AN ADVENTURE AT SEA. 261 



^*Thou hadst better go below, Jethro — 1 must command here. 

 Yield, indeed ! the ship sliall sink first ! '' muttered Seth, as 

 Jethro began to descend. 



" Stand by there, men ! " shouted the captain, in a voice that 

 made every sailor start. It was evident to all that Seth had put 

 off the Quaker, and that prompt obedience was necessary. 



" Get the longboat ready to be launched at a moment*s warning 

 — clear away the quarter boats — and see all clear to lower them 

 in an instant. Mate, take in all the small sails quickly ! " 



The manner of Seth, was somewhat wild, but resolute and 

 determined; and the men and officers having done his behest, 

 .stood wondering what command would next be issued, and 

 whereunto those would tend that had already been executed. 

 The Frenchman was also at fault; for, mistaking the manoeuvring 

 of Seth for an intention to give up his ship, the schooner was 

 hove to, and seemed to await the lowering of the boat from the 

 quarter of the Grampus — even as the conqueror awaits the 

 approach of an enemy subdued, who comes to yield up his sword. 

 In rounding to, the schooner had given the advantage of the wind 

 to the ship ; and while the French crew stood agape at the man- 

 agement of the larger vessel, which they already looked upon as 

 a prize, Seth seized upon the helm with his brawny hand. The 

 men, scarcely needing the cautioning word, anticipated his 

 intention as he put the helm hard up, and gave his impressive 

 shout in a suppressed and peculiar tone, which was heard dis- 

 tinctly from stem to stern : — 



" Let go all the braces and bowlines, slack off sheets and tacks, 

 and square the yards quickly ! " This was all done in the twink- 

 ling of an eye, and Seth shaped his course as though he would 

 bring his ship under the lee-quarter of the privateer. 



After making this demonstration, which was intended to 

 deceive the enemy, her direction was suddenly changed, and her 

 head was brought to bear directly upon the hull of the French- 

 man ! The crew of the schooner now discovered, but too late, 

 the design of the Grampus; and confusion and dire amazement 

 agitated the people upon her crowded deck. In their haste to 

 remedy their oversight, the Frenchmen failed altogether to avert 

 the threatened disaster. 



"If thou dost intend to rup her down," said Jethro to Seth, 

 hurriedly, projecting his head for a moment from the cabin gang- 

 way, '' if— nay, hear me, Seth, for tlie sake of humanity — if thou 



