324 A Yankee Man-Trap. [Jul J, 



" I wish to gracious they'd ben fifty men in her! " he exclaimed; 

 " 'twould 'a ben fust-rate fun to jump up and gin' em a volley, clust in !" 



Then, his keen Yankee intellect, pursuing the train of thought thus 

 started, a scheme suggested itself to him which seemed to promise him 

 both a fair revenge and the means of libcniting the two brothers of his 

 obdurate mistress. 



Hastening homeward he consulted with his father, and after some 

 difficulty succeeded in gaining his co-operation. Early next morning, 

 the two men, harnessing on the old farm horse, drove speedily over to 

 New London, and procuring introductions from one or two gentlemen of 

 standing in that city, who bore witness to the trustworthiness and 

 abilities of the bearers, they proceeded up the river to Norwich, near 

 which place the three American war-vessels were moored. 



With the customary formalities they were admitted on board of the 

 Macedonian, then Commodore Decatur's flag-ship, and, having introduced 

 themselves and presented their testimonials, they proceeded to request 

 his assistance in carrying out the scheme which they unfolded to him. 



After careful investigation and inquiry, the mode, time and manner 

 of proceeding was agreed upon, and Decatur promised that a sufficient 

 number of marines should be at the appointed place upon the afternoon 

 of the next day ; and, having partaken of the refreshments which the 

 hospitable- sailor set before them, the well satisfied Yankee farmers set 

 out on their return. 



We skip over to the next day at a little past noon. At that time 

 there crept slowly out of Mystic Eiver, taking the inside passage between 

 Eam Island and the mainland, a sail-boat, heavily laden and managed 

 by two men. With a fine breeze from the west of north, they steered 

 along, close-hauled and hugging the shore, until they had passed Long 

 Point, perhaps a third of the distance between the mouth of Mystic and 

 New London light. They could now see distinctly the lofty mills, and 

 towering spars, and rigging of Sir Thomas Hardy's fleet, riding at single 

 anchor inside of Fisher's Island, the two seventy-fours looming up in the 

 warm air, and attended, as it were, by the smaller Orpheus and Eolus 

 frigates, and by two or three gun-brigs and tenders. 



After passing Long Point, the sail-boat stood rather further out to sea. 



" Don't bear away too far, father," said Ethan — for he and Mr. Balch, 

 senior, constituted the boat's crew — "they'll smell a rat." 



" No, they won't, my son," said the old gentleman, luffing a little, 

 however ; " they don't give us no credit fur knowin' how to handle a 

 boat ; I reckon they'll hev to allow we kin manage a frigate, though." 



The two men now intently regarded the enemy's vessels. " 'Twould 



