Middletown transcript., 1894-04-07

side Of the numerous wood warves,
and while Webb kept along up the
river to collect the men, Sam and Jerry
went on board the sloop to put things
in shape there. They saw that the
sails we're securely bent, the running
rigging in order, and that the deck
was clear from all needless cumbronce.
As soon as this was attended to.
Jerry Clarke went up to a high rise OF
land where be could see the and while
he kept watch there, Sam followed Mr..
Webb. Before dark all the men WebD
had engaged were collected together
and rowed out to the sloop, which had
been hauled out into the stream, to
avoid being left aground by the low ebb.
Each man had either good cutlas or
some weapon that answered the same
purpose, and most of them were sup
piled with pistols. Just at dusk the
sloop hoisted her anchor, and Mr.. WeDo
went on shore. There was large
crowd collected upon the rivers BANK
to see her off, and as her sails filled
and she began to move through the
water they gave three hearty cheers.
BY the time the sloop reached the Pool
it was fairly dark, and here dropped
her anchor again.
Sam Latham now called his men on
deck and informed them of his plans.
He knew nearly all of them, and he
knew them to be a brave set of fellows,
and after he had stated plainly just
what he intended to do, they approved
of his decision. and promised to stand
by him TO the last. He had no desire
to start out until nearly midnight, for
he wanted utter darkness to cover his
work.
About nine O'Clock, drizzly rain
set in and it was dark as Egypt. Not
star could be seen, nor was there the
least spot of relief in the black canopy
that hung over the earth. At ten
O'Clock the wind blew from the north
west and was quite fresh. The bon
net wa, taken from the jib. and the
mainsail leefed, and as the darkness
was as complete as could be desired,
the Yankee skipper resolved to get
underweigh. Accordingly the anchor
was run up once more, and sail made.
Latham steered by the compass, ard
he knew very nearly the direction IN
which the brig would be most likely to
be found. Lookouts were stationed
forward, and one man took up his
station on the end of the bowspit.
For over an hour the sloop stood out
nearly east. with the wind upon the
larboard quarter. The binnable light
| was so shaded that scarcely a ray
| could escape, only leaving an aperture
large enough for the helmsman to see
the compass. About half past eleven
the man on the bowspit reported that
he could see light ahead. Latham
sprang forward, and after gazing few
moments he made out the brigs light.
| He could see that she had lantern a.
the binnacle all are1,r At the fore
castle companion Her potts were
| open, and the rays of the lanterns were
cen through them. After watching
some minutes he decided that the
| Englishman was sanding to the
north ,rd, close hauled, and she was
now passing directly under the sloop's
fore-foot.
BY the manner in which she passed,
Latham knew that she had but very
little sail set, and he saw that he could
run her by the board as soon as he
pleased. The drizzling rain still con.
tinued, and the night was as black as
ever. The brig could not have been
over an eighth of mile distant, fol
even her light could not have been
seen through the thick darkness
further than that.
snow, my men," said Sam, as ht
came to the gangway, I'm going tt
run aboard of that fellow as soon as
can. He's standing up on the lar
board tack, and l can rnn him on thu
quarter in ten minutes. You thai
have the grapplings be sure and throw
them as soon as we touch, an6
mind that you throw them sure
too, for one mistake may ruin US. Il
we make miss the first time and fal
off, the Englishman'll have time tc
beat to quarters, and then we're don'
to. BY the time we're alongside, hel
lanterns will give US light enough t
see how to operate. Look out for you
arms, now, and RENE mber what you'v,
got to do. Step sure but step qu ick
Now look out sharp for my ORDERS"
"You may luff a couple Of points,
he said, as soon as he got the bris
fairly in sight. Round in little OF
the sheets. Steady. so.',
BY this time Sam could see the dart
forms of the men as they passed to and
fro by the ports, through which tht
rays of the lanterns came, and h
, distinc tly heard the orders of the office
who had charge of the deck. In a few
min utes more he could make out tn
line of the briggs MEETINGS, and he sav
J that he could strike now by luffin
: sharp up. Accordingly he passed th
, order in as low tone as possible. Th
sloop came up ha ndsomely.