Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1889-09-25

At THE POINT OF THEIR BAYoNETs.
with his Lieutenant, and seemed to bt
uneasy. At length, having run for {
dozen miles upon his first course, he
concluded to tack ship. the wind no,
suffering him to stand directly for the
English Channel.
Our topsail had scarcely done shiv.
ering as the vessel filed away upon
the new tack, when, looking toward
the Rebecca, we saw that she also wal
in the very act of going about.
"We could not hear what Captain
Downs said, but that his attention was
wholly fixed upon his singular pursuer
was very evident. Both himself and
the Lieutenant gazed ct her through
their glasses, and apparently made her
the subject Of q very animated discus
sion.
"On the following night it was al
most calm. The Rebecca, however,
fell upon . stronger current of air than
ourselves, and in the morning had got
ahead Of us.
"The English sailors, who by this
time had gathered a pretty correct idea
o. what was going on, talked of the
bully row there would be, should the
Yankee captain arrive at Portsmouth
before them, and report his vessel .
prize!
@The Falkirk's commander walked
the quarterback rapidly, often glanc-
ing in our direction, and, as we Judged.
ao viuu aouon<hsnv n1o 80 - - sc
GERS.
.For three days, with intervals Of
light breeze, Gains, and fogs, we con-
tinued near Chops of the Channel
the vessels changing more or less their
relative positions with the unsteady
puffs of air. yet never getting very far
from each other. And all this time
captain Downs seemed in . state Of
irritation.
@On the evening of the same day We
were once more decidedly ahead, and.
before morning, saw the steady beacon
from the lighthouse on the western
end of the Isle of Wight. We were
nearing the great naval anchorage ct
Spithead, between the island and the
main land, where the harbor of Ports
mouth is situated.
@As the day broke, . ship was OBJ
served off u quarter. Lighter and
lighter grew the sky, and more and
more familiar the appearance Of the
accompanying vessel.
"'Confound the miserable Yankeer
cried Captain Downs, at last out Of
patience, and grown terribly nervous
with his three or four days Of suspense.
Can it be that he really means to FOL
low me into port? I'd no idea the
would carry his contemplate folly to
this extentP
He had, indeed, good reason to feel
disturbed, for there, before his eyes.
and not two miles of, was the Rebecca.
bearing straight up for Spitbead.
mo doubt he thought Of the Board
OF Admiralty, the Court Of Kings
Bench, the interminable discussion II |
Parliament, and all the ~wearying COM
plications, both national and interna-
tional. which this vexatious matter in |
volved. And who could say how many
individual cases might be held up to |
the light, which would reflect little
credit IN his MaJesty's service, and
still less on the immediate actorsf
upon his own side he might plesd
the ~countenance Of immemorial cue-
tom; but would he not be conffOntol
with that broad construction of Ell
glish Law which il the guarantees al
personal liberty? And besides, would |
not tho Yankee Captain be a~bundantIy
able to prove the nativity Of the four
menf
Every moment We were eettine |
nearer 70 Portsmouth and Spithead; |
but 70. TOO, was the Rebeccs. Soon
the affair Of our -impressment would
be noised ove all England, and
thence borne to the ears Of our coun-
trymen Of home. Soon Captain Eddy
and the remainder Of his crew would
stand mp In the English courts, testi-
tying 70 the wrong that had bean
.ono us
Sour feelings were intense. We
ceased TO regret what had happened,
thoughtonly Of the noblssympathy
and ~resolute conduct Of our tsue-heart
Cd Captain. How wretched our condi-
ton hut for this.
s6tiu the Rsbecca came steadily
making what heAdway she could
with the light breeze. and almost hold
Ing hsE own with the Falkirk.
But suddenly Captain Downs stop
ped il his Agety wAlk.
s~Identsnant Vane.' 10 said, .ses
the brig brought 70 tn wind, and IL
laid aback
In : lsw minutes tn Falkirk was
lying moti0nlaas.
Now, continued ~ Captain, -
The outtsr called away. Put thoao
6onr Yankees into her. nd send IT,
sboAsd the shfpr Tkep, With ) sosry1
Ittompt 70 coyor ~ mc1tiAcaticn NJ
Punihly theee ~ been go
nis1At1. Ak III 1xoaNk ~ fellows
AGH6Kx ~ IHANSkxX