The Columbian Fountain

EDITED AND
WASHINGTON.
THE FRIGATE'S TENDER.
BY PROF. J. H. INGRAHAM.
It was early on a sunny morning during the progress of the last war with Great Britain, that a young naval officer, walking the battery at New York, had his attention drawn to a group of persons earnestly engaged in watching two vessels just visible far down the harbor.
"What is it, my friends?" he asked in a frank hearty tone, as he joined them.
"The tender, again, chasing in a schooner, sir," answered an old tar, touching the point of his hat as he noticed the anchor button on the officer's coat.
"Here is a spy-glass, sir," said a master's mate, who stood near, and at the same time, respectfully handed it to him.
"Thank you, my man," answered the lieutenant, with a smile, as he took the instrument and placed it to his eye.
By its aid he could clearly distinguish an armed schooner of about ninety tons, crowding sail in chase of a trading 'fore-and-after' that was making every exertion to escape, both by towing and throwing water upon the sails.
The Chase is about half a mile ahead, sir," said the master's mate; "but the tender sails like a shark in chase of a dolphin. The 'fore-and-after' don't stand a chance of getting in past the fort."
"The tender can sail, and I am one that ought to know it," said a stout weather-beaten looking man. "She was a pilot boat, and the fastest craft that ever danced over the waves. Three weeks ago, I and my crew were out in her, when yon English frigate suddenly made her appearance out of a fog-bank and brought us to. But I took to my yawl and pulled for the land a league away, and escaped; for the fog was so thick the Englishman could not get a glimpse of me. It is my schooner that they have turned into a tender, sir, and that has made so many captures during the last three weeks, of our small coasters."
"She carries forty men and a long thirty-two, so I hear," observed an old seaman in the group.
"It would be a blessing," observed a man-of-war's man, who had not before spoken, "if that craft could be caught napping. It ain't for a sloop to put her nose out of the harbor, beyond the cape--but while the frigate was alone, they could slip along the coast in light water, and show her their keels. But now, everything that ventures out is brought to by that long gun of the tender's."
"That's a fact, Ben," responded another seaman. "She has taken or driven back into port, no less than twenty-six craft in the last three weeks. I shall be glad, for one, when our frigate lying off there gets her armament aboard; for then, I think, we'll swallow the English frigate outside, and pick our teeth with the tender."
All these remarks were heard by the young officer, who, all the while continued to look through the spy-glass at the tender and her chase.
"There goes a gun!" cried several of the spectators, as a flash and jet of azure smoke came from the tender's bows.
"That's bold enough," observed the young officer, as if speaking his thoughts aloud, "the impudent tender is almost up with the fort, and dares to fire at the chase in the very face of the batteries."
"It is only to try to do her mischief," said the master's mate, "for she finds the fore-and-after will escape her, so she fires a gun to cut away something."
"You are right, my man," responded the officer; "for she has put about and stands seaward again."
He continued to watch the retiring tender for some moments in silence.
"It is a pity we hadn't an armed cutter in port that would sail faster than she can, so that we might give her a chase out," said a lad, approaching the group. His dress was that of a midshipman, and his air singularly free and fearless.
"Ah, Frank, are you there?" said the lieutenant, "when did you get back from your father's?"
"Last night. I was in hopes to find the ship ready for sea, Mr. Percival, but I am told it will be three weeks before we can get away. I want to have a brush with John Bull's frigate which hovers off and on the harbor with so much bravadoing. When did you get in town, sir?"
"Yesterday morning. Have you been witnessing the pretty chase down the bay, Frank?"
"Yes. I would give a year's pay if I could have a hand in capturing that rogue."
"Come aside with me," said the officer, putting his arm in that of the midshipman. "Your words but express my wishes. I have conceived a plan for capturing the tender."
"In what way, sir?" demanded the youth, with animation.
"I will show you. The tender's game appears to be the coasting vessels from which she takes men to impress in the British navy, and also plunders the craft of such things as they may contain, which are of any value. My plan is to charter an old sloop, the worst looking one it is possible to find in port, but a tolerable sailer, for she must work well and readily obey her helm. I will load her deck with hen-coops, filled with poultry, pens crammed with pigs, a few sheep, and a calf or two, by way of variety. You laugh, Frank, but the commander of the tender will find it no laughing matter, if I succeed as I anticipate. I will ship about thirty-five men, and conceal them in the hold, and taking command of my craft, with one hand only visible on deck, I shall set sail out of the harbor. When I get outside I think I shall be able to show John Bull a Yankee trick he will not be likely to forget very soon. But all will depend on our good management of the affair. Now you see what I would be at, Frank! Will you join with me?"
(To be continued.)