Fireside Ballads. rum JOHN IN THE TELE- GBAPEFFICE I! 3. H. JOHNSON. “ Say, mister, what makes that there clickin' And rattlin‘ just like a machine? I’d have asked ye store. but was fearful You‘d think 1 was mis'anly green. The telegraph, did ye sa . mister! ‘ Does it make such a 'ck-chckiu noise? Well, I vum! When I get back to the Holler I’ll have something to tell to the boys! “ Kin I just ate inside there a mipute, And just t e a m at the thing! I’ve neerd a good 'bout the tel graph, But I’m blamed if I don't hope to swing If I ever had any ideer "I‘was any such Iookin' con_sarn: But ye know that the old sayin' tells us ' As long as we live, we can l‘arn.‘ “ Say, how do ye send out the letters? Do ye fasten 'em onto the wire? I s‘pose then they trawl like lightnin‘, And mebbe a Ieetle mite spryer. What! Ain’t that the way that ye do it? Don't laugh at me. mistrr young man! For if ye think you can insult me, I’ll wallop ye sure! and I can! “ Of course it’s all right; I forgive ye If ye didn’t mean any offense; But I know, if I ain‘t eddicated, I’m a man of good sound common sense. Ye don't mean to say that that rattlln‘ Is words that the tele: mph 8 «aksl And plain as the words I am ta kin’l Well, now if that don't beat the Greeks! “ It must take a long time to Peru it. . And a migh'ygood head, too, I think; I don't b’lneve my old brains could do it, Not even if I and to sink! ' I thought at the first e wavfoolin', And feediu' me ta y for fun; But ye look like an honest young teller, And so I will take ye for one. “ But when I get back to the Holler Won’t I make ’em just stick out their eyes When I tell what l’ve l’arned in your office? I guess it will cause a su rise! I thank e for treatiu'me k ndly, And 1‘ take myself out 0‘ or way :— Drop in if ye come to the Ho ler; And now I must bid ye good-day." - The [legit-Bell. ’ BY 00L. Pmms woman. Tin: storywhich I am goin to tell, gentle reader. is a true one, and gees or to prove the old s’aying, that “truth is stranger than flc— tion. ’ It wastheyear after the war in the United States that was returning home, after a so- of a few months in South-Amerim; and din that I would have to remain some weeks in a miserable little seaport town, if I did not take upon a small schooner bound to Portland, concluded to risk the discomfort and go by the little craft. Iaccordingly went on board to see the cap— tain, and was informed by him that he did not - wish any passengers. and would not be bothered byan ,butthathewasinneedof afirst-mate, and I was competent I might go as such. Batherthanremain in South America, lac— c-efitedthe position, and two days after we set and shaped our coursefor the Westin— Y ,Therewereonboardbesidesthecaptain and ascend-meridian seamesr also a ' ' fitww"”h?$°m’” was its]: w 'o onrvsseslwashs'calmedandlayupouth‘eocean ' withherlargesaik brily'assherolled .. withthe gentle swello the waves. . Itwas aboutteao'clock, and Theme Daveno port—fl thecaptaiu's hirer—end myself were standing near the wh and idlyganlng outup- on the moonlit sea. Theone had ust asked me if Iwassupersti— ti and I rep : “ o; and yet I have seen somemost unsc- countable things happen, of which I have had a premonition.” - , “I do believe in superstition and, do you i , know, I have had a fearful thought, a presenti- ment, that this schooner will never get safely into #rt ” “ by, Miss Theone, you have been the life of the ship—” a “My happy moods have all been forced. ' Hark l" » ' And as the youn girl spoke we listened in si- lence, and clear an distinct across the waters l came the sound of a bell. “ One—two~three—four—five. Five bells—- half- t ten o’clock,” I said. looking at my wate :,“ but where does the sound come from? , At dark there was no sail in sight, and there - has been no wind to bring one near us," I con— tinued, puzzled at the strange circumstance. “I tell you this vessel is doomed; that was its death-knell,” said Theone. i And her face wore a weird expression in the moonlight. I laughed at the young girl’s fears, and yet not feeling comfortable myself, descended in- to the cabin to report the matter to the cap- He was seated at the table, and not answer- ing when I s ke to him I called again, be- lieving him as eep; but sti no answer, and as I looked at him I noticed that his eyes were open, his face pale, and. with a start, I stepped back; the captain was dead! - Hardly