The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
"STRANGE FISH"
BY J. FREDERIC THORNE.
hTIELLO. Frank, you're just the fell
low want to see! Will you come
Essszss

hIIELLO. Frank, you're just the fel-
low want to see! Will you come
for II sail?"
Yes; certainly"
"All right. will go down and get
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 1.-The
Hook" 1t was bright. beautiful
morning, in the summer of 1775, that
these two boys of Elizabethport, N. 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
wards 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 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,
and 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"
I'VE may, but | 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
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 somethin 6
about the continentals from us"
well. they wouldn't learn anything
| from me. I'd let 'em cut off 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
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
that she deserved their boast. They
had passed through the Narrows, and
were rapidly nearing Sandy Hook.
Il hear that George has got a new
Look there! A British h'ship!"
| "Where?"
"Over there"
"Sure enough!"
II wonder if she's man-of-war?"
II 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 sec
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
rigged 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 man-of-war.
AS they came near they were hailed by
a sailor:
Boat ahoy!"
"Ahoy!"
Come up alongside"
What do you think, Frank-shall
we?"
"Yes, we might as we'll. 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
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 New
York, is he not?"
"Yes, SIR"
"Will you deliver letter to him for
me?"
There was a 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 a
good dinner. Here it is-catch It'll"
The officer threw down a sealed let
ter. which Walter deftly 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 it, turned
it over and reread the superscription:
ITO Gen. Sir Henry Clinton.
Governor, ETC.. of New York
I'm the American Colonies"
Frank. I'll wager you anything that
that is provision ship for the British
troops!"
what makes you think so?"
Didn't you hear that officer say that
Gov. Clinton would be glad to get this,
as he liked good dinner?"
YES"
We'll. he wouldn't be likely to ac-