FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL AND RECORD BOOK. 159 



with the rest of the fleet. Soon after, the cutter under the command 

 of dipt. Marshall came in, and a boat containing eight men, fully 

 armed and equipped, was sent to search among the vessels, to see if 

 the Abigail and the big "Pattillo" was among them. Capt. Pattillo 

 saw the movements, and stood by his large rocks, fully determined to 

 drive them through any boat who dared to board his schooner. 

 They saw him, and, considering " discretion to be the better part of 

 valor," did not come alongside. 



There was but one way to get out of this difficulty, and that was 

 to go to sea in the teeth of the gale. To remain where he was 

 would result in his being captured ; and to go outside was running 

 the risk of getting ashore. But the plucky captain was not long in 

 making up his mind. He gave orders to get under way. 



Up went the sails. Skipper John Bayley, who was anchored near, 

 hove his .vessel ahead as far as he could ; and Ben. Laroquc paid out 

 his cable so as to give Pattillo all the advantages he could in getting 

 out. All was excitement, and the rigging of the fishing vessels and 

 all along the shore was lined with spectators, anxious to witness the 

 result. 



The cutter now commenced getting under way ; but the Yankee 

 fishing-craft had the lead, and passed within fifty feet of the cutter. 

 A ball was fired, which went through the mainsail. The men were 

 ordered below, and the spunky skipper laid down flat on the deck 

 and steered his craft. The next ball went through her side and 

 lodged in the main-beam, where it may be seen to-day. Eleven shots 

 were fired in all, five of which struck the vessel, and six came short. 

 One struck the mainmast, taking off a glancing piece some four feet 

 above deck. The cutter chased her six miles ; but the fishing-craft 

 was much the best sailer, and the gale increasing every moment, the 

 cutter gave it up and went back, feeling rather chopfallen. 



There was a gay time that night in the harbor ; all the American 

 fishermen took their boats, and improvising a band, with drum and 

 fife, and other musical instruments, played "Yankee Doodle," rowing 

 around the cutter. 



The Abigail lay to all night, right in the very worst of the gale, 

 under balance-reefed mainsail and two-reefed foresail, and in due 

 course of time arrived safely home. Among her crew now alive were 

 Mr. Daniel Brown and Henry Smith. 



In the year 1837 or '38, (the skipper could not exactly recollect 

 which,) it was decided by Capt. Giles, who owned the pinkey Tiger, 

 to send her to Fortune's Bay, Newfoundland, for a load of herring. 



