship, but he can cook tolerably, and dc
odd jobs as he's told. If he'd do, now
"Oh, yes, he'd do well enough.
Where is hep" replied the lieutenant
hastily, for, truth to tell, the shifting
corn had careened the Nine Captains to
a very dangerous angle, and he was in
haste to regain his own boat.
lyon, Dan Where are you, man p
cried Folger, as carelessly as he could,
and Russell, slouching forward with his
hands in his pockets, his shoulders
rounded over, and as shiftless an air as
possible all over him, replied:
Here | am, cap'n. l don't want to
go to Halifax"
"Oh, yes, you do, Dan. You've got
nobody to cry if you never come back,
and your place amt hard to fill," re.
piled Folger, a suspicious twinkle in his
merry eyes. "He'll do as we'll as bet
ter man, captain"
But the lieutenant was no fool, and
his stern eyes had already noted the
splendid proportions. well strung mus
cles and iron jaws of the proposed host
age, which not all Russell's assumed
simplicity could make his face that Of a
fool or coward.
"H'm / don't like the looks of your
man Dan, Captain Folger," said the
lieutenant grimly. "You say he'll do
as well as better man, but don't see
better man here, and if | sent your
man Dan aboard my prize / have a
queer sort of suspicion she'd never see
Halifax. No, sir, Dan won't do; but
there's fellow that will, and nodding
towards Dunham, the cook, the officer
added
That's the man who's going to Hall
fax, and as for the rest of you, bundle
into tnat boat as quick as you've a mind
to, and I'll leave four of my own men
aboard and send gang to shift that
corn, il it is to be DONE"
az believe it's law for us to take our
personal property, captain. suggested
Folger, swallowing his disappointment
as well as he could, and looking around
on his comrades.
Eyes, your clothes and money; rouse
out your KITS, sharp, replied the lien
tenant gruffiy, as he glanced over the
side.
"Ive got two or three little matters
aboard for my wife, cap'n," began Rus
sell, amiably. ga warming-pan and a
coffee mill, and Holy"
sect your coffee-mill and holy and
go to glory with em, you villain, said
the officer, half laughing in spite of
and casting longing eye over
Russell's active figure. "Td like to
rate you as A. B. aboard ship, that's S
all. ;"
"Thanky, cap'n, but I'd about as lief
sail my own ship" retorted Dan, diving
down the compan ion way.
"His own ship? What does he
mean ?" demanded the lieutenant, un-
easily.
"Oh, it's only some of his nonsense,
replied Folger, carelessly. "There' S
that tub of blue fish, cap'n; they are
personal property, l reckon. No part
of the schooner's cargo, anyway. Want
to trade for 'em, or let your men
trade ?"
Trade? Why, they are ours al
ready, man," replied the officer, cycling
the lively fare greedily. "Just caught,
eh ?"
I" Yes, SIR; just caught, and as you
won't trade, Ill fling 'em overheard
again" said Folger, going toward them.
" For we Yankees know the law certain
in maritime matters, and these fish do
not go with the craft, or there'll he a
fuss"
What'll you take for them ?" de-
manded the lieutenant, dryly, for he
knew that the Yankee captain spoke the
truth.
"Five sovereigns, captain, not a
penny less. Ships stores you'll rate
'em, you know. 1t isn't your expense. u
Schooner's keeling over more, sir, u
reported the boatswain, touching his
cap.
"And so she is. You'll get your five
sovereigns as soon as we reach the
Wash, Captain Folger. All hands
aboard the boat !"
Captain Folger solemnly winked al
Captain Coffin, Macy poked Captain
Mitchell in the ribs, Captain Gardner
thrust his tongue in his cheek to Cap,
tain Tom, and Captains Coleman, Hus
sey and Ray grinned delightedly at each
other. Twenty-Five dollars for that tut
of bluefish gave them more satisfaction
than the loss of their schooner de
pressed them.
Late that evening tie Wasp landed
her dangerous prisoners on the shore ol
Block Island, the British lieutenan
drawing his first full breath as his boa
returned safely to the brigantine's side
eff those nine fellows had staiC
aboard the Wasp over night, 1 believ'
they'd have taken her bare-handed,
said he to the masters mate standing
beside him, who gruffiy responded
Shouldn't wonder, sir, special,