Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-01-16

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At this all the Frenchmen came running
and crying 10 knOw rhdt Uds the matter.
impossible 70 work the pump forward
Toward I in the morning old Jacka
was rolling about up to his waist as he
sat and trying to comfort himself by
singing Though troubles assail. when
TIE young French gentleman came run
ming with one Of his Johnnies and
knocked the irons of the English boys
and told them to be brisk and help work
the pumps or the lugger-that was al
ready hove to-would go down under
them.
"But where be you going," he sings
ont, or French to that effect, for Jacka
was moving aft toward the cuddy
there.
Jacka fetched up his best smuggling
French and answered: "This here lug
ger Is going down. Any fool can see
that. as you're handling her. And I'm
going down on a full stomach.
With that he reached an arm into
the cuddy, where he'd stacked his pro-
visions that evening on top of the fry
ing pan. But the laboring Of the ship
had Knocked everything there Of heap,
and instead Of the frying pan he caught
hold of his wife's cinder sitter.
At that moment the Frenchman ran
MP behind and caught him q kick.
"Come out Of that. you old villain, and
fall in at the after pump" said he.
Jaw, very well, said Jacka. turn
ing at once, for the cinder sitter had
given him Q bright idea. and he went
right aft to his comrades. BY this time
the Frenchmen were busy getting the
first gun overheard.
They were 80 long that Jacka's boys
had the after pump pretty well to
themselves, and between spells one or
two ran and fetched buckets, making
out twas for extra baling, and all
seemed to be working like niggersL But
by and by they called ont all together
with one woeful voice: 1.-The pump 10
chuckedl The pump Is chucked"
At this ali the Frenchmen came run.
ming. the young officer leading, and
crying to know what was the matter.
"A heap Of cinders got awasb, sir, "
said Jacka. 1.-THE pumps clogsed wi
'em and won't work"
"Then we're lost men!' says the
officer. and he caught hold by the fore
mast and leaned his face against it like
child.
This was Jacka's chance. Lost, Is
III Iss, reckon you be lost, and in vide
Of ten minutes. unless You hearken to
rayson. Here you be. not 90 mile from
the English coast, as / make 1t, and
with fair wind. Here you be three
times that distance and more from any
port Of your own, the wind dead on her
nose, and you ramstramming the weak
spot of her at sea that's knocking the
bows to Jericho Now. mossoO, you put
her about and run for Plymouth. She
may do it, Pitch over q couple Of guns
forr'ad and quit messing with q ship
you don't understand. and I'll warn she
will do it."
The young Frenchy was plucky as
ginger. "Whatl Take her into Plym-
outh and be made prisonerf I'll sink
frsti'' says he.
But, you zee, his crew weren't navy
men to listen to him and they had
wives and families and knew that Cap'n
Jacka's was their only chance. In five
minutes, for all the officers stamping
and morblewing they had the Bean
Pheasant about and were running for
the English coast.
Now I've got to 60 back and tell you
what was happening to the Unity in
all this while. About 4 in the afternoon
Cap'n Dick, not liking the look Of
the weather at all and knowing that 50
long a. Il lasted he might whistle for
prizes, changed his mind and deter
mined to run back to Polperro. 80 as to
reship Cap'n Jacka and the prize crew
almost as soon as they arrived. By 8
o'clock he was well on his way, the
Unity skipping along quite a. II she
enjoyed it, and ran before the gale all
that night.
Toward 8 in the morning the wind
moderated. and by 4:S0 the gale had
blown itself out Just about then the
lookout came to Cap'n Dick, who had
turned in for spell, and reported two
ships lights, one on each side Of them.
The chances against their being French
men out here in this part Of the chan
mel were about 3 to .. % Cap'n Dick
cracked on and at daybreak, about
B:l5, found himself right slap between
the very two frigates that had called
Jacks to halt the evening before
One was fetching along on the port
tack, and the other on tho weather side
Of him, just making ready TO put about
They both ran up the white ensign At
dght Of him. but this meant nothing,
and in Z few minutes the frigate TO
starboard Aired shot scross his bows
and hoisted her French dag.
Cap'n Dick feigned to take the hint
He shortened sail and rounded at
nice distance under the lee Of the
enemy, both frigates now lying toquite
contentedly with their sails aback and
lowering their boatA But the hfst boat