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pale…faces。 Neither the Legs nor the Sailor cared for the gayety
and the crowd of cities； the stout mariner's home was in the
puttock…shrouds of the old 〃Repudiator。〃 The stern and simple
trapper loved the sound of the waters better than the jargon of the
French of the old country。 〃I can follow the talk of a Pawnee；〃 he
said； 〃or wag my jaw； if so be necessity bids me to speak； by a
Sioux's council…fire and I can patter Canadian French with the
hunters who come for peltries to Nachitoches or Thichimuchimachy；
but from the tongue of a Frenchwoman； with white flour on her head；
and war…paint on her face； the Lord deliver poor Natty Pumpo。〃
〃Amen and amen！〃 said Tom Coxswain。 〃There was a woman in our aft…
scuppers when I went a…whalin in the little 'Grampus'and Lord
love you； Pumpo； you poor land…swab； she WAS as pretty a craft as
ever dowsed a tarpaulingthere was a woman on board the 'Grampus；'
who before we'd struck our first fish； or biled our first blubber；
set the whole crew in a mutiny。 I mind me of her now； Natty；her
eye was sich a piercer that you could see to steer by it in a
Newfoundland fog； her nose stood out like the 'Grampus's' jibboom；
and her woice； Lord love you； her woice sings in my ears even now：
it set the Captain a…quarrelin with the Mate； who was hanged in
Boston harbor for harpoonin of his officer in Baffin's Bay；it set
me and Bob Bunting a…pouring broadsides into each other's old
timbers； whereas me and Bob was worth all the women that ever
shipped a hawser。 It cost me three years' pay as I'd stowed away
for the old mother； and might have cost me ever so much more； only
bad luck to me； she went and married a little tailor out of
Nantucket； and I've hated women and tailors ever since！〃 As he
spoke； the hardy tar dashed a drop of brine from his tawny cheek；
and once more betook himself to splice the taffrail。
Though the brave frigate lay off Havre de Grace； she was not idle。
The gallant Bowie and his intrepid crew made repeated descents upon
the enemy's seaboard。 The coasts of Rutland and merry
Leicestershire have still many a legend of fear to tell； and the
children of the British fishermen tremble even now when they speak
of the terrible 〃Repudiator。〃 She was the first of the mighty
American war…ships that have taught the domineering Briton to
respect the valor of the Republic。
The novelist ever and anon finds himself forced to adopt the
sterner tone of the historian； when describing deeds connected with
his country's triumphs。 It is well known that during the two
months in which she lay off Havre； the 〃Repudiator〃 had brought
more prizes into that port than had ever before been seen in the
astonished French waters。 Her actions with the 〃Dettingen〃 and the
〃Elector〃 frigates form part of our country's history； their
defenceit may be said without prejudice to national vanitywas
worthy of Britons and of the audacious foe they had to encounter；
and it must be owned； that but for a happy fortune which presided
on that day over the destinies of our country； the chance of the
combat might have been in favor of the British vessels。 It was not
until the 〃Elector〃 blew up； at a quarter past three P。M。； by a
lucky shot which fell into her caboose； and communicated with the
powder…magazine； that Commodore Bowie was enabled to lay himself on
board the 〃Dettingen；〃 which he carried sword in hand。 Even when
the American boarders had made their lodgment on the 〃Dettingen's〃
binnacle； it is possible that the battle would still have gone
against us。 The British were still seven to one； their carronades；
loaded with marline…spikes； swept the gun…deck； of which we had
possession； and decimated our little force； when a rifle…ball from
the shrouds of the 〃Repudiator〃 shot Captain Mumford under the star
of the Guelphic Order which he wore； and the Americans； with a
shout； rushed up the companion to the quarter…deck； upon the
astonished foe。 Pike and cutlass did the rest of the bloody work。
Rumford； the gigantic first…lieutenant of the 〃Dettingen；〃 was cut
down by Commodore Bowie's own sword； as they engaged hand to hand；
and it was Tom Coxswain who tore down the British flag； after
having slain the Englishman at the wheel。 Peace be to the souls of
the brave！ The combat was honorable alike to the victor and the
vanquished； and it never can be said that an American warrior
