Year: 1871

eartridge-box, wondering very much what
important thing had turned up, and also
muttering something about being glad that
the officer made them "cussed Yankees
stir their stumps. saf rs
The wind was blowing briskly from the
northward, and the shallop had it fair, and
with flowing sheets she started down the
harbor. AS she neared the Admiral's ship,
which lay just off Noddle's Island, the mid
shipman had the sheets hauled IN, and
showing the helm down, the small vessel
very gracefully came up under the ships
stern.


Boat, ahoy ~ shouted the officer of
the deck from she poop Of the ship.


1.-The Generals yacht, answered the
MILDLY. "Is Admiral Graves on board p''1


''No-he is at the Generals quarters"
answered the officer of the ship.
mo; he left there over an hour ago."
replied the MILDLY, land forgot his orders,
so I've had to bring them off. Can you
catch them?" -.


Yes


Look out then," and so saying the mid
shipman threw sealed packet up, which
the lieutenant easily caught.


Now" continued the young command
er of the shallop, you will have the good
ness to point out to me where the Viper
lays?"


The lieutenant run his eyes ever the
lower end of the harbor for a moment, and
then pointing down towards Spectacle
Island, he answered:


''Do you see that low light just to the
northward of Spectacle Island?"


"Yes," returned the MILDLY, as he went
to the bow of the shallop, and gazed in
the direction pointed out.


That is the Viper. What is in the
wind now?"


II don't know" replied the midship-
man. "All can tell about it is that Gen
eral Howe and the Admiral have concoct-
ed some plan for an expedition for some
OF these small fry, and have orders for
the Viper and Spitfire to join it. Good
night"


Good night returned the officer of
the ship, and in few moments the shall
lop was off before the wind.


The little vessel, however, didn't get
anywhere near Spectacle Island, but as
| soon as she was out of reach of the ship
she hauled her wind, and standing on to
| the northward of Governors Island she
passed out through Broad Sound, and ere
| long she stuck her nose into the free wa
ters of Massachusetts Bay.
'.Ha, ha, ha!n laughed out Hugh Max
well, as he threw the gold-banded cap of
the English MILDLY down by his side, and
| replaced it by his old sou'wester. "that's
good one. Igness the Admiral will be as
much pleased with the contents of his
packet as the poor sentry will be with that
pass of mine. The poor soger was too
late for the countersign, ha, ha, ha! He
swallowed the pistol game beautifully,
| though. Come, Jack, douse those ma
| rine togs and-halloa! there goes a rocket,
there's another. There's a gun from the
old North Battery Our trick is discover
ed, but fire away, my hearties; you'll have
to work smartly to catch old Maxwells
shallop."


The trick had been discovered. but it
was too late for the British to mend the
matter, for the shallop was far out at sea
before anything could be sent in pursuit,
and under the circumstances they did the
only thing left for them-they made
the best of it. Some explanation was de-
manded of old Maxwell, but he knew moth
ing whatever about the matter, only that
his shallop was gone but as he had little
or no chance to use it, he did not feel the
loss very severely, especially. when he
learned that it was under the charge ofhis
son.


Hugh Maxwell run across the Lee the
next day. and safely delivered his charge
to Capt. Manley. after which he ran into
Plymouth. In one week after that time
the colonists were in possession Of the
richly laden ship from Glasgow, and for
this "streak Of luck" they were solely in
debted to the fisher-boys stratagem.