Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-06-04
AN 0AEYE
SOUALl
. y II. Q VA ID
Copyright. I51s. by T. c. Mcclure

Captain BiucEOfG pan TO Keep clear
Of any armed vessel flying the British
flag He had Il crew of Nantucket
men. every one of whom had served in
the cause of liberty. and he began
worrying about what might happen
before he was 200 miles at sea. His
wife saw that he was disturbed, and
she said:
"Abner. when we left home | do be-
lieve that | forgot to fasten the wood
shed door"
What's that to worry about?' he
asked.
Jest as much as your fear that we
may be overhauled. Let's wait until
we see Britisher bearfn' down on us
before we git dizzy headed"
But Captain Abner had just made his
noon observation when Il sail was
sighted to the eastward. There was
feeling from the first that she was Il
British man-of-war. Half an hour
later all doubts were dispelled. The
stranger was not only a man-of-war,
but he had changed his course to meet
that of the brig.
II told you so." exclaimed Captain
Abner to Mary as he pointed to the dis
tant sail.
"Yes, Abner; you did" she replied.
"And now he'll board and press two
or three of the men, even though we
haven't got a half one to spare"
WAL, it's no use to give up till we
have to. | should keep right on and
pay no 'tention to him"
There had been stiff breeze all the
forenoon, and the few clouds driving
overhead had a squally look 10 them.
Captain Bideford's first idea had been
to run away; but, realizing this would
provoke curiosity and pursuit, he de
cded 10 stand on. As the craft neared
each other the man-of-war kept all
fast and seemed about to pass on with
out notice. or a sudden. however, he
fired a solid shot across the briggs bows
and hove into the wind.
THAT means heave to and be board
edi" shouted Captain Abner rs he pre-
pared to give the necessary orders.
But don't you do anything Of the
kindw protested Mary. Hes no more
right to stop you than you have to stop
him"
by Josh, then. but he'll blow us out
of waterw
Let him blowl Abner, you're no
man If you give up licked to Brit
Usher who has bin beaten in war"
The Dolphin held her course. The
British captain brought his big craft
around in pursuit and opened fire with
his bow chasers. When his shot began
falling about the brig, Captain Abner
and the crew were for bringing her to-
but Mary shut her teeth together and
grimly said:
"Abner. If you let that Britlsher board
you before he shoots away q mast I'll
not go back home to hear you called
coward"
SO the Dolphin held on, though be
fore she got out Of range the shot
splashed water on her deck. She
would have eventually made a clear
escape but for loss of the breeze. When
it died completely out, the two craft
were three miles apart The man-of-
war promptly lowered boat with an
officer and six armed men to pay
visit.
"Waal, you see that boat comm, i
s'pose," said Captain Abner as Mary
stood beside him. "If you hadn't inter
fered, might have got off without
anybody bein' taken"
"If | hadn't interfered, you'd have
gone back to Nantucket to be sneered
at by everybody in town. Jest you
watch and wait. 1t looks bad, but
surthin' may turn up"
The boat came on with long, regular
strokes and in half an hour was along
side the brig The lieutenant in charge
came over the rail, followed by three
marines with loaded musliets. He had
hardly touched the deck when he sang
out:
you lmpudent blackguard OF Yam
Lce, but why didn't you heave to when
we fired n gun"
Because we didn't feel like it"' an
swercd Captain Bideford, who had all
his coolncss now that the crisis was ut
hand.
what! What, More lmpudence?
My turkeycock, but you need a lesson
In manners. AS II beginning | order
you to dousc that rag"
81 shall do nothin' Of the kind. IL
you want 10 make Il prize of this brig,
go ahead and haul down her Tag. II
not, then take yourself off"
"Oh, you wont muster your crew,
,hi" snecred the lieutenant "It is as
t.I lt.ft i1i, IL
scrtcrs aboard! Wen, III soon weed
chem out without your help. Here.
you Yankees. muster at the. mast'
Had the crew been backed by the
captain they would have refused TO
line up on the deck; but, receiving no
sucoura cement from him 10 resist, they
shambled aft to tho mainmast and got
~ line. They were six able scamcn,
The mate and cook not being included
III the muster The lieutenant inn
pressed five out Of the six.
1t was an outrage to make his blood
boil, and yet Captain Eidcford realized
that he was helpless. There was force
enough behind the officer to back him
up In whatever he wished to do. The
men looked appcalingly at the captain,
but he turned away In sorrow and de-
spair.
For the last ten minutes Mary Bide-
ford had been watching the Sky and
the British man-of-wsr and had been
seemingly obliyious of what was going
on beside her She now turned to the
captain and quietly said:
"Jcst sort OF carcicssly squint intq
the southeast and tell me what yQu
see"
"By gosh, but It's an oXcyc squail
or I'm no sallorw whispered Abncr
after Il look.
That's what II Is and they see II
aboard the frIgatc and have run up q
flag of wArnn'. The men IN the boat
can't see i, rs they are Oh ,hc wrong
side, aud the officer Is too busy with
his conccIt II we can hold our men
ten miults. wc can gave them. You go
and tail, to the mate and post him up
and I'll have a few words with the OF
ncer"
The officer was not aycrse 10 an ar.
gumcnt while waiting. aud Mary took