knowing what to do, I ascended to the deck. and broke the news as gentlyas I could to Theone. “If God! I knew it,” she uttered, as she rush to the cabin. I called the men aft and told them of the sad circumstance, and ordered preparations to be made for the funeral, and as I gave the order, again came the sound of a bell across the wa— tors. The men heard it and with wild fright upon their faces, they looked from one to the other in once. Wishing to break the spell that bound them, I sent them forward upon some duty, but in less than two minutes a man rushed aft, saying: “ The second mate is dying, sir. ” I walked forward, and found it was too true; poor Carter had been stricken down with the cholera and was in death-agonies as I approach- ed; a moment more. and he was dead. One by one the crew were seized with that ter— rible diSease, and as it struck them, all hope of life went from them. One by one they died, until, as the clear sounds of that distant bell came to me. striking five bells—~balf—past two—the last of the crew, the poor little cabin-b0 . breathed his last. Not once had I enter the cabin ; but through the four hours from half-pest ten until half—past two, I had heard that bell strike, and each toll had counted the loss of one of the crew. The captain, the second mate. the cook. the four sca- men and the cabin-boy. all were dead, and I alone, with Theone. remained alive, and as I walked aft to enter the cabin I feared that she also might have gone. But no; she knelt beside the dead form of her father and her head rested upon his lap. I keto her, and told her of the ravages that th had made forward, and begged her to arouse herself to action. She got up without a word, and, one by one. we consigned the captain and his men to their . watery graves. With a few lines of the burial serviceof the Episcopal church, which I knew by heart. ‘ The wind began to fill the sails soon after. and the schooner moved through the water, I the helm. Hailing a misfortune and distress, and, more dead than alive, we were taken on shore. Poor Theone never recovered from the shock; her reason left her, and in a mad—house in far- ofif South America, she lingered for a few months and then found rest in the grave; while I returned to the United States, and, by min- gling with the gay throng of social life, endea- vored to forget the horrors of that lonely voy- agNo solution of that death-bell has ever come to me; whether it was a steamer that might have lain near to us for some hours, or not, I never knew: but certain it 18 that each stroke counted the life of one of the fated schooner’s CI‘OW. “ Nitvna in’. Han second the yellin’ Markhead ! ardl pre their best. ‘6 L room. this crowd ‘tawa . ' em . ‘tiByar pin’. mints the “But to j’ine in thar, and Greasers. slim shake teched. lt‘ our heads Marcellin tell you. rest 0’ us h We had to but we be mouni’ins, we hadn’t Dick, and youngster “ ‘ Look gal’s ear. feather. I determined to at once put back to the South American coast and after six days of hardship, of sleepless nights and lon , weary days, we sighted land, and just at dar and let go the anchor in a safe harbor. Dick Haggis Bride. matrimon "venter’, younker? VVal, thet’s s‘pris- jaws an’ tongue kin work at the same time. “ Dick was a proper slick lad- sum fer his inches, too, wagh!—-six feet six in moccasins, an’ es straight as a hickory wifiinkstick. Shoul— der to shoulder with him stood Killbuck, both old bosses with saddle galls, but true es a pitch-knot. ’int, he didn’t, by chimbly rock; and Marcelhn the Mexican, warn’t no coyote. Then thar war Kit Carson—sum for his inches, too, I reckon! An’ this beaver! Mebbe my hev hind sights! and mebbe I didn’t clean out whisked over by no Digger smoke, and we went down to Taos for sum tall doin’s, wagh! Mebbe we didn’t find ’em! “ We war bound for the Taos market. an’ bed a few mules packed with beaver. But we hedn’t kem all thet way jess’ to sell our pelts. We war on a regular storm-cane 0’ a time—a big nor’- wester—an’ when you want a heap 0’ fun go to Taos, waghl We jess’ b’iled over with devr try! “ Wai, we jess took Taos by storm! The cow- Greasers skulked like Dig ers; but the y sefioritas tossed their he and fandango was given in our honor. “ Mad bufflers! but didn’t we make the Greas- ers stand round! One 0’ the dirty sneaksput his huff-print on my toe, when I picked him up like a hornet an’ let him git through the door. “ Jess at that minnit one o’ the yaller-eyed cusses grabbed hold 0‘ Dick’s gal and tried to pull her away from him ‘ hitting hifila cl p that war heerd all over the , ennyway!’ " An’ around be skipped with the purty sen- orita on his arm. “ ’Twarn’t long afore thet Greaser war on his feet, and with half a dozen upon his heels be rushed on Dick. “The wimmin—folks screamed and tried to who foresee’d the fl ht thet war comin’ jess es sure es day ' ht, while he dropped his partner and squared or the scrimmage. » .“ Dick Wooton warn’t one to be ketched nap- ..f‘gimii genres 2%.?“ "° “‘3 t e groun like a homer bull .“Thenhlsarmsshotoutlikea flash and the ses’d.’.t’othm rn‘sh ’pon fired by our comm’, war raised now like a nest o’ hornets, than he would for a k 0’ perarie wolves. He jess overtopped ’em and shoulders, and he dro ’em like 'ha' il-stones. “ ’ course it didn’t take the rest 0’ us long the hull horde warn‘t no pony-ride. “ We laid out ’em Greasers like droppin’ moun- t'in sheep, but fer every one thet bit the dust half a dozen w’u’d swarm round. “They say dusted at the Greenhorn fig t, but I never see’d a boy do taller work than he did at the! time. Killbuck, La Bonte an’ Marcelliri made the air ring with their mountain-yells, while the car— peted the floor with the Greasers. Kit warn’t so norsg, and though he warn’t quite so tall he cut es i may bet I warn’t as was the fu’st man to git to Dick. “ But it war like [i htin’ fire to keep back ’em n’t git out, and with no guns we stood a mighty “ Purty soon Rube got tickled in the side by one o’ the Peladoe’s stickers and I see’d Marcel— lin begin to fail and knowed that he bed got “ Jess when it seemed thet we war a goner Kit Carson cried: “ ‘ This way, boys! “ He war jess to my right, and with a leap I went through the varmints to him. La Bonte got thar at the same minnit. ’8 fun !’ yelled Kit, es he leapt to the corner where a high, three-legged stool war standin’, and La Bonte and I knowed his game. “ In less’n the shake o’ a lamb’s tail we bed the legs of! o’ thet stool, and swingin’ ’em ’bove down nerved our arms a leetle stron er, but I want to tell you we warn’t long in c earln’ the room. “ Yelling like reds the Greasers——all who c’u’d —-cl’ared from the ranch. ‘ “Twon’t do to stay here long,’ said Kit. ‘The may burn the building down.’ “ \Ye warn’t a bit anxious ’bout stayin’, I kin Dick and Killbuck had to help him: and Rube had ’bout all he c’u’d do to keep ’long. ' “Howaumever, the varmints seemed an hty afeerd 0’ us three with ’em stool-legs; an all got off slick to a friend’s cabin, Jess out o‘ the village. ‘ . “ We fixed up Marcellin slick, and Rube said his cuts warn’t no ’count ennyway; and the “ Dick felt the wu’st ’cos he’d lost his gal. It war decided, howsumever, thet as we’d kicked up a purty good sort 0’ a dust, it w’u’d be best- est to head for the mount’ins. o’ sich doin’s, ennyway. “ The next mornin’, bright and ’arly, we mounted our horses and started up the valley. 1pass through the village on our way, L Greasers were like so many peccaries to us. “ Brandishing our guns and hoorayin’ for the front of one of the houses. . “ I ketched si ht o‘ the purty seflorita, who waved her ban prevent him he broke from us and rid to the side 0’ the gal. . “ Ewn then we didn’t s’pect what the daring youngster war up to “Just then Dick whispered somethin’ in the up onto the withers 0’ his boss as if she’d been a “ The Greasers yelled like mad and rushed for our young churn. But he war too quick for ’em I went forward passing boat, I told them of our BY J. E. DONOVAN. heard the yarn 0’ Dick Wooton’s me a chaw o’ ’bacca. Reckon my ube Herring and La Bonte didn’t take no gun didn’t Wain“! at the old convent! Ax al, I reckon we boys warn’t to be Ax the Greasers! looked A fandango—the very first week a that, on oldGreaser!’ yelled Dick, 0 durned Spaniard can’t shine in The Greasers snapped for the bait thar, Dickl’ yelled Rube. Herring, down. I~heerd him and Dick poll-me . ButI ouallthatkem arter. rs,whosejealousnatershadbeen amiljess like so menny stingin’ var- swarmed round Dick. ck Wooten cared no more for ’em “There were live] more than one o’ the “ Howsumever, we all got off none the wuss fer our scrimmage, and Dick felt as tickled as a Blackfoot with a new shooter. “ Dolores was a I view with awestruck eyes. Sits on her green girl: throne. the world to bring Beneath her feet: the pouring waters sing An awful anthem from the depths serrne Where slow unwinds a thread of silver sheen. Here splendid colors to the tow’r’d sides cling, As by the Mighty Ar'ist‘s hand bedeck‘d— Royal of purple. orifi-lmme of gold. With vernal brents in of the Navy, of the Asiatic fleet. the circus; but we didn’t hev our guns for seven to clean out empty-handed Rube Herr-in turned heel and arson th es enny o’ ’em. You g a p when I tell you thet I They bloc ed the door and we c’u’d- in the home run. Hyar !’ we turned 'pon the Greasers jets es fell. Mebbe the sight 0’ him goin’ But Marcellin war so used up that we ad got off scot free. We‘d got tired our weepons then, and the howlin’ we rid past ’em like. wind. But gone fur afore I been! a cry from he pointed excitedly to a crowd in to him. That jest made the go mad. Afore the rest 0’ us could out thar, .Dick 1‘ yelled Killbuck. Then be bent forward and lifted her be noeasytask to the English shi schooner and brig reasers bit STONE. BY AL. W. CROWILL. Here THE CHAPTER XI. triotism. “ Run by soundings. course and chart,” “ For night-work I’d trust to them as soon as I would to a pilot.” “ I fear I’ll have to,” said Harry, thoughtful- “ If we could only draw all the enemy oil’- shore in chase. we might play them a trick and get inside of them after dark. But I see the est yet lay in therc at. anchor.” es; and we must look out. or some of the others will get in range of us; they’re crowding on all their canvas.” Harry laughed. “ We need fear no era was his answer. Heading offshore, though under less sail than ps astern were carrying, the soon left them far behind. “fiHooray fer the greenhorn!’ cried Dick, puttin’ the rowels to his boss and ridin’ right over the Mexicans, while the gal clung to him “We jest dropped back and kivered Dick’s times for a spell, and the dust. _ good gal, and she followed Dick through one o’ the toughest seasons 0’ trappin’ and fightin’he ever had. I disremem— her her fate, but I know I found him alone on the Little Red next season well-nigh dis- GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOW- These mighty cliffs, whose dizzy hights between Gray eagles clean the air with drowsy wing. Nature’s Queen laces toucn’d and kissed, And little glints of w iteness slightly fieck’d On Nature's robes, far-clinging. fold on fold— Her coronet a rainbow in a mist! Ymows'rosn FALLS, August 29th, 1885. Midshipman Rover; THE RED ISRIVATEER. A ROMANCE OF 1812. BY COL. E. Z. C. JUDSON. A DARING RUN. Fltox the moment war was declared by act of and the proclamation of President mason issued, June 19th, 1812, Ben. more was full of excitement. Off the coast fleets of British men-of-war were hovering, to cut of! all commerce; the seaboard towns were threatened, and Wherever, by bays or rivers, the enemy could approach from sea, attack was threatened and expected. for the army and navy was con- stant, and t e Citizens old and young enrolled for the defense of homes and families. Mr. Carroll Brent, with almost all his great interests scattered over foreign seas, did not for a moment falter in influence were 11 His purse and freely to strengthen the Government, and no matter who found fault with increased taxation and decrease of profits, he took things as they came and made no com- The most he dreaded was the advance of the heavy fleets below up to the town itself, and a bombardment or assault which would endanger the lives of those most dear to him. be prepared for such an event, he organ- armed and causad to be drilled in milita all of his employees from the shipy , ocks and the stores. Even Nicodemus his was put on duty, and at the drills, ich occurred twice a week, acquired consid- erable proficiency. But he never could fire a gun without shutting both eyes Mr. Carroll Brent had onl Red Gauntlet twice since 8 9 left her dock. First the news brou-rht by the pilot-boat, of her escape from the British sloop-of-war, OR the pes'; second, her gallant attack upon the pi- rates in the Straits of Sumatra, which had reached the public through a report made to y Commodore Brent ' heard from the “ Is it not time the Red Gauntlet was in port, dear papa ' asked Lucille one morning in Se tember—the latter part of equinoctial gales were considered as over for She had been terribly worried while the were raging, for she