fishermen's memorial and record book. 161 



the Captain was just the man to carry out his plans. He would not 

 flinch when the pinch came. 



The boats landed on the borders of the ice, some distance away. 

 Captain Pattillo watched them through his glass, and counted thirty 

 men, all armed to the teeth. Along the ice they marched, and reach- 

 ing the clear place where the vessel was anchored, hailed her, wishing 

 to see the master, and have him come ashore on the ice with his 

 papers. It so happened that Captain Pattillo was not naturalized, 

 and had used the name of Joseph Cain, as master, giving Cain his 

 name for the time being. 



After some little parleying Captain Pattillo informed them that his 

 vessel was fully armed and provisioned to stand a siege. There wei'e 

 five muskets now covering them, containing in all seventy-five balls. 

 " Now, 3'ou can't take this vessel ; and I propose to come ashore and 

 decide this thing by a fair fight. Pick out three of your best men, 

 and I'll take care of them ; but mind, if ye play me foul, there won't 

 be one of ye who will ever see home again, as my men will fire when 

 they get the signal from me." 



The boat was got ready, and the captain, dressed in nothing but a 

 pair of duck pants and slippers, with a handspike in one hand, and 

 the vessel's papers in the other, got into her. John Gorman, one of 

 the crew, rowed him ashore, and immediately returned to the vessel. 

 The captain marched boldly up to Gayden ; then the men gathered 

 around. One fellow stood with pistol cocked over Gayden's shoulder, 

 and two others with muskets drawn on the captain, all ready to fire. 

 The papers were asked for, and handed over ; then Gayden showed his 

 credentials on parchment, also the silver oar, which gave him author- 

 ity to board vessels. A council was then held, and under the circum- 

 stances, (those formidable batteries, and the loaded muskets behind 

 them,) it was decided not to attempt to take the vessel, or capture her 

 captain. But the oflScer would not give the papers up, and marched 

 off with them. 



April 17th, the Tiger was released from the ice, and went to Bru- 

 net, and on Sunda}', the captain, taking one of the crew, Ned Caven- 

 der, rowed in an open boat fifteen miles to Harbor Briton, for the 

 pui-pose of calling on Gayden and getting his papers, as he did not 

 like the idea of starting for home without them. 



His arrival created a great excitement in the village, and men and 

 boys from far and near gathered in squads to see the Yankee Captain, 

 whose fame in arming his vessel had been wafted far and near. 

 Knocking at the door of Gayden's house, a servant girl came, and he 



