Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1901-11-28
exclaimed Capt. Israel. as he watched

exclaimed Capt. Israel, as he watched
his shots and swung his hat.
\ "By gusn and by -thuniler, but Lfeel
a Nickedness aud . rcjoicing!. ex-
|claimed Capt, Khabod al he patted
the big gun which had tustssent agshot
aboard the 4frigate that plowsd its
way from stem to stern.
/ The ''EOrient' was like cosy bait,
ed by dogs. If She crowded On sail to-
follow ono the. other was biting at
her heels. She wasted tons of solid
| shot in seeking to do damage, but:
not missile came aboard. The pride
and pomposity of the French captain
kept him under the fire Of the Long
Toms for two hours, but when he had
lost a dozen men he tried to back out
of. the affair. His willingness to cry
quits was not reciprocated, however.
The briggs could outsail him, and they
continued to follow and pitch shot
aboard. He had more men killed and
wounded, and he had his sails riddled
and his yards shot out Of the sings
and his foretopgallant mast brought
down. Then, with tears of rage in his
eyes and helpless feeling. in his
heart he hauled down the flag. As
the briggs came up he went aboard of
the ''Mary," which was nearest. Capt.
Ichabod also came aboard of her.
''Who-who shall take it?" asked
the vanquished captain, as. he looked
around and held out his sword.
Nobody" answered Israel.
"But I surrender my ship. The
"L'Orient" has hauled down her flag.
Who was my conqperor? You fly the
American flag, but we have no war
with yon.' 4A
II know, and by hen, we have Civ
en- you a lickin' to let you know that
we are no worms of the dust! Keep
your corn knife, and if you have
learned your lesson you can take your
frigate and be off, So "
ct is, not REGULAR don't under
stand,' protested the captain. II was
conquered, but nobody will take my
sword"
They didn't try to make it palmer
to him. He was escorted to the side
and bowed into his boat, and the cap
tive midshipman sent along with him,
and he returned to his ship the most
astonished Frenchman in the world.
He was also the maddest. His frigate
had been drubbed by couple Of trad
ers, and then had been rendered to
him as gift. 1t was not an act of
piracy nor declaration of war, be-
cause he had prepared the way for it
and very well knew that the Ameri-
cans had not yet heard of the edict.
He was in hole all around, and he
did the best thing possible under the
circumstances by spreading his Grip
pied wings and making for French
port to repair damages.
"Ichabod," said Capt. Israel as the
Frenchman went sailing away,
''speakin' in a brotherly way and
without hilarity, femme say that we
licked him out O. his boots"
'Then by gum we did," replied
Ichabod. s.
"And speakin' leetle further,
while I'm glad we drubbed him I'm
somewhat afraid that we've done the
wrong thing at the right time and
brought on another war. It will be
best, brother Ichabod, that neither
we nor our mates nor our men do
much Boosting until we know what
will be done about it. Let us now
proceed on our voyage"
Nothing was done about it. The
French captain doubtless made q
formal report, but it was not to the
effect that a Begun frigate had been
drubbed by two small merchant briggs.
IF he had admitted the truth his SUI
periors would have pigeon-holed it
out of shame, and besides there were
events of SO much greater Importance
at. hand that the incidents were filed
away to be forgotten. The ''Mary"
and Asusan" safely completed their
round voyages to be laid up by the
embargo, but there was deep salts
faction in the soul of Capt. Israel as
he met his brother at intervals and
shook hands.and said;# {
81 "Ichabod, speakias as q brother
might, and 1nywife Mary BENIN her
usual good health, we did drub that
Frenchman like farmer whalin' a
kickin' cow
..'Then by gum and by thunder, but
we did, and we are no worms#of the
dust!" would be the reply OF Icha-
bod as he chuclkled his satisfaction
and walked about. with his hands I'M
der his .coat-tails. National Maya
zine. sF SasS# a.ass= H.;
j i - ---.s
Characteristic Differences.
One of the striking differences in
the characteristics of men andtwomen
is that women like new things, while
men are 10th to part with old things