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: THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY.
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infamous'to think his majesty’s governor requires a safeguard
more tall ships down the bay, whose square yards told him in a
moment that British men-of-war were there—either just in from
sea, or waiting at anchor to go to sea. :
He dared not risk a passage between them by daylight, and as
soon as he made the discovery he put the schoorier about and
stood up the bay, believing that he had not been observed from
the men-of-war, ~. if noticed, his true character not thought of.
When night settled down, Ned determined to run the Rattle-| w
snake past the British fleet and out to sea,
here to breathe my horses and get some information.
to travel in the provinces he governs. I have merely halted
ow
far is it to the plantation of the elder Pemberton, the father of
this Rattlesnake hero?”
“About ten miles, your lordship. If you intend to pay hima
visit, I will ride over with you, and show your lordship the
ay. : Pang
“I think I will pay him a visit of condolence.’ Before this,
Every man was silent and watchful, when Clewline, who stood
where he could look off to leeward under the main boom,
touched Pemberton, who was by his side, on the arm, and whis-
pered: ‘
“Lights—on our lee bow!” |
‘“‘Ay—and from a vessel under way!
I saw the gleam of light
most likely, his son is in our hands, and the British flag flying
over the craft which he built and fitted out so secretly. Isent
down to the fleet, which providentially was in the lower bay,
and they will cut-off his escape below, while the boats and small
vessels will be sent ashore to insure his capture. I am going to
give the old rebel a chance to take an oath of loyalty, and to
“Clifton, to | contribute liberally to the royal cause, or to endure the penalty
\\ The second officer sprang to his gun, and. within Jess than a
__ frigate most likely ’ave some repairs to make.”
. a visit which at almost any time would have gratified him greatly,
on canvas!”’ said Pemberton in the same low tone.
the long gun with your gunners!”
inute he had it trained to starboard. Quickly as this was done,
the schooner, sweeping on,.the next second seemed almost under
the quarters of a huge ship under close-reefed sails heading up
the bay. Pe, :
“It’s a frigate, trying to find better anchorage!” muttered Pem-
berton. ‘‘By all thaf’s wicked she shall feel one bite from the
rattlesnake, if she’s what I think she is.”
“What ship is that?” he shouted through his trumpet, and at
the samo time he gave orders to Clifton:
“Ready with your gua—let her have it sure when I give the
order!” .
“His majesty’s frigate Bellerophon! Who are you?” came
back in a hoarse shout. ©
“A Yankee rattlesnake! How do you like my bite?” came
shrill and clear from the lips of Pemberton, and almost at the
same instant as the schooner shot past the frigate at half pistol-
shot distance, the heavy double charge from the long thirty-two
tore through the buiwarks.
In a second all was uproar, for the frigate though sailing up
the bay, was thrown up in the wind and, im a few seconds her
whole broadside, fired literally at random, was directed toward
where the schooner had been. :
But she was now half a mile farther out, and while lights seen
and guns fired from a dozen different points told that all the
enemy's vessels wero alarmed and on the alert, their very signals
enabled Pemberton to steer clear of them, and in a little. while
he could tell by the long, heavy swell of the sea that they were
making an offing clear of tho capes. i
As the soundings deepened, he now hauled up close on th
wind, so as still to keep in as smooth water as he could, and see-
ing na further sign of the enemy’s lights, he took in reefs once
more, 80 as to bo able to hold close to the wind along the coast
as he steered northward. ' :
‘What do you think of this, doctor? We are at sea, and the
enemy behind us,” said Pemberton, .two or three hours after-
ward, when they’ were running slong the land, with about
three points of free sheet, and the lead gave eight. fathom sound-
ings.
“T sink, mon cher capitaino, zat ze blockad of ze John Bull
man was not ver strong. Ze surgeon and ze carpentare of zat
“Doubtless. I heard the two double-headed shot go crashing
through her timbers, and from the uproarI know some of her
crew were hurt. It wasatisky and saucy piece of business, but
I eouldn’t let so fair a chance go by.”
- “We'll hear of it again. A rattlesnake bite is not easily for-
gotten,” said Clewline, laughing.
CHAPTER VIII.
ENTERTAINING THE GOVERNOR.
