Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-06-21

FIJI! away again. Mr.. Seymour"
The ponderous yards were swung.
and the Hanger soon gathered way
again and rapidly Overhauled the last
| of the fleet. The first trick had worked
SO well that it was worth trying again.
AS soon AS she drew near the doomed
ship she showed lights like those of
the frigate and sloop Of war. Ranging
alongside the weather quarter of the
transport. the captain again hailed:
"Ship ahoy!"
"AEoy. what ship is that?"
Again the same deluding reply:
Ellis Britannia majesty's sloop Of
war Southampton, Captain Sir James
Yeo. What ship is that?
"The transport Mellish."
Very well; you are the one we want.
| have a message for you. The Yam
KEGS are about, and the admiral has
sent us to look up the convoy. Where
Is the Acasta:
"In the van, Sir James, about two
leagues ahead. The corvet is about
mile forward there, sir"
Every good. Heave to and send
boat aboard and get your orders. Look
sharp now. must speak the cOrvet
and the frigate as we'll"
AYE, aye, sir" replied the English
man us his main yard was promptly
swung.
Immediately the Ranger was hove to
as well, and on her weather side,
which was that away from the trans
port, two well manned boats, their
crews heavily armed, one command
ed by Seymour, who had Talbot with
him, and the other by Philip Wilton.
accompanied by Bentley, had been ST.
lently lowered into the water and
were pulling around the Ranger with
mutfled oars, making a large detour
not only to avoid the boat Of the cap
tain Of the Mellish. but also to en-
able one of them to approach the un-
suspecting ship on the lee side. The
night was pitch dark. and the plan
was carried out exactly as anticipat-
ed The utterly unsuspecting captain
of the Mellish was seized as he came
on deck and nearly choked to death
before he could make an outcry, then
sent below with the rest. His boats
crew were tempted on deck also by an
invitation to partake Of unlimited grog
and treated In the same way, and the
two boats Of the Ranger reached the
Mellish undiscovered. The watch on
the deck of the transport, diminished
by the absence of the boats crew,
was overwhelmed by the rush Of arm
ed men from both sides Of the ship.
and after few shots from two or
three men Oh the quarter deck, some
yelling and screaming. and n brief
sculfie. in which one man Of the Mel
lish was killed. the ship was mastered.
The matches were at once secured be-
fore the watch below scarcely knew
Of the occurrence. A company Of SOL
dicrs, about seyenty-five in number. Of
the Seaforth highlanders, found them
selves, prisoners ere they awakened.
the only resistance having come from
the mate aEd two or three Of their Of
dcers, who had not yet turned in.
"Have you got her. Mr.. SEYMOUR
hailed the Ranger.
Eyes. sir"
what Is sEe?"
"Shes the Mellish right enough, sir"
Good. Anybody hurt!"
"One Of the enemy killed, sir. All OF
ours are all right"
whats her crew."
Fifteen men, they say, and seventy
ave soldiers. We have the matches
battened down, and think with the
men we have we can manage her all
right"
Every well. sir. congratulate you.
| am sending the second cutter OF to
you with the mems dunnage and your
boxes. You have your orders. Pre-
sent my compliments to General Wash
ington, with that ship rs Christmas
present if you bring her in. God grant
you get In safely! Goodby. Better
put out that light. We will take your
place in the fleet and see what hap
pens
"Goodby. sirv cried the young lieu
tenant "A prosperous cruise to you"
In a moment the boat from the Ran
ger was alongside. the bags and boxes
were speedily shifted, and the cutter,
with the other two boats in tow, drop
ped back to the Ranger, which by a
shift Of the helm had drawn much
nearer. Then the Mellish filled away
and presently, wearing round Oh her
heel. went off before the wind and, all
her lights having been extinguished,
faded speedily away in the darkness.
The boats were hOisted Oh the Ranger:
she braced up OIL tie i'.t ,!cH ANA took
the place vacated Ey ,..e a.@.iisA. But
these things had not ...spPched without
attracting some at:cn. On.
The captain OF the vessel next ahead
of the Mellish had heard the pistol
shots and shouting. LuiinS up into the
wind to check his own headway, he
made out Il second slip in the darkness
alongside his next astern. In doubt
as to what was happening, but certain
that something was wrong, he acted
promptly and caused n blue light TO be
burned on his forecastle. This was
the agreed signal of danger and 1t i'm
mediately awakened the unsuspecting
fleet into action. Several Of the ships
ut different intervals in the long line
repeated the signal, which was finally
answered by the frigate, hull down
ahead. The corvet, half mile away
perhaps, responded Immediately and.
wearing short round, came to on the
other tack and headed for the last OF
the line, beating to quarters the while.
All the lanterns Of the Ranger were
again extinguished and the men sent
quietly to their quarters, with the
strictsst injunctiOns not to make a
sound or fire a gun until ordered under
pain Of death. Every other prepara-
ton had long since been made for ac-
ton, so the officers slipped on their
boarding caps. loosencd their swords
in their sheaths and looked to the
priming Of their pistols; then. receiving
their final commands. departed quietly
to their several stations Simpson. now
occupying the position OF first lieuten-
ant vacated by Seymour, having charge
| of the batteries, and Wallingfori, on
| deck with the captain, In command or
| tho saIv trimmprs who werc clustered