some way seemed to thin of nothing but the Red Gauntlet and her voy- gmg from her talk; it seemed always on P" the month—when the “ Yes, daughter, she should be here now, al- lowing her full time for the voyage out and back. But there are delays of which we may be ignorant. She may be blockaded in some port, or have been disabled in some of the heavy blows which have swept the ocean. Again, it will ass the countless ships-of- war which England as thrown along our coast. Their ships outnumber ours at least ten to one, and yet. when it comes to captures and victo- ries, I think we are morethan holding our own.” This conversation took place at the breakfast- table in the merchant’s house, and the meal had just ended when a message came from the stores for Mr. Brent. It was brought by Nicodemus “ Morris, the pilot, sir, wants to see you,” said ‘ ‘ He thinks the Red Gauntlet is off the ba . A schooner very like her in rig hove in sight before he left below. She came well inshore, but there were six English men-of—war in the low- er bayand she stood out to sea when she sighted them. There was a brig in company or in chase of her, the pilot couldn’t say which,though he saw no firing, and both craft were too far out to show “ She’ll slip in at night, if it is the Red Gaunt- let!” said the merchant, as he hurried out to see It was true that the Red Gauntlet was off the coast, and with her the prize-bri . When they sighted Charles and Cape Henry, Harry just outsailed two heavy Engi ped to have a free channel before he had lost sight of his pursuers just below Hat- teras: but, while under all the sail he dared to car- ry and keep his prize consort in his wake, he made outa line of vessels at anchor inside the bay, and soon knew that the enemy lay there quietly waiting to obble up any craft which came un- der reach 0 their guns. They did not make sail until be hauled his wind and stood offshore; then six of them were seen to hoist sail and get under way in a hurry, leavrng three or four yet at anchor. Brent ran within hail of the brig. proudly hoped wourd bear the Red Gauntlet company into Baltirnor e, and conferred with the lieutenant in command in regard to what now should be done. “ I would run for the Delaware,” said the lat— ter. “They will perhaps be less watchful off the capes there.” “ It is Brvlfimore for me. or no port at all on this coast!” said Ha rry, resolutely. take your choice—Philadelphia, New York or Boston, if you can make them. If I had a good pilot l'd risk running that line in the night, and g the light—houses on Cape Brent, who had sh shi .f—war, ft they can send out,” im, since ‘ ‘ You can said Until dark, keeping just out of gunshot of the nearest pursuing frigate, the two Americans kept almost side by side. “Show no lights. Do as you like on the brig!” cried Harry, when night was fair! set in; “ I’m going to risk dodging the fleet an try to get in. I shall haul 11 north for an hour and then steer for the Cape harles light.” “ I’ll stick by you, Captain Brent; we’ll sink or swim together!” was the answer. . Harry had cleared for action when they first Sighted the enemy. Not that he had a thought of fighting his wa through so large a fleet, or trying such a ma adventure, but to be ready for any unexpected exigency. . Putting out every light, Harry stood north just an hour, as understood with the brig, both under easy sail. . Rockets thrown up b the English fleet signal- ing to each other far 0 to the southeast, show- ed that the enemy were still on the course they were holding at dark. When the Red Gauntlet bore away on her course for Cape Charles the brig was so close aboard that the flapping of her sails could be heard. “Follow me if you can,” ordered Harry, as he passed the brig. “I shall hug the north shore as close as soundings will allow. If we are seen and fired into, don’t mind me—make your own run in as best you can. If we are not seen, with this wind holding we’ll be in Baltimore before the next sun sets!” f‘ I hope we shall. I’ll crowd you close!” cried the plucky commander of the prize, as he, too, bore away in the wake of the Red Gauntlet. For the next hour, silent. steady on the course, the swift schooner sped along. The wind was now on her quarter, and with only her fore and aft sails set, ready to haul up in a second if ne- cessary, the lights on the capes rose brighter and brighter to the