The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-09-17
"STRANGE FISH,"
BY FREDERIC Tn0RmE.
HITELLO, Frank, you're just the fell
low | want to see. Will you come

10 /
.All right. / will go down and get
the Seagull ready"
Frank Haughton and his chum wal
or Laurence were skillful sailors, and
had spent many an hour in Walters
little sloop Seagull. smiling around the
bay. even, at times, going as far as the
HOOK 1t was a bright, beautiful
morning, in the summer of 1175, that
these two boys of El~izabethport, \. j.,
started upon their sail.
Walter hoisted the jib and fastened
the halyard just as Frank pulled the
anchor 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 oellied out. and. with Wal
Ter at the helm and Frank tending the
sheets, the Seagull heeled over under
the strong breeze and went skimming
along. speedily emerging from Raritan
bay and rounding the upper end OF
Staten Island. The boys then came
about and pointed for the Narrows-
Lets run down to the Hook"
"All right; we've got plenty OF time,
md this is a splendid breeze; 'twon't
take MS more than about two hours, go
ing at this rate
I'VE NAV see some British ships"
1--WE may. but l hardly think ii Is
likely - none nave been reported.
George Trevers. whose father, you
know. is one of the committee of safety,
fold me that his father said at dinner
last night that nothing had been seen
or heard of any British ships for some
time"
I'D like to see one. wouldn't you?"
.Oh. yes: unless they capture us!"
"Why should they do that?'
"They might try 10 find out something
about the continentals from US
well. they wouldn't learn anything
from me. Id let 'em cut of my heac
first"
They would have a hard time max
ing me tell anything"
The bows continued discussing wha
they would and would not do in thu
event OF their being taken prisoners BY
the British. Meanwhile the Seagull
which the boys declared was the fast
est BOAT in New York harbor, was max
ing rood use of her wings. and showing
that She deserved their boast. The.
had passed through the Narrows. am
were rapidly nearing Sandy Hook.
Il hear that George has got a new
Look there, A British ship"
"Where?"
"Over here"
"Sure enough."
st ,.-,nIa- 10 cba.S n mar-0fyVar2"
81 don't think so; she doesn't loo
like one to me-"
"She's taking in SAIL
There goes her anchor
"Let's run down close enough to sc
what she is"
"All right"
A turn Of the tiller. and the nose {
The Seagull was pointed in toward II
Jersey shore. where a large, squar
rugged ship. flying the easily recos
nizable Union Jack of England, W;
anchoring.
The boys ran up quite close, and SOC
saw that she was not "A man-of-wa
As they came near they were hailed |
a sailor:
Boat ahoy."
"Ahoy."
'Come up alongside"
"What do you think, Frank-shs
we?~
Yes. we might as well. / dor
think they will touch us"
The boys accordingly sailed up ne
the ship. and dropped their mainsail.
This time an officer leaned over 4
side and asked:
Where are you from?"
"Elizabethport. sir"
"Where is that?"
"ln New jersey"
"Near New York;"
"Yes. sir"
"Are those rebels whipped yet?"
Not yet, SIR
"Gov. Sir Henry Clinton is in NJ
York. is he not?"
Yes, sir"
"will you deliver a letter to him
me-"
There was a moments hesitation
on the part of Walter, who was acti
as spokesman. and then he answers
Yes, sir;Ill take IT,"
Thank you, my boys. He will
very glad to get il, as he's fond o
good dinner. Here it is-catch It.
The officer threw down a sealed
ter. which Walter deity caught.
Now. don't lose it,"
We'll be very careful, sir"
The boys hoisted their sail again q
put about. returning the officers WI
Of the hand.
Neither spoke until they were qr
some distance from the ship. III
Walter, taking the letter from
pocket, where he had placed il. turl
~ over and reread the superscripti
10 Gen. Sir Henry Clinton.
Governor. etc, of New York
In the American Colonies.
Frank, I'll wager you anything {
mat Isl provision ship for the Brit
troops!"
what makes you think SOP"
Didn't YOU hear that officer say I