Year: 1859




his reasoning left me hardly hope that
his judgment was not correct; but his
cool and collected manner impressed me
with confidence in his management, and
] told him he knew best what we should
do, and / would second him as best
could. He walked up and down the cab
in twice then rubbing his hands togeth-
er as if pleased with bis new idea,


Il have it," he cried, I'll just go on
deck and put things in order, and in the
meantime you had better amuse your
self looking out your pistols, if you have
any; for if he won't be content with
look at us we'll have to fight"


/ hurriedly took my fowling piece and
pistols from their cases, for fortunately
had both; and although somehow re-
fused to allow myself there would be any
occasion for their use, yet loaded them
all with balls, and in each of the pistols
put brace; this done, went on deck,
where found the captain surrounded by
his crew, telling them his suspicious and
his plan of action.


But" says he, maybe we'll have
fight; if the villains have mind to try
US, they will send boat on board, and /
want to know if you will help me keep
'em off. You see its most likely they'll
make you walk the plank, whether you
fight or not, if they get on board; and !
calculate if you'll do just as I tell you
we'll frighten 'em."


There was hearty Ay, ay, sir to
this short and pithy harrangue.
"Thankee boys, thankee boys" said
the captain now we'll not show anoth-
er stitch of canvas, but seem to take no
more notice of that fellow than if we
didn't see him and if he does try to
come aboard, then we'll show 'em what


we can do"


Our captain was about forty years old,
rather short and stout, but muscular; his
face was bronzed with time and tempest,
and his locks which had once been black,
were grizzled by the same cause. He
was old sailor and staunnh repnhli-
can: and as some of his men told tales


of fight in which their captain had borne
part, presume he had served when a


young man in the battles of the State.
The crew were busy, in obedience to


his orders, cutting up square foretop.
: gallant-mastinto logs about four feet long


these were Immediately painted black


with a round spot in the center of one
! end, so as to bear tolerable resemblance


to pieces of cannon, and with two old si2
At Founders, were placed, one at each por
on our deck, five on side; but the port


were to be kept closed until the captain


gave the order to open them, then the.
'e were to be raised as quickly as possible
g and the logs thrust out about foot 4


platform was then made on the top @
ID the long-boat, which was fixed between
+; the fore and main masts, and the carron
y. ade, or fourteen FOUNDER, was hoisted W
If, These things being arranged, the captai
n, went below, and the crew mustered i
Ie knots, to wonder and talk of what wa
ed to be done.


a In the meantime, we had been stant
or, ing on our course, and had not shifted {
el- hoisted single sail, but were as if pc


fectly regardless of the schooner. N


so with her, however; for besides lor
ou square top sail on the foremast, she hs
no run out small fore-topmast studding sail
To- and onward she came, right before
aw pretty smart breeze, yawning from 81,
,u- to side, at one moment sinking stern for
,ze most into the trough of the sea, as ;
yas enormous wave rolled out from und
to her, and at the next was forced hea
is long on by its successors while bro
Jon white sheet of foam spread out aroul
al her, giving beautiful reliefto the jet bla
get color of her hull, testifying how rapid
Ike she was going through the water.
his could not help thinking of the captain
asst expression, for she certainly did wa
s up TO us like nothin," and as there &
Is peared to be not much time to lose
is, went down to the cabin to assume
nry weapons. The captain was there
ere ranging some papers, and bottle v
- before him, into which he had put
we ter.


Ike May be-" he said, something '
bet happen to me: for if them ere bloody
got rates won't be cheated, I'll be the first
six suffer and natural enough 100, for all
$ mischief they'll suffer will be by my
hur- ders, just because didn't like to
an oyerhauled, like an old tarpaulin, by
,om: cry rascal who chooses to say heaye
now 10 the seas. But never mind OF