anxious eyes on board. The roll of the ground swell told when they were shoaling their water, and when the land lead touched bottom insix fathoms, Harry knew that his risks were coming swiftly on. “ Have a leadsman in each fore-chains, Mr. Collin!” he said. “Let them make their casts alternately and pass the word back to me in a low tone. We’re too close on the weather shore for any carelessness now.” . When it got down to four fathoms and the light was well on the weather bow, Harry cared not luflf in any closer, but had to bear away to deepen the water for fear of the sand spit off the light, marked down in his chart. Now the bag was out of sight and hearing, and Harry h lost all idea of her position. . Suddenly, when the water was again shoal- ing, flash after flash was seen far out to sea; then the reports of guns were heard. “ It cannot be the brig that is engaged!” re- marked young Brent to Collin, who stood by his side on the quarter-deck. Nettles was looking out forward. “ Capting, I shouldn’t wonder if two or three of them Britishers had run afoul of each other, a-thinking it’s us t ey’re a-fightin’ !” “ It may be so!” assented sail was in sight outside of us. Ah, look there! Lufl', at the helm—luff inshore! Keep the lead gorng lively! See to it yourself, Mr. Coffin !” Blue-lights burning and three rockets sent up, less than a mile off on their lee beam, told the proximity of an enemy. Though the sea was lighted up so they saw two of the anchored ships plainly to leeward Harry hoped his vessel had not been seen, an that those on the British vessels were too much occupied with the combat going on outside to think of anything nearer in. Suddenly, even as it had come on, the firing ceased out seaward, and then blue—lights and rockets were seen in that direction, evidently vessels exchanging ni ht si als. The schooner still old or course into the great bay, hugging the weather shore just as from the ships at anchor. the exclamation made hour later. He had hardly dared to hope before. seem to be!” look about us! tackle-block here on our lee how i” “ Stand to of water from anot ed Coffin near by, fully armed. the same course she was. “ Sheer in! sheer in! We’ll lay her aboard!’ helm. you don’t luff and hold your wind.” “ Jerusalem! That’s Ebenezer Coffin’s voice Gauntlet. car’s length apart when this occurred. sha voice. amazement. was the answer. Havana, and have run 11 and scrouged- in arter dar . inside 0’ Hatters Gauntlet was fast forging ahead. me,” was the answer, as the larger sc oone sped on 'm the darkness. happy, for he could see just where he was. over a couple of miles ofl', in his we e. The schooner they had passed and spoken we been spoken by her. freshen,” observed Harry Brent. if ’twas dying away.” board. here at the same time with Ebenezer? Havana trade. and he is as sharp as chai lightmn’, Ebenezer is. he’ll not need our piloting.” ceases. He had raised a. mustache that coul roll Brent Company of Home Guards. Baltimore, and armed guards were posted at a accessible approaches by water. and the other blockade runner, commanded b Ebenezer Coffin.‘ “W his gaze that utterly astounded him. 1 other in the. dark and got to peppcring each Harry: “at dark no close as soundings would allow. -No alarm came “ We’ll go by—we’ll go lg, all unseen!” was y arry Brent 9. half- “I wish I knew the brig was as safe as we “An hour more will tell the story!” returned Mr. Coffin. “for ’twrll be light enough then to Hark! I heard the creek of a our guns!” commanded Harry, in y a low tone; “it may be another of the ships in the British line!” ‘ “ She’s under way, if it is for I hear the dash er hull than ours,” announc— “Mothieu! If it is a bi’f-steak we shall cook heem,” chimed in the Chevalier, who stood A minute later the schooner was nearly alongside a two-masted fore-and-after standing said Harry in a low tone to the man at the " Look out—look out there!” cried a sharp voice; “you’ll smash all creation out o’me if or I’m a liar,” cried the first officer of the Red The vessels, now side by side, were not an “I am Ebenezer Coflln, and if you ain’t brother Seth, you’re his ghost,” cried the same “ hat are you doin’ here?” cried Seth, in “Runnin’ in a cargo 0’ sugar an’ coffee for Baltimore, if I can dodge the durned Britishers,” “ I’m just six days from What be you in, you’ll see then.” was the answer, or the Red alit “ I will, if