Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-06-14
NUMBER %.

braces, rise tacks and sheets"
The speed of the ship going free was
materially increased at once, and In q
few moments the lookout once more
hailed the deck:
II can make her out now, SIR"
What il itI'
"a ship, sir-aye, and there Is anOth.
er one with her, and third. | can't
tell what she is, sir. The first one
looks like Il large ship"
"Mr. Wallingford. take the glass and
60 up thS crosstrees and see what you
make of Them, sir" said the captain.
"very good, SIR" replied the lieuten.
ant, springing into the main rigging
and rapidly ascending to the cross
trees, glass. in hand
Gentlemen, we will have nearer
look at these gentry" continued the
captain, glancing back at the officers,
who had all come up from below.
while the men. equally interested,
were crowding on the fOrecastle and
gazing eagerly in the direction OF the
reported sails. which We're not yet vis-
bile from the deck.
ION deck. there
AYE, aye! What Is itW
II can make out five ships. and two
briggs, and a schooner. and some other
sails just rising, all close hauled On
the port tack think there are more
81 I,,t \ NJ
are rapidly drawing on them and shall
be able to make them out in minute.
think it Is convoy or a fleet
THAT will do, Mr.. Wallingford. Lay
down on deck. sir Give the glass to
the man OH the royal yard. though, be-
fore you come. Who IL het'
1T is me, sir-JHck Thompson"
Keep n bright lookout then. ThOmp-
son, and II yon's an enemy's fleet or
convoy it means glass Of grog and a
guinea for you when your watch is
over"
"Thankee. sirw cried the delighted
seaman.
"Mr Wallingford. could you make
anything out Of the size Of the shipsT
Zone Of them | should say was a
large ship, frigate or ship OF the line
possibly. The others were too far off,"
1T can't be feet" replied Captain
Jones. There are not so many OF
the enemy's ships together In these
waters, If we are correctly informed.
suspect il must be lot Of merchant
men and transports conveyed by two
or three men-of-war. Now Is our op-
portunity. gentlemen" he continued,
his eyes sparkling with delight. They
are apparently beating in FOR Hallfax,
and probably the Mellish. our trans
port. will be among them. We will
DAY them Il visit tonight in any. event.
| wouldn't let them pass by without
bow or two il they were Il feet OF two
deckers.'
Apparently this reckless brayado en-.
tirely suited the ships company, for
one OF the men who had heard the
doughty captains speech called for
three cheers, which were given with
will.
AYE, that's a fine, hearty crew and
full Of fight. Call on all hands, Mr.
Simpson"
This was more or less perfunctory
order. since every man from the jack.
of-the-dust to the captain WAS already
Oh deck.
Mr. Seymour" said Jones to the
first lieutenant, who had taken the
trumpet at the call Of all hands. we
must dress for the ball, and our best
disguise for the present will be that OF
merchantmen. | don't suppose that
the English imagine that we have 4
ship afoat in these waters. and possl-
bly, they can't see US against this clouo
bank i'm this twilight. AS we can see
them against the setting sun; but we
will be Oh the safe side for the FEW
moments of daylight left US. They
may be looking ut US over there. 80
we will hoist the English nag a.
once, and, as we are nearing them
a little too rapidly, better brazil up tho
fore and main sails and take In the
ROYALS and the fore and mizZen t0pgal-
liant sails for the present and SLACK Oh
the running gear. Then beat to quar-
ters and have the guns run In and dou-
bic shotted, close the ports and have
the arms distributed; clear the fore
castle. too, except Of two or three men,
and bid everybody observe the strictest
0uiet, especially when we get In among
the convoy" he continued rapidly.
you can see them now from tns
deck. sir" said Lieutenant Simpson,
handing the glass TO the captain.
AYE. so you can, but not well.
Main royal there, can you make them
out any BETTER:
"Yes. sir. There's eighteen sail OF
them: one is frlgate and one looks
like sloop of war, sir. Ihe rest ~
merchantmen. some Of 'em armed
VERY good. Have they seen us yet"
Don't appear to take no notice Oh us
so far, sir"
Come down from aloft then and get
your grog aud guinea, Jack. we won't
need you up there any more. 1t Is get
ting too dark to see anything there
anyway. Beat 10 quarters, Mr.. sey-
mour. All, there go the lights In the
convoy"
For the next few moments the decks
presented scene OF wild confusion,
which gradually settled down into an
orderly quiet. the various directions or
the captain were promptly carried out
and the ship WAS speedily prepared for
the conflict. though outwardly she had
lost her wurlilie appearance and now
k<eembled peaceful trader.
While the Ranger had been slowly
drawing nearer to the sluggish fleet or
merchantmen and their convoy the
early twilight of the late season faded
away and soon gave place to darkness.
The night was cloudy, the sky being
much overcast. and there was no
moon. all OF which was well for tie
present purpose.
The men thoroughly appreciated me
hazardous nature OF this advance upon
the unsuspecting fleet. protected by
two heavy vessels Of war. either OF
which was probably much stronger
| than their own ship, bYt the very au-
dacity and bOldness with which the AZ
| fair was being carried out thoroughly
suited the daring crew.
Most OF theiS had stripped TO thS