Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-09-09
"STRhNGE FISH,"
BY J. FREDERIC THoRHE.
ELLO, Frank, you're just the fell
low want to see! Will you come


the Seagull ready"
Frank Haughton and his chum Wal
ter Laurence were skillful sailors, and
had spent many an hour in Walters
little sloop Seagull, sailing around the
bay, even, at times, going as far as "the
Hook 1t was a bright, beautiful
morning, in the summer of 1775, that
these two boys of Elizabethport, N. j.,
aStarted upon their sail.
Walter hoisted the jib and fastened
the halyard just as Frank pulled the
sRnchor inboard; then, as the head of
the boat swung around into the wind,
both boys grasped the mainsail hal
yards and soon had the sail spread to
the wind.
The sails bellied out, and, with Wal
ter at the helm and Frank tending the
sheets, the Seagull heeled over under
the strong breeze and went slImming
along, speedily emerging from Raritan
bay and rounding the upper end of
Staten Island. The boys then came
Gabout and pointed for the Narrows.
Let's run down to the Hook"
'All right; we've got plenty of time,
sand this is splendid breeze; 'twon't
take us more than about two hours, GO
ing at this rate"
I'VE may see some British ships"
1--WE may, but I hardly think it is
likely none have been reported
George Trevers, whose father, you
know, is one of the committee of safety,
told me that his father said at dinner
last night that nothing had been seen
eor heard of any British ships for some
time
I'D like to see one, wouldn't you?"
'Oh, yes; unless they capture u.s."
why should they do that?'
''rhey might try 10 find out something
about the continentals from u.s.
well, they wouldn't learn anything
from me. I'd let 'em cut of my head
first"
They would have hard time, MAX
ing me tell anything"
The boys continued discussing what
they would and would not do in the
~eyent of their being taken prisoners by
the British. Meanwhile the Seagull,
which the boys declared was the fast
sest boat in New York harbor, was MAX
ing good use of her wings, and showing
that she deserved their boast They
had passed through the Narrows, and
were rapidly nearing Sandy Hook.
Il hear that George has got new
Look there A British Ship"
''Where?" .......
over there"
Sure enough"
Il wonder if she's a man-of-war?"
81 don't think So; she doesn't look
like one to me-"
she's taking in SAIL
There goes her anchor"
Lets run down close enough to see
what she is"
''All right"
A turn of the tiller, and the nose of
the Seagull was pointed in toward the
Jersey shore, where large, square
rugged ship, flying the easily recog-
nizable Union Jack" of England, was
@anchoring.
The boys ran up quite close, and soon
saw that she was not a man-of-war.
AS they came near they were hailed by
IA sailor:
Boat ahoy!"
"Ahoy!"
Come up alongside"
What do you think, Frank-shall
WEI"
Eyes, we might as well. / don't
think they will touch u.s.
The boys accordingly sailed up near
the ship, and dropped their mainsail.
This time an officer leaned over the
aside and asked:
Where are you from?"
"Elizabethport, sir"
where is that?"
I'm New Jersey"
Near New York;"
"Yes, sir"
"Are those rebels whipped yet?"
"Not yet, sir"
"Gov. Sir Henry Clinton is in New
York, is he mote"
Yes, sir"
me?"
There was moments hesitation up
ON the part of Walter, who was acting
AS spokesman, and then he answered:
"Yes, sir; I'll take it,"
THANK you, my boys. He will be
very glad to get it, as he's fond of
good dinner. Here it is-catch it,"
The officer threw down sealed let
ter, which Walter deity caught.
'Now, don't lose it,
We'll be very careful, sir"
The boys hoisted their sail again and
put about, returning the officers wave
of the hand.
Neither spoke until they were quite
some distance from the ship. Then
Walter, taking the letter from his
pocket, where he had placed il, turned
it over and reread the superscription:
"To Gen. Sir Henry Clinton,
Governor, etc., of New York
I'm the American Colonies"
Prank, I'll wager you anything that
that is provision ship for the + itish
troops!"
what makes you think so?"