Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1901-11-28


had let go of him the soonestSdnd he
had piled on the canyas under favor
ing breeze ana evoked ahead. With
fair weather hssshadsreachedza point
within 100 miles of his port wharf.-the
wind fell and he ran into fog. Aft
Ter several hours of slowly forging
ahead the fog lifted tosfnd the ''su-
san under. the gums iof u French
frigate. Even had there been a. capful
of wind there would have been no sail
ing away. The edict had been issued,
and the frigate was out looking. for
prizes. Ia boats crew was,sent aboard
and the cargo overhauled, and as she
was full of contraband goods there
was no question about, taking posses.
sion. 1t was just at shutdown that
she ran into the trap, and within half
an hour the fog settled down again.
The captain of the 'L'Orient," with
his brand-new frigate, and 1S guns on
side, was proud and pompous. Aft
er the report on the cargo he put a
midshipman aboard to represent him
self, the DirectorySof France and sew
eral other things, and when the fog
cleared and the breeze came the ssSu-
san" was to be escorted into port. It
was a foolish move and proved that
the officer knew little about the tricks
of Yankeeland, though, perhaps he
may have been considerably influ-
enced by the fact that the crew of
the ''L'Orient' had planned to cele-
brate his birthday that night. When
the fog closed down the two crafts
were not over a quarter of q mile
apart, and at the end of every five
minutes the little midshipman struck
the briggs bell and was answered by
that of the frigate. Capt. Ichabod
was surprised, chagrinned and hope
less. It not only meant the loss of
the brig and cargo, but Imprisonment
for the entire crew. His Long Tom,
covered with tarpaulin, and of which.
he had expected so much, might as
well have been log of wood. Even
when the fog closed down and the
little midshipman was the only enemy
aboard, he sat in his cabin with his
face in his hands and despair in his
heart. He was sitting thus when he
heard music and cheering aboard the
Frenchman, and minute later JOSH
ia, the mate, descended the compan-
ionway with the baby officer in his
grasp and locked him up in state
room. "They are too happy over
there to miss him." explained JOSH
ua, ''and We'll keep on striking the
bell for him and pray for a breath of
wind"
Both crafts were lifting lazily on
the ground swell and pointing their
bows all around the compass, but
after ten minutes careful watching
Capt. Ichabod became satisfied that
they were drifting slowly apart. In
order that the enemy might not sus-
pect this the bell was struck with
stronger hand for Il time. Of sudden
there came a .draught of air. The
French captain may have heard of
fogs without wind and fogs with
wind, but he was not on guard that
night. The Susan began stealing
away, and had put a mile between
them when the Frenchman woke up
and fired gun. Then he banged away
with a second and third and fourth,
and the crew could be heard making
sail. The breeze increased and the
brig slipped along, and by and by the
captain of the "Susan" knew he had
chance.
At the end of the morning watch
the breeze freshened, the fog went
swirling away, and when day broke
Capt. Ichabod's heart gave sudden
jump. Not three miles away to the
westward was Capt. Israel's "Aiary''
bearing down upon him, and 10 or IL
miles to the east was the 81 Orient
Israel was. coming along on his voy-
age, and the frigate was lying to UNI
til daylight should reveal her. quarry.
Half an hour. later the captain of the
MARY" 2waszyhboard the Susan" to
find out what it all meant. When he
had heard the story III the capture
and escape, Capt. Israel smote.5 his.
knee and exclaimed:
s'By hen, Ichabod, speakin' as a
Brother might; but we are no worms
of the dnst!' II j II =s4f #}15a$hg3 Il
~ ...'By gum and by thunder, but we
fain't!' agreed hhabod. & -. n
"Ichabod," resumed Israel as he
paused in his walk, ass..it's bad enough
to be bounced shout BY the British,
hut when incomes to the French
Walkin' around on what's left of us
we can't stand It. In a brotherly
way, and notn eanin' to do evil, sItell
.yyaoufw7esmust gsHin and give that frrilk-
ate !, a'! q 81 81 Shes set carronades
and = plenty re 'em, but we've got
Long Toms @and can take our distance.
By hensI brother, but we'll pound and
bang md drub that Frenchman Till
he hoHsrs for mercyn
'By#gum and BY thunder, but we
will, Israeli" wasathe reply, and they
atsonce began preparations. m
The breeze freshened till the briggs
worked like couple Of tops, and they
sailed down TO meet the frigate. The
Frenchman skipped with delight at