depreciated a gallant foe。 The bitterness of defeat was enough to
the haughty islanders who had to suffer。 The people of Herne Bay
were lining the shore； near which the combat took place； and cruel
must have been the pang to them when they saw the Stars and Stripes
rise over the old flag of the Union； and the 〃Dettingen〃 fall down
the river in tow of the Republican frigate。
Another action Bowie contemplated： the boldest and most daring
perhaps ever imagined by seaman。 It is this which has been so
wrongly described by European annalists； and of which the British
until now have maintained the most jealous secrecy。
Portsmouth Harbor was badly defended。 Our intelligence in that
town and arsenal gave us precise knowledge of the disposition of
the troops； the forts； and the ships there； and it was determined
to strike a blow which should shake the British power in its
centre。
That a frigate of the size of the 〃Repudiator〃 should enter the
harbor unnoticed； or could escape its guns unscathed； passed the
notions of even American temerity。 But upon the memorable 26th of
June； 1782； the 〃Repudiator〃 sailed out of Havre Roads in a thick
fog； under cover of which she entered and cast anchor in Bonchurch
Bay； in the Isle of Wight。 To surprise the Martello Tower and take
the feeble garrison thereunder； was the work of Tom Coxswain and a
few of his blue…jackets。 The surprised garrison laid down their
arms before him。
It was midnight before the boats of the ship； commanded by
Lieutenant Bunker； pulled off from Bonchurch with muffled oars； and
in another hour were off the Common Hard of Portsmouth； having
passed the challenges of the 〃Thetis〃 and the 〃Amphion〃 frigates；
and the 〃Polyanthus〃 brig。
There had been on that day great feasting and merriment on board
the Flag…ship lying in the harbor。 A banquet had been given in
honor of the birthday of one of the princes of the royal line of
the Guelphsthe reader knows the propensity of Britons when liquor
is in plenty。 All on board that royal ship were more or less
overcome。 The Flag…ship was plunged in a deathlike and drunken
sleep。 The very officer of the watch was intoxicated： he could not
see the 〃Repudiator's〃 boats as they shot swiftly through the
waters； nor had he time to challenge her seamen as they swarmed up
the huge sides of the ship。
At the next moment Tom Coxswain stood at the wheel of the 〃Royal
George〃the Briton who had guarded； a corpse at his feet。 The
hatches were down。 The ship was in possession of the 〃Repudiator's〃
crew。 They were busy in her rigging； bending her sails to carry her
out of the harbor。 The well…known heave of the men at the windlass
woke up Kempenfelt in his state…cabin。 We know； or rather do not
know； the result； for who can tell by whom the lower…deck ports of
the brave ship were opened； and how the haughty prisoners below sunk
the ship and its conquerors rather than yield her as a prize to the
Republic！
Only Tom Coxswain escaped of victors and vanquished。 His tale was
told to his Captain and to Congress； but Washington forbade its
publication； and it was but lately that the faithful seaman told it
to me； his grandson； on his hundred…and…fifteenth birthday。
A PLAN FOR A PRIZE NOVEL。
IN A LETTER FROM THE EMINENT DRAMATIST BROWN TO THE EMINENT
NOVELIST SNOOKS。
〃CAFE DES AVEUGLES。
〃MY DEAR SNOOKS；I am on the look…out here for materials for
original comedies such as those lately produced at your theatre；
and； in the course of my studies； I have found something； my dear
Snooks； which I think will suit your book。 You are bringing； I
see； your admirable novel； 'The Mysteries of May Fair；' to an end
（by the way； the scene； in the 200th number； between the Duke； his
Grandmother； and the Jesuit Butler； is one of the most harrowing
and exciting I ever read）and； of course； you must turn your real
genius to some other channel； and we may expect that your pen shall
not be idle。
〃The original plan I have to propose to you； then； is taken from
the French； just like the original dramas above mentioned； and；
indeed； I found it in the law report of the National newspaper； and
a French literary gentleman； M。 Emanuel Gonzales； has the credit of
the invention。 He and an advertisement agent fell out about a
question of money； the affair was brought before the courts； and
the little plot so got wind。 But there is no reason why you should
not take the plot and act on it yourself。 You are a known man；