The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-08-31

your schooner again. We don't want
her. But II you have lied to me you
shall hang from that yardarm in the
morning as sure as my name is John
Paul Jonesy'
"Oh, Lord!" said the now thoroughly
frightened man, looking up and meet
ing the gaze Of two eyes which cleaned
in the dim light from the deck above
him. Give told you the truth, sir.''
Every well; go call your boats crew
on deck. Stand by to capture them as
soon as they reach the gangway, some
Of you, then stow them all below. Let
their boat tow astern. And when that's
done, you, sir, hail your schooner and
tell her to heave to until your return.
Say just what I tell you to and nothing
more. The pistol at your head is loaded
still. Watch him carefully, men, and
then send him below with the rest.
Fill away again, Mr.. Seymour"
The ponderous yards were swung,
and the Ranger soon gathered way
again and rapidly overhauled the last
Of the feet. The first trick had worked
so we'll 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 ahoyv'
"Ahoy, 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."
every we'll; 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. 1 must speak the corvet
and the frigate as well.''
AYE, aye, STRIP replied the English
man as 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 81
lently lowered into the water and
were pulling around the Ranger with
muft1ed oars, making 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 I'M
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 be 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 a few shots from two or
| three men on the quarter deck, some
yelling and screaming, and a brief
scuf1e, 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
| diers, about seventy-dve in number, of
the Seaforth highlanders, found them
selves prisoners ere they awakened,
the only resistance having come from
the mate and two or three Of their Of
ticers, who had rot yet turned in.
'Have you got her, Mr.. SEYMOUR"
hailed the Ranger.
eyes, SIR
"What is she:'
''She's the Mellish right enough, sir"
Good! Anybody hurt?'
zone of the enemy killed, sir. All of
ours are all right
whats her crew.
"Fifteen men, they say, and seventy
five soldiers. We have the matches
battened down, and I think with the
men we have we can manage her all
right"
every well, sir. I congratulate you
I am sending the second cutter off to
you with the mems dunnage and your
boxes. You have your orders. Pre-
sent my compliments to General Wash
ington, with that ship as a 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 feet and see what hap
pens"
"Goodby. sir!' cried the young lieu
tenant. "a prosperous cruise to you"
In 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. dron-