The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24

I
with the swords it was Il much more
difficult matter. Finally they con-
e!uded to put them inside their shirts
and down The legs oi G,hei' brecches.
This made walking rather awkward,
but the boys hoped to escape detection.
and in the eXcitel@ent cf the prepara-
tons they did 20. AS they lay in the
dark hatchway they fairly tremb.ed
with suppressed excitement, and in
fact. the older members of the little
bard were not toe se.f-possessed.
1t was nearly t'usk when sailor on
board the Deelh3urd sang out:
-Four boats On the sta'board bow,
sir!"
what are tAeT?"
Look Ike fishing craft, SIR"
''Many mem?"
1.-Two in ca;h boat, sir
"How are they headed?"
This way. sir
Good! Hail them when they are
Gear enough. and tell them to come
Alongside I'd not mind a mess of fresh
fish"
"Ay. ay. sir"
The four boats drew slowly nearer,
and. upon being hailed by the sailor.
they ranged along the side of the ship.
The officer before mentioned hailed
the man at the bow-oar Of the leading
boat with:
What have you there, my man?"
"Strange fish for you, SIR"
whats that?"
Fresh fish, SIR
Send some on board"
II will that, sir-more than you'll
like"
What say you?"
It'll send as many as you want, SIR"
"A!l right; send them a,ong."
The supposed fisherman then turned
unnecessarily loud:
Get out the fish"
This was the agreed signal, and the
words had no sooL.r left his lips than
the matches were burst open and the
armed Americans swarmed up the sides
of the ship.
Capt. Henderson had given sur
prised shout at this catch of what were
indeed strange fish" and they were far
more than he liked"
His shout and the sight of the climb
ing Americans aroused the crew of the
Deerhound. They sprang for their
arms and, what was not an altogether
Pleasant surprise to the Americans,
were joined by company of soldiers,
who came pouring up from below, guns
in hand. This put the numbers in favor
of the British, but the Americans hesi-
tatcd net a moment.
Frank had sprung for and grasped
the anchor-chain. up which he went,
followed by Walter. their swords be-
tween their teeth. and the pistols stuck
in their Wristbands. AS Frank leaped
down from the buwarks his foot
caught. and he fell head.ong on the
deck. One of the soldiers sprang for
ward and in another moment would
have run him through withhis bayonet.
but Walter was right behind his chuln.
He had one leg over the side of the ship.
when he saw the soldier spring at
Frank. Walter whipped the pistol out,
and, hardly waiting to aim. fired. and
had the satisfaction of seeing the man
fall when he was within a foot of Frank.
Frank was on his feet again in a min
ute; he grasped his friends hand for a
second, without speaking, and then
the two boys dashed into the fray. In
few minutes from the first shout, the
deck of the ship was the scene of hot
ard fierce fight.
The Americans were forward, led by
Mr.. Trevers, while the British sailors
ard soldiers were massed just abaft the
mainmast. There was not much time
for any formation. as the fight began
when the first American put his foot on
deck. 1t was shoot. cut. slash and
stumble. Dack and forth across the
deck ragged the conflict; at one time it
seemed as though the Americans would
be driven dack to their boats. but they
were rallied by the cry of: Remember
Lexington!"
| From then, on the British were driven
slowly but surely back. The two boys
played their parts manfully, more than
once saving each others life.
Tine conflict. though sharp, was short;
there was a final rush on the part of the
Americans. and then. less than ha.f an
hour from the time the first shot was
fired, the Americans were in full pos
session of the ship. with the defeated
British prisoners. They had been taken
completely by surprise, and lost nearly
so men, while the American loss was
but four killed and half-a-dozen
wounded The captors manned the
Deerhound and sailed her up to Eiiz-
abethport, where her cargo was landed
amid the cheers of the whole town, who
| crowded the SjL ore
Frank and Waiter were the heroes of |
the day, and the objects of envy OF every |
other boy in town.
So Gov. Clinton was deprived of some
good dinners by two boys, and it be-
came a catch word in Eliza ethport,
when asked what one had. to reply:
"Strange fish," - Lesiie's Popular
Monthly.
500 Dollars Reward $l00.
The readers of this paper will be pleased .
to learn that here is at least one Dire AIDED