Willmar tribune., 1899-06-21
CHAPTER II.
ALIAS CAPT. LOUNSBuRY

CHAPTER II.
ALIAS CAPT. LOUNSBURY.
Now the headsails being let 20 with a run
and hanging loose over the bow, the foresail
and its travelling blocks giving out deaf.
ening protest against its slack sheet. the
mainsail joining in the laundering Chorus,
and the wheel jerking violently hither and
thither with the kick of the rudder, we were
sufficiently beyond the usual order of things
to suit my purpose, and my trump card, in
the shape of dead man lying in the soup.
per, lay clear to the eye of anyone who might
board us. The sight was uncanny enough,
and my instinct was to have the negro heave
the body over board; but, as it was to be a
silent witness to the story was about to
tell, [ let it bide, though, as the sequel
showed, 'twould have saved me sight of
trouble to have followed my first impulse.
confess that my heartbeats took on addi-
tional force and frequency as stood and
watched the schooner's nearer approach
She came on to within easy gunshot and
swung into the wind, all of a flutter from
stem to stern, and then "lay to" with her
headsails full aback. From the scarlet flag
at her peak to her clean cutwater she was
an object of beauty, though in light air I
doubt she would have slid her keel through
the brine with greater speed than would the
Phantom, which had been built for fleet
ness and rapidity in stays.
With my wits by this time we'll about me,
and my wounds bleeding but little las was
shown by the few drops that now dr,pped
from my fingers ends), stood by the helm
and took in every detail of the enemy, from
the crowd at her davits to the long brass
piece forward of the foremast, the gun being
trained point blank at me.
The stranger worked with the alacrity of
a man-of-war, for the schooner had barely
lost her way when I saw boat drop from
her larboard quarter and pull toward rs,
while another came around her bow and fol-
lowed. They were both filled with well.
armed men, as could be seen by the glitter
of musketry, and the way they came over
the whitecaps showed their temper. It
showed temper, too, in the smart manner
they boarded me, the first boat hooking on
to the main channels thc.imen clambering
out with scarcely shout and no questions,
and in a twinkling l behe]d half a score of
them on my deck, they, | fancy, being
nightly surprised at having met with no re-
slstance.
The crisis was now at hand, and played
my first card with something of the dcspera-
tion of a ruined gambler. Striding up to an
officer whom l saw coming aft with bare
sword in hand, said:
'Ye show scant courtesy in boarding me,
Sir Had you turned up an hour agone,
'twould have been to some purpose"
"Who in hi are you? Where's the car-
tain of this ship?" was the excited rejoinder.
Now there was something about the tone
OF his voice, the way of calling schooner a
ship. as well as the getup of the man him.
self, that, angered as | was at his reply, made
me back a pace and look at him. A quick
glance showed me I was not dealing with
man bred to the sea, much less to the regu-
lar service, for. though I then had small
knowledge of the uniforms of the British,
knew that which graced the back of the off
Ger before me was not OF his ma1estys navy.
| knew it by it's cut and garniture, and the
land flavor of the man lay also in the fact
that he wore forage cap and carried a cav
airy saber instead of cutass. His face, too
lacked the true sea tan, its fair complexion
showing the effects of unusual exposure to
sun and wind. What his rank might be
had no idea, and speculation was lost in the
quick retort that naturally rose to my lips.
"Who are you, sir, to tumble aboard a
prize of his majesty's in this fashion? Ye
stand in need of lesson in marine manners
as well as marine matters Do ye hope tc
hatch cover, or of man by the cut of his
jib? Think not to deceive yourself or me!
/ know my rights, and also know the differ
ence betwixt the cry of a sea bird and hen.
hawk!"
If had any doubt as to the official posi-
tion of the officer, it was set at rest by the
subdued laugh that came from the group
about us. Piqued by the sound of mirth
| from those he had no power to punish, his
face turned to an ug y red, and, lifting his
saber as though to cut me down, he shouted:
"You insolent dog! will make you sweat
for this! Lay hold of him, some of you!
| Tie the villain up! Damnation! are you al
cowards?" he continued, as there was
shuttle of feet, though no one approached me
There is no telling what might have beer
the upshot of this dispute had there beer
no interruption, for the fellow seemed deter
mined to use his saber on me. But, fortu
nately for one of us, we were joined by an
other officer, whom afterWard found hat
come from the second boat.
| 'Hold hard, Scammell! You are no
handling one of your own Dragons! Wha
is this all about? You fly the signal of
prize, sir" he continued, turning to me
show comes it you are alone? Who ant
what are you?'
II am Captain Jack Lounsbury, bearinl
instructions from Sir Henry Clinton, as tha
cockatrice might have found ere this hat
he used smooth tongue. This is my priz
"a Yankee schooner laden with lead TO
New London, and taken by me single-hand
ed. There lies her skipper, and all but on
Of her crew are overheard" And with thi
pointed to the body of my mate.
had hardly spoken when two marine
came aft with the negro Stole betwixt them
He was trembling like sail in the wind
and hung his head as though he had los
all strength to lift it. was looking for a,
exposure on the instant, but the Office
waved them back with motion. There wa
an unspoken but plainly shown respect fo
me in the demeanor of the crowd as it s?reat
away. The two officers stood for momen
in 5undisguised wonder at the recital of m,
prowess, giving alternate glances at the bod.
and myself, and then the last conner, VIII
was plainly the one in authority, spoke.
"'You alone did this? By st. George
Scammell, you came near getting into
mess! I promised to show you a sea scrim
mage, but not the, kind you were Matching