2
THE ENGLISHMAN'S EXPLOIT.
BY SYLVANUS COBB
MANY years ago, when we wore a
mere boy, we used to sit upon a
low stool, at the feet of Commodore Sam
uel Tusker, and hear that old veteran re
late the incidents that had come under
his own observation during our last strug
gle with Great Britaiu. Among the
thousand and one stories that we have
heard fall from the lips of that ocean
warrior, the following has remained fresh
in our memory :
On the western shore of Penobscot
bay, between Belfast and Camden, there
was a small club of fishermen's cots in
habited by a hardy set of men, who had,
been brought up amid the music of
the breaking waves, and whe knew no
fear beneath the power of mortal man.
Foremost among these hardy children of
the sea, and occupying the station as a
sort of ruler among them, was a middle
aged man, named Enoch Nightingale, or,
as he was generally called, Captain Night
ingale ; and never was a man better fit
ted by nature for the post ho held by gen
eral consent than was he. Powerful and
athletic in his physical mould, bold and
fearless as the forest monarch, and) frank
and generous in his social relations, he
was beloved and respected by all who
knew him. He was a jiolly fellow too,
and often, as his small gray eyes twink
led in their merry mood, a close observer
might have seen a keen love of practical
joking lurking in their gleaming depths.
At the time of which wo write, the
fishermen dared not venture far out to sea
for a close blockade was kept along the
coast, and so they were forced to forego
the advantages of their best fishing
grounds ;. but a new idea had taken pos
sessions of their brains, and they had
thought of fitting out a privateer against
the English. For two weeks had this
matter been talked over, and all the
arms necessary to personal welfare, had
been procured, but no vessel suitable for
the enterprise could be obtained, nor
could they raise guns heavy enough) for
sea use, had they possessed the vessel.
Of pistols and cutlasses they had enough,
and that was all, unless wo add one old
iron, six pounder, which served as a kind
of signal gun in cases of heavy fogs and
stormy nights.
It was just at nightfall that Obed Night
ingale's shallop (Obed was the old man's
son), came up the bay, aid as the young
man came on shore he reported that there
was an English topsail schooner, a clean
olipper-built craft, laying off and on be
tween Manhegan and the Ledges. She
was heavily armed, and seemed to- play
about in the water as though her heels
were made for running.
Now, Captain Enoch Nightingale had
aid but very little about the various pro-
jects that had been set on foot with regard
to the privateering expedition, but ho had
thought a great deal,, and as soon as his
son communicated tho above intelligence,
his thoughts came to a focus. A plan of
operation was clearly marked out in his
mind, and he at once set out about tho
work of putting it into effect. Tho man
who stood second to Captain Nightingale,
and who was, in fact, Nightingale's first
mate, was Jabe Haskins, and upon him
the old man first colled.
" Jabe," said tho captain, " did you
know there was a British Clipper just
outside?"
" Yes."
" Well, suppose we go out an' take
her."
. "Powoi ?"
" Take that Englishman.'
" W-h-e-w 1"
" But I'm in earnest."
Jabe looked at Nightingale in utter as
tonishment. " I can go out in my little Rhody an'
take her before she knows where she is.
Now, will you help?"
" I'll fuller ycr, cap'n, if yeou go to
thunder," was Jabe's hearty response, as
he saw the old man was in earnest.
Captain Nightingale took his mate by
the arm and led him off. The night was
i
ark, but still there was a busy scene on
oard the schooner Rhodv. which was the
heaviest fishing vessel in tho place.
Torohes were gleaming and all the
night long, hammers and saws were send
ing forth their musie, and when the
morning dawned, the lthody was ready for
sea. The old iron signal gun had been
hoisted on board, and placed upon a rude
sort of a carriage amidships, and the eod
line beckets and bait boxes had been
cleared away, and, take her all in all, she
bore some faint resemblance to an embryo
pirate or privateer.
She was manned by twelve men, of
whom Jabe Haskins took the command.
