your fearless disposition, may I add? your loose notions in regard to the laws, constantly lead you into danger. I entreat you, John! do not go to America.”
“Nay! but I must,” replied his brother, with a deep sigh. “A destiny hangs over the lot of man, and he can no more draw himself out of its influence, than can the moth which hovers above the candle. Look not so sorrowful, William, it is best that we should separate.”
In spite of all his brother’s entreaties and remonstrances, John remained firm in his first resolution, and when a few days after, he bid William farewell, he entreated him to preserve for him the same affection; advised him to explain his feelings to Eliza, since he himself had totally resigned the idea of marrying, and requested him, in the event of his death, to open his will, which he would find in the hands of notary Reynolds of Liverpool.
It was about this time that the well known stamp act was passed in the British parliament, greatly embittering the Americans against the mother country; a feeling which was further increased when a duty on tea roused them to such excess of feeling that boarding a vessel which just then arrived from the East Indies, they threw the whole of its cargo overboard, which act so provoked the government as to cause them to close the port of Boston, and declare null the charter of Massachusetts. This was the commencement of the war.
The brief limits of our story will not allow us to linger longer on this subject, than merely to call the attention of our readers to the cluster of large and small islands lying in the neighborhood of New York, and of which Long Island is the principal. This was the most important point for the warlike preparations, and the Generalissimo of the English army being aware of it, determined to make it the first place he would attack with his force of twenty thousand men. As Washington only commanded an army of sixteen thousand, he was obliged to act principally on the defensive; though knowing as he did, that Long Island formed the key to New York, he not only fortified it with 9,000 men under General Sullivan, but also equipped a number of small cutters, which hovered about the narrow channels among the Islands, ready at any favorable moment to make for sea, should the appearance of any British vessels offer them booty. Many American owners of vessels fitted out cutters at their own cost, placing them under experienced Captains, and it may be readily supposed that the number increased daily, since patriotism and self-interest were thus made to go hand in hand. One of these privateers, a vessel carrying ten or twelve guns, had in particular been very successful in its excursions against the foe, and was commanded by a young man of handsome exterior and good education, who had only lately been entrusted with the “Gray Shark,” as the privateer was called.
The English fleet had been for several days lying at the mouth of the Hudson, when Admiral Lord Howe called together all the Captains under his command, to make arrangements for an intended attack. Most of them were men of mature age, and to them he freely talked over his various plans; at length turning to a young officer, who was no other than William Drummond, and who had listened with considerable interest to the consultation, he said, “I regret, sir, that I shall have to employ you in a less agreeable though no less honorable business than the one on which our friends here are about to enter; but the peculiar swiftness of your ship renders it better suited than any other to the undertaking. I have just learned that the privateer called the Gray Shark, which has distinguished itself by its daring acts, lies about forty miles eastward of this. I wish you immediately to sail in search of her; should you encounter her and she refuses to surrender, sink her at once, for it is necessary to make an example of her. The wind is favorable, and you may sail today.”
Eager to obey the orders of his superior, William Drumnmond was ready in a quarter of an hour, and before night drew on, he was on the high sea, although the favorable breeze had gradually lessened. The following morning proved so foggy, that it was impossible to discover the foe, and Drummond therefore lessened sail, fearful that the privateer might pass him and shelter herself among the islands before he could pursue her. As he walked up and down the poop, with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the fog as it took grotesque forms under the influence of the rising breeze, the loud cry was heard from the sailor stationed on the mast, “of a ship on the lee side, sir;” and on looking out the commander immediately perceived a large boat under sail, which soon reached the vessel. In a few moments, a man, whose dress marked him as superior to his companions, mounted on board the “Vulture,” and introduced himself as the captain of the bark “Mercury” from Liverpool, laden with provisions for the army, and which only two hours previously had been attacked by a vessel bearing the American flag. Opposition was not to be thought of; since, as the stranger affirmed, his foe was a ship with twelve guns. He and his crew were thrown into a large boat, with a cask of water and a few kegs of biscuit, and what had become of the “Mercury” he knew not, since he was compelled to set sail instantly.
“Will you continue your course to land, or will you aid us in trying to overtake this bold privateer?”
“Oh! sir, most gladly will I accompany you,” replied the captain of the Mercury, and calling his sailors on board, the “Vulture” soon spread its wings for full flight in the direction of the foe, till when the sun broke suddenly through the mist, he called aloud to Drummond, “There she lies, see! still at the side of my vessel.”
On looking in the direction pointed out, William perceived a small schooner, and at its side a vessel with three masts, both about half a mile distant. “Down with the main-sail!” he commanded, and soon the “Vulture” dashed so quickly through the water, as to tremble at its keel. Meanwhile the captain of the “Mercury” stood with spy-glass in hand, scarcely able to restrain his impatience, till suddenly dropping it, he muttered, “too late! too late! The ship lies deeper in the water than it did a minute ago. Gracious Heavens! they are sinking it;” and as Drummond caught up a glass, he observed that the masts of the bark moved violently backwards and forwards, and presently the whole vessel disappeared beneath the surface of the water.
“Up, my men, prepare the vessel for combat,” cried William, passionately; “yonder fellow shall repent this shameful act.” His orders were obeyed with the greatest promptness, while the privateer, on her part, filled her top-sail and appeared ready to maneuver. As soon the captain of the Vulture had appeared so near as cannon shot, he hoisted the British flag and let fly a few balls, which sunk at some fathoms from the bow-sprit of the privateer. These were quickly returned by a girdle of fire, above which was hoisted the American flag.
“Stand fast by your guns,” cried Drummond. as splinters from the masts and shreds of canvass told of the enemy’s successful shot; while, without noticing it, the Vulture still pressed its way through the deep, until it stood at only musket-shot distance from the foe. A regular cannonade now ensued, and lasted almost half an hour, while neither vessel changed its position more than the length of its cable. Now and then a puff of wind blew aside the misty veil which enveloped both barks, and then might be seen the devastation which had been committed. The shots of the privateer had been directed pretty high; indeed it was easy to see that its captain sought to render his adversary as incapable as possible of maneuver, for all the yards were hung with tattered canvass and cordage, and had the American sought to escape, the Vulture would have found it difficult to follow her, though the former had received some little injuries in the trunk and netting sails. The ships now falling off on the wind, glided slowly side by side, streams of fire playing from their flanks.
“Yonder man understands his business well;” observed Drummond to the captain, his companion, “it is a pity he was not engaged in a better cause. But let us approach him nearer, our calibre is stronger than his, and we will fire low, so as to produce a good leak if possible; yet never have I seen the smoke thus lie on the poop. Port the helm! Close on the larboard; and now for your pistols, the matter must have an end.”
The noise of the combat was now indeed fearful. The roar of the cannon-shots; the whizzing of the bullets; the splinters of wood which flew in every direction; the cries of the wounded; all together formed a Babel-like scene, and the fight had raged for almost an hour, when suddenly one of the masts of the privateer, struck by a ball, fell with a loud crash. A loud “hurrah” from the Vulture proclaimed the victory; but to the command to lower the flag, the Gray Shark only returned a fresh cannonade. The Vulture now shot on the beak of the privateer, and on both sides preparations for boarding were made;