The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-10-16
THE BALLAD OF THE BETHELL

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Homeward bound was the Bethel, out
from the Midland Sea,
Past the Strait Of Gibraltar into the west
sailed she.
Isaac Freeman, the master, thought of his
cargo sold,
Thought Of the wares of Europe laden safe
in the hold,
Prayed for peaceful passage, yet-if fight
he must
Letters of marQue he carried, and score
OF guns outthrust
Their menace to French and Spanards,
who never would need to know
That six of the guns were wooden-for the
Bethel still should go
bafe overseas to Boston, with riches
brought from far
10 owners that dared the uttermost, de-
spite King Georges War.
The sun swung low to the westward, lost
were the hills of Spain,
When far through the golden sun-track a
sail rose out Of the main.
Slowly it grew to a vessel, blocking the
Bethell's path,
Like beast Of prey that waited for the
Cutting of its wrath;
And through the waning daylight sea
schooled eye could tell
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sank on the long ground-swell.
30 great foe for the Bethel, so small and
all unfit!
Never such need had Freeman to summon
his Yankee wit.
SAll hands below!" he shouted. "Search
every man his chest
With your Saba day hats and jackets let
slaves and oars be dressed!
Then range them along the gunwale-good
scarecrows breed good fear!
Make sure that all your lanterns are
trimmed and burning clear;
String them aloft in the rigging; then
heave the guns well out,
'Quakers' and all-step lively!" "Aye,
aye!" came the answering shout.
Thus did the peaceful Bethel put on a
fighting euise,
Thus through the gathering darkness she
loomed for twice her size,
As under. the flag of England to the Span
lard close she drew,
Brave with her lights and cannon, proud
of her mighty crew.
So they hove to and parleyed, shouting
across in the night,
Clear sounded Freeman's trumpet: "Yield
while We mayor tight!"
What should the Spaniard answer with a
British sloop of war
Full-armed, full-manned as he thought her,
monstrous of hull and spar,
Rolling there in the darkness, ready to fire
and board?
Bitter the cry came back: IL yield-take
ye my ship and sword!"
With the cheer that rang from the Bethel
laughing note was blent,
And the Spanish master, bewildered, won
derinQ what il meant
Wondered no more when. captive, on Free
mans deck he stood,
And looked on the paltry cannon, six of
them hewn from wood,
And the Yankee crew redoubled by
muster of empty clothes.
Then what torrent of fury, what flood
of Spanish oaths!
For his guns were six and twenty, and his
crew a hundred and ten
10 the Bethell's puny complement of seven
and thirty men;
And the Jesus Maria and Joseph, the ship
he had brought so far,
Bound from Havana to Cadiz, lost without
scratch or scar,
Was register ship deep-laden with chests
of silver and gold
Doubloons and dollars by thousands, for
naught to trickster sold
But vain the wrath of the prisoners,
manacled all by morn;
For pleading they got but laughter, for
cursing but looks of scorn,
Till they made Fayal, where the Spaniards,
fuming but now set free,
Saw captor and captive westward fade
over the rounding sea.
And the folk of Boston marveled when
seamen swart and strong,
Armed to the teeth like pirates, bore the
treasure along
Through winding streets to the mansion
where an oaken cellar door
Swung shut with the owners blessing on
the sea and its golden store.
And pieces of eight, Of goodly weight,
should have lined the captains kit
For the .bloodless fight he had won that
night all by his Yankee wit.
m. A .DeWolfe Howe, in Youths Com
panion.