I can, but you’re slidin’ ri lit by When day dawned Harry Brent was made He was inside the great Chesapeake; the British blockaders were hull down, to sea- ward. and the prize-brig was near! astern, not in close vicinity to the brig, and had evidently “We are safe, but I wish theuviind would t seems as “ We’ll have enough to carry us in ’tween now and another mornin’,” answered Seth Cofiin, who was the best weather-prophet they had on “ Wasn’t it funny we should strike in He has run his craft, the. Sally Arm, for years in the He isn’t so fast as we. then b, for we’re drooping him, and he has all his c nvas on, too. But he knows the way in; “Nicodemus Sparkle had achieved two suc- be seen without a magnifying glass on a clear day. and he had been made a corporal in the Car— For now. in consequence of war perils, the old style of watchmen was discontinued along the whurves of He was on guard duty on the morning suc— ceeding the day when the Red Gauntlet headed up the Chesapeake in company with her prize In charge of. ’the daylight relief, he was marching to change sentinels at the post front- ing his employer’s property, when a sight met At anchor, right off the main wharf, lay a rakish schooner, painted red, with her guns run gut and her deck full of men-or so it looked to 1m. Ahead lay a black~looking brig, evidently armed heavily, her deck, too, full of men, and his face turned white as a sheet when he saw a British flag flying at her foremast—head. “ Gosh all emlock! The British are here!” he yelled, and, without pausing to take a second look, he turned and ran up the street, dropping his un as he went, shouting: “ be British are here! The British are here!” The cry was taken up by others as he dashed on, and when the terror-stricken fellow reached the house of Mr. Brent, on Calvert street, the alarm-bells were ringing from steeplcs, and the whole town was aroused and wild with excite- ment. Corporal Sparkle did not see a man in the act of knocking at Carroll Brent’s door when he ar- rived in front and shouted: “ The British are on us! Their ships are at the wharves!” But he felt the weight of Harry Brent’s foot, 8. second after, as it kicked him half—we across the street, While be cast a despairing 100 up at a window above, where Lucille Brent, in a love— ly night-wrapper, stood wondering what on earth was the cause of the terrible alarm that rung so loud over town. CHAPTER XII. A GLORIOL'S RECEPTION. “IDIOT! Fool! What do on mean, tryingto scare everybody out of their senses?” cried Harry Brent, as Nicodemus crawled up from the dirt into which the latter had sent him sprawlin . “ The ritish are on us! I’ve seen their ships and their flag !” groaned poor Sparkle. “ There —there—hear their guns! Now you’ll believe me?” and loud above the clangor of the alarm- bellls, came the sharp report of cannon fired rap- a. 9.. y. " It is only a salute of thirteen guns from my battery. The Red Gauntlet is in, safe, and a British gun brig, a prize, is here too!” cried Harr , addressing his 1'ncle, who now stood be- side ucille. at the window above. “ Thank Heaven! It is our Harry, with good news!” cried the merchant. “ I’ll be down to let you in in a moment.” “You’ve kicked me, sir—me, Nicodemus S arkle, a cor ral in the Home Guards. sir, and l’ have satis action, sir!" cried the unfortunate clerk, wild with rage. for he saw Lucille Brent laugh as she pointed him out to her father. And he strode up to Harry, as if he meditated an immediate attack on him. The latter looked an instant at his well—dusted figure, and joined in the laughter of the merry girl above, as he sai : “ by, Sparkle. my boy, I didn’t know you. You were screeching so like a monkey I mistook you for one! Did I hurt you any, poor child?” “ You’ve hurt my honor, sir! You’ve made a laughing-stock of me, sir! And I’ll have our heart’s blood for it, sir! I’ll show you I’m lue- blood, sir, and I’ll—” “ Subside! Subside. Sparkle, or I’ll have to kick you into the middle of next week instead of over the gutter!” and Harry turned so suddenly on Sparkle that the latter forgot his valiant commencement and fled out of reach of attack. By this time Mr. Carroll Brent was at the door, and poor Sparkle, from across the street, saw him embrace his nephew, and a minute later loaned in agony when, through the parlor win- ( 0w, he saw the white arms of Lucille Brent thrown about