The First Capture; or, Hauling Down the Flag of England

e of the crew had untied his hands. They proved to be irons, one for his wrists and another for his feet.

to it that he does not get anything to eat or a drop of water to drink to pay

shed rather than led down the gangway to the brig, which was ready to receive him. He saw that the grated door was open, and when he came opposite to it he was shoved headlong into the dark, not knowing where he was going to bring u

d headlong i

d the boatswain, "I gue

is prison. It was about six feet square, large enough to hold all the members of the schooner's company who were liable to be put there for various misdemeanors, and there was not a thing in

istrate fine me? The magistrate did not care what James said, he wanted to know what I did; and if that is justice I don't want to see any more of it. And I must go to New York. And what i

d he first tried to get them off; but his hands were too big. He did not think he could live that way until he got to New York, and he appeale

t at the officer, di

wn business," said Caleb. "You would have don

. They don't pinch half as hard as the ro

de and made a motion with his right hand

said Caleb. "If the officer wanted me, why di

f on him, and you don't get anything to eat for a day," said the sailo

e prisoner to himself. "That is, if I can go to sleep. If I w

he schooner, they would not rest easy until they had rescued him. He was aroused by the changing of watches, and then he did not know anything more until the boatswain called all hands in the morning. He straightened up and took his position opposite the door where he could see the crew as they passed to and fro engaged in their duties of the ship. He kn

gold lace that the law allows, but he paid no attention to the prisoner. Presently a boat was called away, and then another, and Caleb could hear the men scrambling down the side in order to get into them, and he knew that the crew had left barely enough men on board to look out for the safety of the vesse

," said he. "E

so that if any one chanced to look in to see what the prisoner was doing, he would not have seen him eating the contents of the pack

-tack and meat. "I believe that when the attack is made, and it will not be long

t was, Caleb hoped he should never live over again-and then hoarse commands were heard on the deck and then a commotion arose which was greater, if possible, than when the boats were called away. The prisoner arose hastily to his feet and pressed his face close to the gratin

what he was doing. "It has come. The boys have made the attack and I shall soon be free. There are two persons I want to remember

d the splash of oars in the water. He heard Captain Moore's voice pitched in a loud key, and then he was sure that all of the crew who had gone off

rd," said Caleb, to himself. "And what was the rea

there and wait. The men had taken the alarm, there could be no doubt about that, for presently he heard the vess

said Caleb in great alarm. "If she does, I wonder w

en he heard a roar over his head as if heaven and earth were coming together. Another followed it, and the prisoner, firmly believing that the schooner had opened on the town, for the purpose of setting it o

nd if I ever get free and have a gun in my hands that I can use, I will kil

steps coming down the companion ladder. When he came nearer

low tone. "How many o

ke sure that there was no o

ow them that we are on guard. Have you got some relatives ther

so. My mother

ink that by so doing he would let out some things that Zeke had cautioned him particularly to guard against; and a

once more returning to his seat. "He is not a Tory, but I don't know that he is friendly enoug

ore hoarse orders greeted them, and this time they were followed by the creaking of halyards and the singing of men, which told Caleb that they were getting the ship under way. In a few minutes the rattling of the windlass joined in, and by listening intently Caleb heard a man ordered to the wheel. This was as much as he cared to know. He covered his face with his hands and for a moment groaned aloud. He was off for New York, he would be put i

to New York

f his sight, stepped into view. It was the boatswain-the ver

e grating that Caleb instinctively drew back. "If I hear another word o

the schooner's deck when he was brought below, he would have seen the dreaded "cat" suspended from the main-mast. Its thongs were all knotted to render the blows more severe, and they were covered with