University of Virginia Library

9. CHAPTER IX.
THE REBEL CRUISER.

It was twilight of the day on which
our hero had received the promise of
Genera. Washington that he would use
his influence to get him appointed to the
second station in the cruiser schooner.
`The Rebel' which had brought the English
store-ship in as a prize. Washington
had redeemed his pledge and sent
him the commission. As soon as he had
received it, he first hastened to return him
his grateful thanks for this mark of his
confidence in him, and then flew to take
a farewell of Anne; for that night with
the tide the schooner was to sail.

It was twilight and the lovers stood together
in the door of the mansion.

`It is not necessary you should take
this course, Neal, to maintain your honor,'
said Anne, sadly. `I have talked
with my brother and he is now ready to
apologise to you. He is persuaded that
he was misled; and he regrets deeply that
he should have forgotten so soon all your
kindess to him and uncle! He will soon
be at home; and I entreat you will wait
and be reconciled to him?'

`I would gladly be so! I have no animosity
towards Frederick! I am glad
he expresses confidence in me! But the
whisper has gone abroad! It is on many
lips. I must give evidence by my acts
that I am no spy—but a true patriot
though a late one! I cannot delay! I
have here the commission! The cruiser
weighs in an hour, and I burn to do
something to distinguish myself and to
silence calumny.'

`How happy I am that General Washington's
faith in you remains firm! How
noble in him to trust you when such reports
were flying abroad!'

`Circumstances look strong against
me! The fact that I am the nephew of
General Howe, and have been his aid
and an officer also in the King's service,
these facts are sufficient to lead persons
to believe such reports easily. None
know, as you do, Anne, the peculiar motives
which actuated me;' he said, looking
upon her and smiling. `None know
the arguments by which I was converted.
Men only see the external act! They
look upon it, naturally, with suspicion!

They readily believe I may be a spy!
But I hope to prove that I am true to the
cause I have embraced! I have certain
knowledge that two powder-ships, containing
of course other stores besides
arms, are on their way from Portsmouth
to Boston. It is for the protection of
these ships when they come on the
coast that Admiral Shuldam has left the
squadron under Commodore Bankes:
for he well knew the value they would
be to his foe, should they or one of them
fall into his hands. Now it is my hope
to fall in with and capture one of these
ships. No service that could be performed
would be so highly estimated by
Washington or the country as such a
capture. When I heard Washington
this morning so warmly express his wish
that the prize had contained powder, I
internally resolved that I would embark,
even as a common seaman, in `The Rebel'
and endeavor to be at least one of
the party that should bring such a prize
into port. But I hold the rank of second
in command, and this will give me an
opportunity of winning fame and name!
for I am resolved that if I can have any
influence with my voice, that the cruiser
shall not return to port without one or the
other of these ships.'

In a few minutes afterwards, while
they were still lingering at their parting,
the signal gun sounded from the port.—
Neal once more embraced the weeping
girl and hastened to the pier. The last
boat was just leaving it. He sprung on
board and in five minutes stood upon the
deck of the little vessel. There was
just light enough for him to distinguish
the captain, whom he recognized by his
chapeau and sword, not having yet seen
him.

`This is Captain Derby, I believe,'
said Neal, walking aft from the gangway

`Yes, sir,' answered a short, full-faced
man, thirty-five years of age, with a keen
look, and a very firm, but pleasing expression
of countenance.

`Yes: is this Mr. Nelson?'

Neal replied in the affirmative.

`I am glad to see you ou board, sir, as
the tide will soon serve. `I am prepared
to find in you a good officer. The general
has spoken to me favorably of you.'

Neal bowed, and then said, `I will, if
you please, assume my duties.'

`Yes. Take the deck while I go below

to finish a letter I have to send on
shore!' and he handed him the trumpet.

Neal, prepossessed in favor of his captain,
began to take upon himself the command
of the deck by giving two or three
neaessary orders in a tone that at once
showed the men they had a seaman to
command them who must be obeyed.

At eight o'clock the schooner loosed
her fore-topsail and jib, and tripping her
anchor, was in five minutes afterwards
bowling down the harbor at the rate of
seven knots. The night was starry with
drifting clouds; the wind steady from
N.N. West. The schooner was about one
hundred tons burthen, a very fast sailer,
with unusual breadth of beam. She carried
eight `twelves' and one twenty-four
on a carriage upon a sort of top-gallant
fore-castle which seemed to have been
constructed on purpose to sustain the
gun at this elevation. The crew consisted
of sixty men.

All these facts Neal learned befor they
had passed the castle. Up to this time
Captain Derby had taken no active part
in the command, although he had been
on deck since the anchor was weighed.
He seemed to leave all to his new officer
that he might test his quallties as an officer
and as a seaman.

After they had passed Nix Mate and
left the Light house a mile or two astern,
Captain Derby approached Neal as he
stood near the helmsman conning the
sailing of the vessel.

`Well, Mr. Nelson, I am very well,
satisfied with General Washington's appointment!
I see you understand your
business. I dont want a better officer if
you turn out to be as good as you've begun.'

