Morris tribune., 1905-03-04

flemen, for Gods sake, don't murdel
me. I've wife and
peace, you fool! We won't hur1
you if you've told the truth. You shall
even be released presently and have
your schooner again. We don't wan
her. But if you have lied to me yoJ
shall hang from that yardarm in the
morning as sure as my name is John
Paul Jones!''
"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 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 ahoy"
"Ahoy. what ship is that?"
Again the same deluding reply:
''His Britannia majesty's sloop sof
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. Tie Yam
KEGS are about, and the admiral has
sent us to look up the convoy. Where
is the Acasta p
Gin the van. Sir James, about two
leagues ahead. The coryet is about
mile forward there, sir"
every good. Heave to and send a
boat aboard and get your orders. Look
sharp now. / must speak the corvet
and the frigate as we'll"
faye, aye, sir" 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 we'll 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
muffied oars, making large detour
not only to avoid the boat of the cap
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 he could make an cutlery, then
sent below with the rest His boats |
crew were tempted on deck also by an |
invitation to partake Of unlimited grog |
and treated il the same way, and the |
two boats Of the Ranger reached the |
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 On the quarter deck, some
yelling and screaming, and brief
scuf1e, in which one man Of the Mel
Iish 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 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
dcers, who had not 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"
'What's her crew."
"Fifteen men, they say. and seventy
i've soldiers. We, have the: matches
battened down, and think with the Z
men we have we can manage her all
right"
Every well. sir. congratulate you.
| am sending the second cutter OFF to
vou with the men's dunnage and your
boxes: You have your Rorders. PREF
sent my compliments to General Wash /.
lngton. with that ship asa Christmas
present il you bring her in. God grant
you get in safety Goodby. Better
put out that light. We will take your
place in the fleet and see what hap
pens"
"Goodby. sirr' cried the young lieu
tenant. "a prosperous cruise to you"
In moment the boat from the Ran