Harry’s neck, while her ruby lips rained kisses on his weather-bronzed face. “ Gosh all hemlock!” he groaned. “ I’m a. ruined and degraded man! I’ve been kicked! She saw it done; and now she is kissing him who kicked me! I’ll kill him, if I’m hung for it! Ah —there goes more guns! I know the British are here!” The guns of Fort McHen‘ were answering the salute fired from the Red auntlet. The bells still rung loud, from ever steeple. People ran to and fro, and shout upon s out rose on every side. It was not the clangor of alarm, though, now. 1t was the sound of rejoicing, for the news spread fast, and far, and wide. The Red Privateer. already famous, had come in with a prize, on a blockade-covered coast, and lay safe in their waters, where they could see her and her brave officers and crew, and honor them accordin to their merits. Poor rcodemus Sparkle had gone back, heart- sick and disconsolate, to the guard he had de- sci-ted, only to find himself under arrest for throwmg away his gun and failing to post the relief guard as he had been ordered to do. Then he saw that the English flag, which had terrified him so, was hoisted union down, for- ward on the rize, and that aft the STAR SPAN- GLED FLAG ew at her gaff as well as on board the war and weather-stained privateer. And he realized w at an idiotic donkey he had ’ made of himself, an be wept in the intensity of shame and mortification. Meantime the house of Carroll Brent was in- vaded by the leading men of the city, who crowded there to congratulate the merchant and his gallant nephew. The city press was busy in spreading the news in extra sheets, and the wharves were filled with a cheering multitude which gazed on the gallant privateer and her prize with eyes of wonder and shouts of joy. Harry Brent, Without delay, sent a mounted courier to Washington with his dispatches, or- dering him to change horses often and make the best time he could. In his own letter to the Sec- retary of the Navy, he inclosed the report of the prize-master on the English brig-of-war, and reported that the latter could be fitted for al- most irnmediatc use in our own navy. When Mr. Carroll Brent saw the bills of lad- s ing which came with the cargo of the Red Gauntlet be was more than satisfied with the 7 Seth!” . result of the voyage. He ave every officer and “ A clipper craft, Ebenezer. Jest keep com— man on board two mont 3’ extra pay, saying puny wit us, if you can, till da light, and that his profits warranted even greater liber- leiree days later a pilot from below enlighten~ ed the youn commander and his crew on the 1' cause of the ring they had heard off the Capes the night they were running in. The two vessels Whllll had been in chase of Harry off Hatteras had come suddenly on the English vessels standing off in search of the schooner and brig, and had fired on them before knowing they were of their own flag. “It was a case of ‘dog cat dog—who cares!’ ” s was the comment of Seth Coffin, when he heard of it. Hastening to get her cargo out and to refit the Red Gauntlet for sea, Harry Brent ad veriised for seventy-five more men—fifty first-class seamen, and twenty-five good shots and able young men to act as marines under the command of the Cheva— lier Duva]. He boldly announced his craft as a commis— sioned Privateer, and promisvd the crew plenty of chances for prize-money and gallant ser- vrcc. 11 Men offered by scores before the ink was hard- ly dry on the paper which advertised for them. The only trouble was to select the very best from so many. Arms. provrsions and ammunition were libcr— ally provided by Carroll Brent. and within a week the lied Privutccr. refitted, reps. int( (1 d and with a full crew of one hundred and twenty- five before the mast—three lieutenants, two surgeons and the gallant Chevalier as captain of marines, was reported by her young captain, Harry Brent, as ready for sea. The next thing was to get there. The British 11 men—of-war in the mouth of the bay. as well as man off the coast, had heard of the famous Red rivateer and her exploits, and it was de- termined she never should get to see if they could intercept and sink hcr. y Watching day and night, even keeping patrol boats on the bay, they used the most untiring vigilance, intent upon her capture or destruc- tion. The Government had accepted and purchased the prize-brig, Lark, and renamed her The '3) av... “I .3