`I am gratified at your approval, sir,'
answered Neal.

`Now, we are in blue water we have
got to keep a sharp look out. Bankes
is cruising in our present neighborhood,
and can't be far off at this moment; for
he was in the offing at sunset with the
frigate that chased me in, and a sloop.—
We must take in all the sail we can spare
so as not to be conspicuous if they sweep
the sea with their night glasses; at the
same time we must carry enough to get
off the coast before daylight and far outside
of him.'

`Have you any particular object in
view this cruise, sir?'

`Particular! Yes, very particular.—
I mean to capture the first British vessel
that will strike to me.'

`I mean is there any vessel in particular
that you are desirous of capturing?'

`No! I shall watch for any that are
bound this way.'

`Would you not like to fall in with a
ship laden with powder, Captain Derby?'

`I would rather make such a capture
than capture a frigate if she had no powder
on board!'

`You, perhaps, know that though I am
now in the Provincial service, I was recently
in the British!'

`Yes, the general told me part of your
story; but old Colonel Parks sent for me
and gave me a full account of you!'

`Then I have only to add that I learned
while I was in the king's service that
two ships laden with powder and munitions
of war were to sail from Bristol or
Portsmouth the last of February! It is
now the twenty eighth of March!'

`Do you mean to say that the ships
were destined for Boston?'

`Yes; to supply Sir William Howe's
army! It is more paricularly to watch
for the approach of these two ships that
Commodore Bankes has been left to
cruise off the port.'

`This is brave news! Last of last
month they were to sail! They have
been to sea now thirty days or so! Excellent
news! Now if I could fall in
with one of these powder-monkies I
would tie his tail to my taffrail and tow
him in to Boston!'

`It is with the prospect of your being
able to make a capture of one of these
vessels I have shipped with you; for I
would share in the credit of the enterprize!'

`I would never ask another earthly favor
if I might come athwart one of these
gentlemen!' said Captain Derby with animation
walking up and down the deck
and rubbing his hands! `Boys!' he
suddenly cried out to his men! `There
are two powder-ships making for Boston,
thirty days out! We will have them if
we have to fight Banke's squadron!—
Hey, boys?'

`Aye, aye, sir!' was the general re

`Keep a good lookout there, bows?
Open your eyes there in the fore-topmast
head! You have got to see double and
lookout for prizes as well as John Bull's
frigates! Have the men all ready at their
guns, Mr. Nelson! These store ships
show fight sometimes and have to be
whipped! The prize we took yesterday
give us nine round shot besides a sprinkling
of musketry. Harry Cowell my second,
and three men got hit! We must
be prepared for the rogues!'

The little vessel ploughed her way
along over the undulating billows, under
shortened sail to present as little surface
to the eyes of the enemy as possible, and
yet making full six knots. Her course
was E. S. East, wing and wing, the wind
being dead aft. At least a dozen men
were engaged in looking out from the
deck and aloft, some directing their eyes
abeam, and others astern; for Captain
Derby knew that ships which had kept
no lookout over the course they had
crossed, bad sometimes found themselves
over-hauled by the enemy coming up under
their stern.

It was about five minutes after seven
bells had struck in the middle watch,
when. Neal who was pacing the deck suddenly
stopped. He had been walking and
thinking upon Anne and anticipating the
time when, if fortune favored him, he
should return with honor and silence forever
all doubts of the sincerity of allegiance
to the patriot cause. At intervals,
mindful of his duty, he had sent his keen
glance ahead and around him; and at the
moment he stopped, his eye was arrested
by a star rising, but which he believed at
first to be the light of a vessel it was visible
so low upon the horizon. Taking
his glass he examined it and was satisfied
that it was the star Aldeharan. He put
down his glass and remained watching
its slow altitude when he saw it all at once
disappear and the next instant re-appear
as if an opaque object had passed between
it and his line of sight. The idea that
it was a vessel flashed upon his mind; and
again seizing his glass, he levelled it in
the direction, and was satisfied that there
was a ship ahead about three points off
the starboard bow and standing close
hauled, but on what tack he was unable
to determine, the whole mass was so indistinct
Captain Derby was lying asleep
upon the deck with his jacket under his
head for a pillow; for he was too anxious
to go below. Neal awoke him and directed
his attention to the sail.

`It is a large ship, and I think standing
upon the larboard tack S. by East!
She is one of Banke's frigates. Give the
word quietly Mr. Nelson, to haul aft the
fore and main sheets, and let us steer a
point or two nigher till we can better
make her out. Drop both the peaks, and
take a double reef in the fore-sail and
mainsail, so that we can lay as low in the
water as possible. All our top canvass
is furled as it should be in such a dangerous
neighborhood!'

These orders were conveyed to the men
by Nelson in an under tone, for the wind
blew directly towards the stranger, and it
was important that no sound should be
borne to them: for at sea the slightest
noise is heard at an inconceivable distance.

`We can run down close under her
counter with the low sail we carry,' said
Neal; and can see what she looks like,
We shall not be discovered if we let go
our halyards as we come close to her.'