On the fourth or fifth day after the Rattlesnake ,had left her
moorings on the Potomac shore, Mr. Maynard at the Cedars had
but the recent disastrous defeat of his neighbors, and the treat-
ment received by, his friend and favorite, Speuce Sturges, in the
attempt to captures privateer built almost under their very
eyes, had so mortified him, that even his loyality did not give
Lord Dunmore a very enthusiastio reception when, with an es-
eort of a small troop of horse, he rode up the avenne that led to
the mansion. His manner was much snbdued when he said:
‘My lord, you are ‘welcome here. Had I known you were
eoming, I should have been better prepared.”
“The preparation is well enough. My stay must be brief,”
of disobedience to my wishes. He and a few more marked men
must succumb at once, or be made examples of. I shall take
them back prisoners, or leave them sworn subjects of his
majesty.” ,
The face of Fanny Maynard turned white. The father of her
affianced husband was in peril, and, she feared, could receive no
warning in time to avert the threatened danger. The poor girl
did not know that already the Sons of Liberty, linked i. frater-
nal union, had signals by which threatened danger could be pre-
pared for or averted—signals which told them when enemies were
abroad, and which,way their course was laid.
Mr. Maynard noticed the agitation of his daughter, and
rightly divined its cause, but so far from feeling any sympathy
with her alarm was he, that he rejoiced at the thought that those
opposed to his policy would be humbled. But he insisted that
Lord Dunmore ‘should take some refreshment before he left.
And now, anxious to delay the party, Fanny earnestly and grace-
fully asked his lordship to let her set out a lunch for himself,
while she gave orders to the butler.to provide for the troopers.’
Pleased with the earnest manner of the lovcly girl, his lord-
ship consented, little thinking what her reasons were, and he sat
down to have a game of chess with Mr. Maynard, while Fanny
hurried her preparations. .
“Give those troopers a lunch, and just as much of that old
peach brandy as they want,” were the orders Fanny gave to the
butler. ‘Do not spare them in drink. My father wants to prove
his loyalty, and his bounty must be given with a lavish hand.”
To hear in that house was to obey, and the troopers were
soon enjoying such cheer as was seldom set before them.
Meantime Fanny flew to her room, and wrote a few lines to
Mande to tell her of her father’s danger, and giving it to her
own maid, told her te go to the’stable, get her own favorite sad-
dle-horse, and never to draw a tight rein till the letter was in the
hands of Miss Mande Pemberton.
This done, Fanny proceeded to get up a delicious lunch, hav-
ing the oldest and most potent wines and liquors placed upon
the table, for she had heard that Lord Dunmore was a great gour-
mand, and very fond of good wine.
She would not disturb his lordship until the game of chess
was over and it was over an hour before he was informed that
the lunch waited for him.
“JT did not know I had an appetite till I looked at your board,
fair lady,” he said, gallantly. “(I have not seen so profuse &
table in all Virginia. If this be but a Junch, what must your
dinners be?” aa :
Mr. Maynard was delighted to see Lord Dunmore so well
pleased, and he said: Set
“Few old housewives can so well see to what a household
needs as my daughter, my Jord. Barring that she is a little
willful, and given to having her own way, she is a good child—
a very good child.” . oo.
“It is a woman’s right to have her own way,” said his lord- _
ship, filling his glass a second time with some soft old brandy,
so mellow that its strength was hidden. ‘‘Eve asserted it under
the apple-tree in Eden’s garden, and the descendants have never
borne contraction.
most always the right way.” .
“My lord, you are very kind,” said Fanny. ‘Pray excuse my
attendance fora short time. I have to give some directions in .
the kitchen.” :
Lord Dunmore towed, and Fanny got away before she was
asked to take wine, for she knew very well the toast that would
follow, and she had sworn in her heart never to toast a king who
was at war with the hero and king of her young heart.
And now Mr. Maynard could speak more at ease about the
Patriots of Culpepper, for he felt embarrassed in the presence of
his pure young daughter, and could not speak freely of neigh-
said his lordship, quite as coldly as his host. ‘I am on a
tour through Culpepper, which I hear is so intensely disloyal
that it is necessary for me to ride protected by troops, It is
bors whom he wished to injure, because they differed with him
on the great question of the day. .
But suddenly » great outcry was heard in the lower part of tha
There is one comfort—woman’s way is al- .
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