The people wondered where Capt. Night
ingale was, but Jabe set their hearts at
rest by telling them that he- would get
outside as soon as the schooner did.
In an hour after daylight the Rhody
hove up her anchor and made sail, and in
less than five hours she poked her blunt
nose into the waters of tho blue Atlantic.
Shortly after the schooner had passed
White Head light, tho Englishman was
made out about two miles distant, to the
south'rd and wcst'rd, just off the Ledges,
and hauling sheets flat aft, Jabo brought
his vessel up to the wind, which was fresh
from the north'rd and east'rd, and stood
off towards the latter point. This looked
amazingly like trying to run away at
least, so the Englishman thought and
consequently the clipper was immediately
put in full chase, and though sho was
somewhat to the leeward, still, it was evi
dent that she would not be long in over
hauling the Yankee.
About four o'clock in the afternoon,
the Englishman came almost within hail
ing distance, and fired a gun. As the
shot came whizzing over the fisherman's
deek, Jabe Haskins at once hove to, and
ere long the clipper came up.
" Schooner ahoy 1"
" Hello 1" returned Jabe.
" Do you surrender ?"
" Wal, ef yeou want' t take us, I sup
pose can't help myself."
Tho clipper hove her fore-top sail to tho
mast and lowered a boat, and in some five
minutes afterwards, her commander, fol
lowed by fifteen men, came over the Yan
kee's side. The first object that met his
gaste as he stepped upon tho deck, was
the old iron gun amidship, and though
the thought of an American pirate made
him feel sore, yet he could not help laugh
ing at the almost ridiculous scene thus
presented to his gaze. The twelve green
looking fishermen, together with that gun
did present rather a ludicrous appear
ance. " So you are on a piratical expedition ?"
tauntingly remarked the British officer.
" I donor" returned Jabe, with an of
fended air. "-I s'pose cf I'd cum across
one o' your crafts 'at I could 'ave took,
I should 'ave dono it ; but I dono as I
should a been pirating enny more'n yeou
aro ncow."
" How many men have you got ?"
" Here's twelve on us, an' ef yeou've
got twelve men 'at ken lick us, I'd like to
see 'em."
" Never mind about that, Jonathan.
We'll take you into Halifax, and there,
perhaps, you will find your match."
The schooner was searched fore and
aft, but all that could be found were a
dozen old pistols, and about as many
swords which were in the eabin, while in
the hold they discovered nothing but an
array of empty boxes and barrels. The
Englishman left twelve of his own men
to take charge of the prize, and took six
under charge of the officer who had been
appoiuted to the command of the lthody,
and also left orders that the schooner
should be left close in his wake during
the night, as lie intended to see her safely
out of reach of the Yankee coasters.
Until nine o'clock at night the Rhody
stood on after tho clipper, with all sail set
while tho latter carried her mainsail and
two jibs. Tho six Yankees who had been
left on board were secured in tho long
boat, while the lieutenant in command and
five of his men had tho first watch.
When the clipper struck two bells, the
vessels were not more than two cables'
length apart, the prize being a little wind
ward, as owing to her bad sailing, the
lieutenant wished to keep tho weather
guage. The night was quite dark, and
tho wind, which had fallen some since
sundown, had veered slightly to tho north
ward. While the prize-masters were earnestly
engaged in keeping up with the clipper,
a very novel scene was being enacted in
tho hold. One of tho boards which
seemed to form a part of a stationary
floor, was lifted from its place, and tho
head of old Captain Enoch Nightingalo
appeared through tho aperture. In a
moment more another board was removed,
and ere long, forty stout fishermen, all
well armed, had come up from their placo
of concealment. It was but a moment's
work to leap on deck, and ere tho thunder-struck
lieutenant could see from
whence came tho enemy, ho was bound
hand and foot, and so were his men,
while the poor prisoners were set free
from the long-boat. Obed Nightingale
took the helm, and his father pointing
a cocked pistol at the head of an English
officer, said :
"'Do you think we are in earnest, or
not?"
" I should think you were," replied the
trembling officer.
