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


Unity was pinching up TO windward of
them. with Cap'n Dick at the helm
and all the rest OF the crew fat on their
stomschs. on she went under a rattling
shower from the enemy's bow chasers
and musketry and was out Of range
without man hurt and with no more
damage than hole or two In the miz-
zen Ing.
The Frenchmen were a good ten min
utes trimming sails and bracing their
yards For q chase, and by that time
Cap'n Dick had slanted mp well on their
weather bow. Before breakfast time he
was shaking his sides at the sight Of
seven hundred odd Johnnies vainly
spreading and trimming more canvas
to catch up their leeway, for at first
the lazy dogs had barely unreefed
courses after the gale and still had their
topgallant masts housed. Likely enough
they had work on hand more important
than chasing small lugger all day, for
at Z o'clock they gave up and stood
away to the southeast and left the
Unity free to head back homeward on
her old course.
Twas surprising feat to slip out Of
grasp in this way and past two broad
sides, any gun of which could have sent
him to the bottom, and Cap'n Dick
wasn't one to miss boasting over 1t.
Even during the chase he couldn't help
carrying on in his usual loud and
cheeky way, waving goodby to the
moesoos, Offering them tow rope and
the like, but now the deck wasn't big
enough to hold his swagger, and in
their JOY of escaping French prison
the men encouraged him, so that to
hear them talk you'd have thought he
was Admiral Nelson and Sir Sidney
Smith rolled into one.
By9 o'clock they made ont the Eddy
stone on their starboard bow, and a lit
tie after, the morning being bright and
clear. with a nice steady breeze, they
saw sail right ahead Of them making
in for Plymouth sound. And who
should it be but the old Bean Pheasant,
deep az a logl Cap'n Dick cracked
along after her, and picture she was
rs he drew mp closet Six Of her guns
had gone, her men were baling In two
gangs, and still she was down bit by
the head. and her stern yawing like q
terriers tail when his heads in a rab-
bit hole. And there at the tiller stood
Cap'n Jacka, his bald head shining like
a statue Of fun, and his one eye twin
king with blessed satisfaction as he
cooked it every now and then for
glance over his right shoulder.
''Hellol What's amissf" sang out
Cap'n Dick as the Unity fetched within
hail.
Jaw, nothing, nothing. Though trou-
bles assail and dangers -stiddy there,
you old angletwitch-she's bit too
fond Of smelling the wind, that's all"
As matter Of fact she d taken more
water over her quarters than Jacka
cared TO think about now that the dan
ger was over.
''But what brings zee here1 And what
cheer wi your" he asked.
This was Cap'n Dicks chance. "Tve
run between two French frigates,'
he boasted, ''in broad day and given the
slip to both"
Dear. nowl'' said Cap'n Jacka
$50 have lin broad day too. They
must ha' been the very same. What
did zee take out of 'emr"
"Takel They were two war frigates,
! tell eel"
"Iss, iss. Don't lose your temper.
All / managed to take was this young
French orcifer here. But | thought
maybe that you. having a handler
craft
Jacka chuckled bit, but he wasn't
one to keep joke going for spite.
''Look-y-here, cap'n, he said. IN
hear your tale when we get into dock,
and you shall hear mine. What / want
zee TO do just now is to take this here
lugger again and sail along into Plym-
outh with her as your prize l wants.
If possible, to spare the feelings Of this
young gentleman and make il look that
he was brought in by force. For so he
was, though not in the common way.
And l likes the fellow, too, though he do
kick terrible hard"
They do say that two days later when
Cap'n Jacka walked mp to his own door
he carried the cinder sitter under his
arm, and that before ever he kissed his
wife he stepped fore and hitched 1t ON
q nail right in the middle Of the wall
over the chimneypiece, between John
Wesley and the weather glass.