The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-17


quarter deck. where they stood with
their hats off and their hair waving wildly
in the night air A well disciplined ships
crew look upon their captain with much
the same respect as does courtler upon
his king. save that if possible the former
is more profound, as is the authority OF
his superior more absolute.
MY lads" said the young commander,
addressing his attentive crew. most OF
YOU saw that strange sail we passed With
in the hour: do you know that nothing
save treachery could have placed that
vessel in the direct track of the Dolphln's
night courses?
at does look mighty 'spicious. you
honor" said an old seaman in the front
ranks of the crew, ''but shiver my TIM
bers if | believe we've got anybody
shipped aboard this ere craft but loves
the saucy Dolphin and your honor too
well to play them a scurvy trick.
There has been treachery, have said;
is there one Of my crew that can tell NE
its penalty aboard this ship"
death at the yardarm, sounded fIrosn
the deep cultural voices of the crew, who
shrunk beneath the piercing eye OF their
captain.
at is my duty" said he, "to watch
over your interests and my own with a
Jealous eye. l never deceive you, nay
men; the traitor shall receive his punish
ment, though pursue him to the foot Of
the throne. Enough; to your duty"
The hours passed on-the busy crew
had landed the cargo, and in the hands
q confidential agents it was soon hidden
from the most careful search of the rev.
enue officers.
The greatest danger was yet to be en-
countered. The cargo landed, the lugger
must again sail for the sheltering protec-
ton of the island, but the rising moon
now threw it's mellow and unwelcome
light-unwelcome at least to those on
board the Dolphin-across the heaving
swellso of the Irish sea.
Hardly had the lugger got under
weigh before the cruiser was again dis
covered lying midway between the En-
glish coast and the island; the course the
Dolphin steered, and in fact the only
route she could take, would bring her
in full view of the cruiser and within
range of her guns. The captain of the
Iugger viewed the dilemma with calm
and quiet countenance, giving his orders
in a tone that inspired those about him
with fresh courage The two vessels
were now fast approaching each other,
when a coarse hail came down across
the water from the sloop, "What vessel
is that?"
The captain of the lugger, knowing
that every moment he could gain in de-
lay was of the utmost importance in the
furtherance of his purpose to run the
gauntlet of the cruisers broadside, made
a mumbling and inaudible reply through
his trumpet, so that the query from the
sloop was put, ''Wh1t answer do you
maker
The breeze still fveshening drove the
lugger, with her vide spread canvas,
swiftly through tho water. She was al
ready nearly abreast of the cruiser,
which, having tackled. now stood On the
same course as her adversary.
"What vessel is that?" was the ques-
ton again put from the commander of
the sloop. to which he added. ANSWER,
or shall fire into you"
No reply being made to this hail, the
captain of the York, for so the cruiser
was called, ordered a shot fired into the
lugger, ito wake her up, as he observed;
the ball. passing through the white field
of the mainsail. struck the water far to
windward. The compliment was imme-
diately returned from a heavy gun amid
ships of the lugger, the ball of which.
aimed by the hands of the captain him
self, shot away the foretopmast Of the
York, which fell with all its hammer to
the deck A fierce broadside from the
cruiser followed this discharge. p>lking
sad havoc among the symmetrical zig CT
the Dolphin
The armament of the lugger consisted
of four small pieces of ordnance AND one
gun amidships. revolving upon pivot,
which was of supericE metal to Chat OF
any gun on board the York. From this
instrument of death the missiles of de.
struction were SO faithfully aimed that
already had the foremost of the cruiser
come numbering upon the deck, con-
founding the crew and greatly retarding
the means of defense. The York carried
sixteen guns with a complement of about
$50 men. She was now unable for several
moments to return the constant and de-
structive fire of the lugger, the week of
the foremost having fallen along the
larboard battery, being the side nearest
the Dolphin. Both vessels were 80 cut
up in their rigging as to make but little
Roadway, and were now rising ard fall
ing on swells of the sea within a few
yards of each other.
Several of the heavy shots from the
lugger had penetrated the York's side al
the water line, and large number of the
crew OF the latter vessel were piped to
the pumps, as the craft was fast making
large quaint es of water At this mo.
ment the eye of the smuggler captain
rested upon the person of one of his own
foremost men on board the enemy-the
truth flashed in moment across his
mind, the treachery was accounted for
and there stood the traitor. In an instant
the grapnel irons were ordered to be
thrown and the boarders piped to duty
few hasty words from the commander
of the Dolphin sufficed to inform his
followers that the traitor of the crew wal
on board the York, and, headed by uhei1
brave ana daring captain, the lugger's
men leapeo on the cruisers deck.
Secure the traitor and back with
you ALL" cried the captain, pointing
with one hand to the trembling villain
who had betrayed them, while with his