" Then if you do not obey me, you will
get a bullet throngh your head in an in
stant. Go hail the clipper."
" Scorpion ahoy I" shonted the lieuten
ant, as if for dear life.
In the meantime the Yankee had been
let off a little from tho wind, so that she
was now within little more than a cable's
length of her captor, while the bold fish
ermen were nearly all crouched beneath
tho bulwarks.
Some one from the clipper answered
the call.
" Tell them the schooner has sprung a
leak, and that tho cussed Yankees must
have thrown the pump brakes overboard."
The poor lieutenant looked first at the
stern face of the old man, theo at the
muzzle of the pistol, and then stretching
his lungs to the utmost ho obeyed the
order.
"Now, tell them to hcave-to, and you'll
run alongside."
The frightened officer obeyed, and on
the next moment the clipper's helm was
put hard down, and her main-boom shov
ed over to windward.
Seven of the Yankee fishermen were
stationed along the lee rail, with stout
graplings in their hands, and in less than
five minutes, the Rhody's bowsprit loomed
up over the clipper's weather quarter.
Obed shoved the helm down, and letting
go the sheets fore and aft, the Yankee
schooner shot gracefully alongside.
" Why in didn't you come up un
der our Ice quarter ?" shouted the En
glish captain, as the fishermen thumped
against the side of his vessel ; but before
he could utter any more of his wrath,
with which he was literally boiling over,
he found his deck swarming with strangers:
The whole thing had come about so
unaccountably, and, withal, so suddenly
that hardly a blow was struck by the as
tonished Englishman, and before they
were fully aware that they had been cap
tured by their own insignificant prize,
they were securely bound and most of
them stowed away below under a strong
guard.
" Wal, cap'n," said Jabe Haskins
who had been released from durance vile
as he came aft to where that function
ary stood by the side of old Nightingale,
" when dew yeou think of takin' us into
Halifax?"
The Englishman looked very hard at
his uncouth tormentor, but he disdained
any reply.
" 1 say, cap'n," continued Jabe, in a
very unfeeling manner. " I raythcr guess
as heow't that ere cxploid o' yourn won't
amount tew a great deal, will it? But
look here, don't for mercy's sake, go home
an' tell yeour king 'at yeou got took by a
Penobscot cod-fisherman, 'cause it might
hurt his feelin's."
This time the Englishman's answer was
more wicked and unfeeling than had
been Jabe's, for he not only swore terri
bly, but ho even wished that every Yan
kee in Christendom was in the immedi
ate kingdom of that horned and hoofed
individual who is said to reign some
where beneath tho earth.
Before the sun had set on the next day
the English prisoners were all landed at
Belfast, and Captain Enoch Nightingale
found himself in command of as hand
some a privateer as floated in American
waters, aud until peace was declared aud
tho embargo raised, he carried on a most
destructive tiade among the British merchant-men.
Item ark ablo Salt Mine.
The great Humboldt salt mine, near
Austin, Nevada, is described by a Cali
fornia paper as looking like a lake frozen
over The salt is as hard and as smooth
as ice. Were it not for fine particles
which aro condensed from vapors arising
from beneath, and which covers tho
crystalized salt to tho depth of perhaps
one-eight of an inch, it would make an ex
cellent skating rink at all times of tho
year, except on tho very unfrcqucnt oc
casions when it is covered with water
The expanse of crystallized salt is no less
than tweuty miles in length and twelve
in width, without a flaw for tho greater
portion of that extent. The stratum of
solid salt is about six or seven inches
thick,under which comes a layer of sticky,
singular looking mud, about two feet
thick, and under this again another strat
um of solid salt, as transparent as glass, of
which tho depth has been found in somo
parts to bo six feet. In summer, this
salt plain glittering and scintillating in
the light of an almost tropical sun, pro
se ets a. brilliant appearance. The frosty
covering and' solid salt is as white as the
snow, whilo tho crystalino portion, when
exposed, reflects dazzling prismatio col
ors. This immense deposit is remarka
bly pure being, 95 per cent of soda,which
is purer than what we commonly use for
our tables.
