Year: 1872

Inc schooner falf SlStef, snug llt-
tie craft of some hundred and fifty
tons burden, dropped down one of
the smsll streams that empty the wa
tiers of Maine into the Atlantic, and
came to anchor in the narrow basin at
its mouth. 1t was in the spring of
1913, and the war was going on with
England. The war vessels of the en-
envy were upon our coast, bloskading
every harbor where they supposed q
Yankee force was in reserve.


The Fair Sister had been fitted up
by party of enterprising men, and
her armament was complete. She
carried eight guns-twelvo Founders
and had fifty four men, with small
arms in abundance. Her command
er's name was Buck-Alanson Buck
"a good seaman, and a brave accomp-
lished man.


His vessel was ready for sea, and
he was anxious to he out upon tho
broad Atlantic, among the merchant
vessels and store-ships of the enemy.
Yet he had his fears that he might
find trouble running out.
At small settlement not far up the
river he had learned that British
brig -of-war was laying ofandon upon
the coast, and that the commander
had gained intelligence of the fact
that privateer was being fitted out
up the stream. He also learned that
there was spy somewhere about the
place.


Bucks first movement, upon reach
ing the mouth OF the river, was to
send a man upon the headland to look
out for the English brig. The little
bay in which the privateer now lay
was shut in from the sea on the east
by bold promontory which ran out
from The mainland TO the southwark.
This promontory was not over quar-
ter of mile wide, and nearly three
quarers of mile in length. Up on
to this high point the lookout made
his way, and when he reached the top
he had a clearer sweep of the sea as
far as the eye could reach.


In half an hour he came down upon
the run, and boat was sent for him
Immediately.


What is it, Walden:" the captain
asked.


The brig is right off the headland,
to the nor'rd an east'rd, not more'n
four mile distant, and headin' right in
for the bay"


Then she got intelligence of our
whereabouts" said Buck, uneasily.


"She must" resumed Walden
"She was layin' to right in behind the
Spider an I'm sure l saw boat
pulled up to her stern davlts as she
turned away"


What was to be done? The pri-
vateer had come down the river with
fair wind, but she could not run
back, and of course to run out
to sea would be madness; and as
for having the enemy take the choon-
er, just as she was all ready for work,
that could not be thought of for mo-
ment


What can we do" the captain
cried, pacing the deck nervously.-
Gould it be a hand-to-hand fight |
would run the risk, though l s'pose
the briggs got eighty or ninety men; ;
but if she comes in here she'll blow US
out O. water"


| Look, Cap'n," spoke Ezekiel Dood,
tall, sandy-haired Yankee of the
genuine blood and stamp, and who
was known to be as keen and cute as
any man aboard, I've got an idee.-
That 'tarnal brig'll be in here as sure
as fate. Naow jest yeou listen
There's room enough for every one of
yeou to hide in the hold. III yen all
hide there, an run the boats all
ashore, I'll bet dollar at we'll wool
'em. Dye s'pose them ere chaps seed
yer, Pete, when ye was on the head
land 2"


They must have seen me if they
were lookin'," replied Walden.


"Then it'll be as easy as grease,
cried Zeke, all excitement. Lets
run the boats ashore an leave 'em on
the sand, an then all of we hide only
me. I'll pretend to be sleepin', ye
see, an so we'll flax 'em rite eout.'
| Zeke explained his plan fully, and
the men fell in with it at once. They
saw no other way of saving the
schooner.


what do you say, Luke" the cap
tain said to his mate.


II like it, and say put in opera
ton as quickly as possible"


1t was now late in the afternoon,
and the brig, if she came at all, would
be in very shortly-in less than an
hour. The three boats were pulled
ashore as quickly as possible, and then
a lot of tracks were hurriedly made
over the narrow belt of sand. After
this the men swan back to the
schooner, and then the crew descend
ed to the hold, where they hid them
selves behind the water-casks and
boxes. 1t happened very fortunately
that there were plenty OF good hid,
ing places, and ere long the men were
SO completely concealed that no one
could have detected them without
creeping over the casks and hunt
ing carefully. Each man was armed
with good cutlass and brace o.
pistols, but it was most earnestly en-
joined upon them that they should
not use the firearms save in case
where it was absolutely necessary to
, save life.


This work had hardly been com.
pleteted when the English brig hove
in sight around the point. She went
, about and stood into the bay, ane


when within cables length of the
sooner she hove-to, and lowered q
boat. From her movements she