1856.] A Yankee Man-Trap. 325 



be a dreadful thing if thej shouldn't undertake to ketch us," said 

 Ethan, apprehensively. " What'n thunder should we say to Commodore 

 Decatur?" 



"There they be. Ethan!" said the old man, his eyes brightening 

 with excitement; •' set still, set still ; they've got good glasses'- they'll 

 see us ; make believe you don't see nothin' on 'em." 



And sure enough, as he spoke there shot out from behind the Eamillies, 

 the long, low, black row-galley, which had been the means of so many 

 petty depredations along the coast. Hoisting a lug-sail, and bracing 

 fast up, she steered, with the double impetus of sail and oar. straight 

 across, in a direction to cut off the heavily-laden and slow-moving boat. 



"Aint it a'most time to go about, father," asked Ethan, after ten 

 minutes of rather uneasy silence. 



" Don't git worried, my son." said the old gentleman, dryiy. " Your 

 father's sailed a great many boats. We was to run ashore, with them 

 two high trees in range, wasn't we? " 



" Yes; there's a peeled pole on the beach, jest at the spot." 



*' Wal, I reckon we kin see them fellows aboard the galley now," said 

 the elder Balch, with a grin. " You kin be jest as frightened as you 

 please." 



And he pretended to espy the unfriendly pursuers for the first time; 

 and with an elaborate display of terrified haste and awkwardness, the 

 boat was put about and steered straight for the beach, now nearly half 

 a mile distant. 



^ The English galley, hereupon, slightly varying her course, came in 

 direct pursuit. Ethan and his father, as the foe approached, by way 

 of maintaining the deception, crouched down so as to be out of sight, 

 occasionally popping up their heads for a moment as if to watch ^the 

 enemy, and quickly hiding them again. 



" Peck-a-hoo ! " said Ethan, as he looked up for a moment. "We 

 shall be hard aground in three minits, father. They're a comin' up, hand 

 over hand. There's the pole on the beach." 



" Come well aft, Ethan," said his father ; " let's run her well on." 



" Hello, there, you d— d Yankee lubbers ! " hailed the English lieu- 

 tenant, now within three rods. " If you beach the boat, we'll shoot 

 you." 



But, almost as he spoke, the boat ran heavily up against the sloping 

 sandy beach, and stuck fast. The two men, hastily tumbling out, ran 

 up the beach, and disappeared over the steep sand-hills that bordered 

 the shore. 



The English galley grounded hard upon the sand, in full pursuit. 