A CLEVER CAPTURE.
A WELL-KNOWN inspector of the
detective force once related to us a
clever capture, effected by himself, of a
daring thief, who had more than once
escaped from prison. The inspector him
self had considerable experience, and
tracked his man to a low public house ;
and, under pretense of being an old thief
himself, threw his companion off his
guard by relating anecdotes. lie was
unarmed himself, and knew that tho real
burglar who was known to the fraternity
as " Bill the Cracksman" had a revolver
in his breast pocket, with tho use of
which he was thoroughly acquainted; and
tho question was how to arrest him single
handed. Story followed story, and remini
scence reminiscence, until Bill and his
companion who called himself Jerry
Blake became as thick as members of
the former's profession was proverbially
supposed tt become.
"Now," said 51 r. Blake, after a pause,
" as a last bit of anecdote, I'll show you
how Joo tho Tinman was took. He'd
swore as there wasn't aoy man in the
colony or out of it as would take him
single-handed. Well, as the reward for
his capture was a heavy one, a chap
named Simmons, who was then out of the
mounted police, determined to try it on.
So what does he do, knowing some of
Joe's haunts, but bribes a stockman, who
lived in a lonely hut, on tho side of a
deep gully among the hills, to let him
take the possession for a week or so. It
was a hut where Joe was accustomed to
call whem he wanted to get a fresh sup
ply of rum, for the stockman had been a
convict like himself, and a pal of his ;
but, pal or no pal, he sold Joe this time
and no mistake."
" I'd have blown his brains out if I'd
been Joe," observed the cracksman with
a savage oath.
" I honor your sentiments," responded
Sir. Blake; "and from what I know of
Joe he shared 'em. But, you see, when
ho looked in one night at the hut, no
stockman was there ; but in his placo
Simmons, looking tho very picture of a
rough shepherd, was seated over the 3'ro
making tea and cooking damper."
" Ilalloh ! where's the stockman here ?"
asked Joe, stalking into the hut and ap
proaching the fire ; for Joe wan't afeared
of the devil himself; besides, ho was all
stuck around with bowie knives and six
shooters, so that he was a eaulion to look
at.
" Where's the stockman?" says he.
Simmons only looked up for a minute-,
then went on cooking the damper.
" He's gone."
''Gone where dead?"
" Pretty nigh it. He's down at the
station with marsh fever. I've been or
dered up here in his place."
"And who may you be, mate, when
you're at home?" asked Joe, savagely,
for ho was disappointed at losing his
friend.
" When I'm at homo," said Simmons
still busy with his damper, " if home
means England, I might bo lord mayor
or chancellor of the exchequer, for any
chance I have of getting back there ;
but being hero where I am, I'm only a
jailbird, like you, mate."
Joe, who wasn't accustomed to bold
speaking of this kind stepped back a
pace or two and laid his hand on a six
shooter. " Who do you take me for ?" ho asked
with an oath.
" I don't take you for any ono but your
proper or your improper self," said Sim
mons quite unmoved, and filled two tin
mugs with the sweetened tea.
" And who ami?"
" Joo the Tinman."
"Joo handled his pistol as one pre
pared for action, but Simmons burst into
a laugh.
" Leave off handling your barking-iron,
hesaid, 'and take that mug of toa. I'd
advise you to put a taste of rum in it,
for the night's anippcr.
You know where tho bottle is, so make
no bones about it. When old .Mike that
was the name of tho 6tockman sent mo
up here in his place, ho didn't forget to
say who was his friends aud best custo
mers.' "All this was said in so easy and coni
fortablo a way that the bush-ranger was
thrown off his guard ; and no wonder,
for Simmons was a tall, thin, young fel
low at that time, and the Tinman, beside
being armed to his teeth, was middle
aged, short thick-set, and with the mus
cular developement of a bull. Tho hut
was miles from any other habitation, and
the night, what with wind and rain was
a screamer.
