Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-11-18

or shorten sail.
"What about our colors, sir?" asked
the Lieutenant.
"You can run em up in rolls to their
places, ready to pull when 1 order it,
Mr.. Doolittle,' said tho Captain, still
keeping his glass directed toward the APP
proaehing ships.
The enemy wore now rising fast, not
more than :our or figs miles off; bntthe
merchantmen, obeying signals from the
sloop-of. war, which had evidently dis
covered the nationality of the schooner
by her rig, hauled on wind and short
ened sail, whila theman-of-war held her
course under a eioRd Of canvas.
"Tuke your stations for working
,liip!" cried Seawaif. The men bound
d to the sheets and braces. lizard up
the helm-ease off the sheets, and round
N the weather braces!" cried the Capt
sin.
"Tarnal thunder you're not going to
nm from one sloop-of-war, are you,
ir ?" asked the Lieutenant, in agonized
wonder.
"Get out and rig two spars, with iron
enough in them 20 sink them, for drags (;
lrIp one over each quarter, and ask no
mprltinrht questions, Mr.. Doolittle,
ail Che Captain, quietly.
Il leg Your pardon. sir, hundred
n's Thought you wsls gong to
Va" sail the nnw-d.ligltcd officer, a.
ha,'.nrl ~ obey tile order.
Double-shot with grape and canis-
ter-gunners TO your stations r cried
the Captain, now determinedly. "Men,
make no noise when / announce it,
but within an hour that sloop- of. war
shall strike her flag, or Wen go down
with our colors flying. When she is
taken, the merchantmen will be easy
prizes"
Had they not been cautioned, the
men would have cheered SO loudly as
to be heard on board OF the sloop-of
war.
After the drags were rugged ant
lowered over the side, held by stou
hawsers, and not seen because sunk be
meath the water, the schooner did no
60 more than three knots, although
under full spread Of canvas--sh,
seemed to be running away from he
antagonist, which now could be seel
coming up, hand over hand, her deck
crowded with men, and her ports show
ing a battery Of twenty.four guns.
On she came, the red cross of at
George Haunting from her peak, unit
she was within nearly mile of tip
schooner, when she fired o shot from on
of her bow guns.
"Show them our colors and name +!
cried the young Captain, while his pal
face flushed with smile Of terrible Joy
1t was done In on instant but the yes
sells head was not changed, nor So
touched.
Rapidly the Engiishman closed uf
heading little to leeward, so as to rang
under her larboard beam,
"Crouch well behind the bulwarki
men stand by your larboard guns, bu
do not touch o match until tho orde
comes from my lips depress your gam
SO as to take her between wind and watel
Sail-trimmers, stand to your sheets an
braces, and be ready for orders"
These orders given, Capt. eeawa
took his position on the larboard side
the quarterback, and with ill-conceale
delight saw the Englishman range alor
until he was almost abeam.
"Haul down your colors, or I'll Sir
you Strike, you Yankee rebel, strike
shouted the English Captain, who stoC
on the poop Of his vessel IN full III
form, steadying himself by holding {
} to the mizzen rigging.
: "Tm just going to strike-not my CT
, ors, but you " cried Seawaif, sarcasti
! ally, and instantly giving the order
pour in his whole broadside.
1t was doue with terrible effect, I
the British had not anticipated resi-
! ance from rebel whom they suppos
: to be using his best efforts to escar
. and were hpddled along the deck on Z
side next the schooner, and were
!, down in fearful swaths, And, AZ q
sails were little injured, the sloop of-w
= shot ahead, so that she was past t
schooner before she could return t
broadside.
"Cut away the drags, spring to 20
starboard batterY-throw in chain-sl