`You are both bold and wise I see, Mr.
Nelson. I love a brave man! Take the
command as it is your watch, and manage
her as you will! I will play passenger
and look on! It is my opinion it is
the frigate.'

`No, sir,' responded Neal who had the
glass at his eye; `she is too small for a
frigate! It is either one of the sloops or
a large merchantman.'

`Then it is one of the store-ships.'

`I sincerely hope so. We shall however
soon know, as we are now not more
than a mile from her.'

The schooner with not a yard of canvass
hoisted twenty feet above her decks,
lying low and crouching upon the water
like a hound upon its haunches, moved
steadily and silently down towards the
dark tower of canvass that lay between
her and the sky. As they came nearer,
it was plain that the ship was beating
westward on the larboard tack, with top-gallant-sails
set, and royal-yards across.

`Whether she is an armed vessel or
not, I be hanged if I can make out,' said
Captain Derby. `But she looks to me
like a merchant ship! Hark there is eight
bells! Now listen.'

The loud prolonged call of the `larboard
watch ahoy!' reached their ears.

`That settles it, sir,' said Neal with
animation.

`Yes, I think it does,' answered the
Captain. `A man of war never calls a
watch in that style.'

`No. She is a trader.'

`I hope she is a store-ship filled with
powder.'

`That remains to be seen! But look
to leeward of her! There is another
ship booming up against the sky like a
cloud! We are in ticklish company! It
can't be that they are both the powder-ships.'

`I think the one the other side of her
must be one of Banke's frigates,' said
Neal levelling his glass at the new-comer.
`Hark! there is a boatswain's whistle!
See! a linstock is flashing on her decks!
Let go halyards there that the flash of
the gun if they fire shall not expose us!
Easy—without noise!'

Hardly had the sails descended to the
deck ere a bright flash illumined the sea.
By it, the ship first discoverved, was
plainly seen to be a large store-ship,
painted black with white bends. It also
displayed the vessel from which it came.
She was plainly made out to be a frigate
of the first class. A loud report resounded
across the water and died away in the
distance.'

`That gun is for the ship to heave to,
not for us,' said Neal. `Hark! hear
the yards swing round! She is laying
her maintopsail aback! Listen! They
hail her from the frigate's deck.'

`Ship, ahoy! what ship is that?'

`The George the IIId—store-ship!
bound to Boston!'

`Aye, aye! Glad to fall in with you!
Have spoken your consort six hours ago
and ordered her to put away for Halifax!
The garrison is withdrawn from Boston,
and the Yankees are in possession again!
Happy to fall in with you, Captain! Fill
away and lay your course for Halifax!'

`Aye, aye, sir! What frigate is that?'

`His Brittanic majesty's frigate the
Sphynx.'

`Thank you, sir, for your warning!'

`Keep in my wake till day-light, and
will protect you till you get a hundred
miles or so Eastward! There are some
rebel cruisers abroad and they
are in want of powder. So you must
keep sharp look out.'

`Aye, aye, sir! But we are a heavy
sailer and may fall astern!'

`Fill away with me and steer E. N.
East, and if you lose sight of me you will
be sure I am ahead. If I lose sight of
you for any length of time I will lay by
and wait till you come up.'

`Thank you, sir.'

`The order `brace round the yards,'
then reached the ears of Neal and Captain
Derby from the powder-ship, and the
frigate putting up her helm took the lead
followed by the other.

`Now, if I do not hang upon your
track like a blood hound,' said Neal
within himself, `I hope never to see
Anne! Captain Derby that ship must
be our prize before another hour

`Impossible'

`It is possible, sir!'

`She is under the protection of the
frigate!'

`Therefore can we take her easier.
She will feel the more secure.'

`How can it be effected?'

`It is plain, though we have been within
hail, we have not been discovered.
That frigate therefore cannot see us a
mile distant is very plain. This store-ship
is a bad sailer, so says her captain!
She is now a third of a mile at the start
astern of her convoy, and in half an hour
will be likely to double this space. My
plan is, sir, to follow close in her wake
and when we get near enough, hail her,
and demand to know if she is the store-ship
`George the IIId!' On receiving
a reply, we will inform them of the
evacuation of Boston, and warn them not
to proceed, passing ourselves off as one
of Banke's cruisers! Our gratuitive information
will gain their confidence and
I will gradually fall along side. If you
will have the boarders ready to leap away
at the word, in three minutes she will be
in our hands! All we shall then have
to do will be to stick her head on the
other tack and beat dead to windward.
It will be some time, perhaps an hour or
two, before the frigate wlll miss her altogether
and put back to look her up. By
that time we shall have so far got the
weather gage as to laugh at the Commodore
should he be in sight at day-break!'

`Mr. Nelson' said Captain Derby

grasping his hand, `you have my hearty
concurrence in this plan. It is well conceived.
It does you honor. You shall
have the credit of carrying it out.'

The schooner was the next moment
under press of sail steering in the wake
of the store-ship, which was now distant
about half a mile ahead.