" So,Joe the Tinman and Simmons ' tho
trap' sat to their tea together, and a jol
ly night they had of it, I've heard. The
pitcher of spirits was filled and emp
tied again and again. Songs were sung
and talcs were told till the noisy revelry
within the lonely hut almost rivaled ther
dash of the rain and the scream of the
blast without.
" Towards morning each took to boast
ing of his powers of doing this thing or
that thing, and among other things, Sim
mons, who'd been when a mere boy a sort
of acrobat ut a circus, boasted of his pow
ers of jumping.
" Now,'' he said, " supposing the traps
were about me, and you was one of 'em,
I'd clear a short man like you at a bound
and provided you weron't nrmed, I'di
defy a dozen like you to catch me." 4
Tho Tinman, who was bumptious in
his cups, denied this.
" Why," said he, "if you was to try to
leap over me, as you say, I'd just up with
my arms and pin your two thread-paper
legs so."
He illustrated his words by action, but
Simmons only laughed.
" Nonsense ! I'd skim over you as
swallow skims over a bit o'watcr. Yous
wouldn't even touch my shadow as I
passed." (ft
" The Tinman, drinking more rum,,
grew angry.
" I'd like to sco you try it. You're
more of a grasshopper than a properly
built man, that's what you are. Comer
I'll bet you this good watch that you don't
jump clean over me as I stand now, back
toward you."
" Watch be hanged ! says' Simmons. ' I
bet you a bottle of rum against the bowie
you've got in your belt that I clear a
short chap like you, hold up your hands
as high as you can, at a jump, only give
mo the run of a few yards."
"Done!" And drawing tho Bowie
knife from his belt, the- b usb-ranger laid
it on the table."
" Gammon 1" observed Bill, who had
listened with much attention to the story,
" It's a thing as Leotard, or any o'thcui
springy chaps couldn't do."
" It's only a trick' replied Mr. Blake
"a mere circus trick which every
clown ia tho ring understands. Here,.
I'll show you how it's done in a niinutff
that is, I'll show you how Simmons
must have done it, according to my be
lief." "With ready obedience Bill stood up,,
and turned his back to the operator.
"I suppose that's how the Tinman
stood ?"
" I should fancy just so. Raise your
arms a little above the level of your
head. That's it. Throw them back a
little, and I will show you how tho trick
was doue.."
Bilk, following every direction, raised
his hands high over his head, then let
them decline slightly in the direction of
his new friend.
Tho latter, taking Bill's wrists in his
hand, brought them gently together.
"This is how tho thing must have
been done," ho said. "Simmons must
have taken advantage of a position that
placed the bush-ranger absolutely in his
power to draw a pair of handcuffs from
his pocket, and before the other could
make a movement, slip them on so."
The thing was done in an instant, and
before tho cracksman could well realize
the fact he found himself seated in ono
of the chairs, his hands fettered, and his
captor, calm and smiling, standing over
him.
" What do you mean by all this-?"
Bill gasped out at last, looking about him
with bewildered amazement. " Is it a
joke ?"
"A capital joke!" replied the other.
" It was I who tried tho same joke on
tho Tinman, and it succeeded capitally."
" You ?"
" At that time I belonged to tho colo
nial police, now I'm Mr. Inspector Sim
mons. My address is Scotland Yard,,
and I'm very much at your service."
Teaching a Dutchman
A Dutchman lately left Austin for
White Pino with something less than a
cart load of provisions, tools, and blank
ets, carrying them on his back. On his
arrival, not meeting with any suecess at
trado, ho took on a big disgust and loft
for Austin, carrying with him his stock
in trado. On his way homo a man driv
ing an empty wagon overtook him, and
seeing him so heavily loaded, asked him
if he would get in and ride.
" No, py. goshl" was his answer.
" But," said the teamster, " my wagon
is empty, and you are perfectly welcome."
" No, py gosh 1" replied he. " I learns
dis Dutchman some tings 1 I learns him
to go to Yito-l'ines I He carries these
plankots, py tarn 1