CHAPTER V.

Our young adventurer had ascertained that the Tiger, the British frigate of which we have already spoken, lay at anchor in a little harbor of Long Island, toward the western extremity of the sound. He had conferred with several companions of his own age, and with some friends of his father, who were still older, and they had signified their willingness to aid him in any effort for his father’s release in which he was willing to lead them.

His present design was to muster these men, and set forth upon an attempt to destroy the vessel we have already mentioned, and, if possible, seize upon the commander. If this attempt, on farther examination, should not seem to be feasible, an effort to seize upon some other British officer, of which there were several stationed upon the western part of Long Island, was to be made.

Proceeding to the house of an active and energetic friend, young Joinly communicated his design, and the two, separately proceeding to the several houses of their proposed companions, rallied about thirty of them by the time the sun had risen. Most of them were young men, though several of them were of mature years. One of them was the owner of a small sloop; and, entering this, the whole party dropped down the river.

The celerity with which their preparations were made is explained by considering that in these times the knapsack and the firelock were ready at a moment’s call. The other necessary equipments and provisions were easily supplied. Nearly every man on board was familiar with the sea, and knew every rock, current, or shoal along the shore. They soon spread their sails, and, hugging the land, proceeded westward upon their chivalrous expedition.

In the space of three or four days they had reached the shores of Greenwich. They then crossed over by night to the opposite shore of Long Island, in the vicinity of the Tiger. Running up into a little shallow bay, sheltered by pine trees, they came to anchor. As soon as the morning approached, they despatched several of the men to reconnoitre. These returned toward evening of the following day, and brought the information that the Tiger was lying, at the distance of about four miles, at anchor in a small bay.

On the shore was a little village, and in the vicinity were the houses of several respectable farmers. One of these houses, apart from the rest, was occupied by the principal officers of the ship, who were indulging on shore in feasting and drinking. The resolution was soon adopted by the adventurers to take speedy advantage of this state of things to put their scheme in execution. In about a week their preparations were made, and they only waited for a dark and tempestuous night to make the attempt.

In about ten days the desired storm arrived. It was late in the autumn, and one of those chilly, north-easterly storms common to our climate had set in. The plot of our little band was a singular one. They had with them an ingenious mechanic, by the name of Bushnell, who had been long engaged in preparing machinery, something like that of a clock, by which he could ignite powder under water at any given time. His experiments had proved at least partially successful, and rumors of some scheme for blowing up the British ships at New York, by this machinery, had got into circulation. The British were excessively alarmed, and swept the water around their vessels, both night and day, to intercept any infernal engine that might be stealing upon them.

Bushnell’s plan, on the present occasion, was to approach the vessel in the darkness of the night, and, under cover of the storm, to attach a small skiff, laden with several barrels of gunpowder, to the side of the vessel――to connect the machinery with this, and leave it to explode. The rest of the men were to be upon the shore, and, in the confusion which they expected to follow, to make sure of the commander of the vessel. The arrangements were duly made early in the evening, and about nine o’clock Bushnell and two companions set off for the ship.

The night was excessively dark, and the wind, blowing a gale, swept with a deafening roar through the rigging. Everything favored the enterprise. Unseen and unheard, the conspirators stole over the short chopping waves of the bay, and, sheltered beneath the projecting stern of the massy hulk, took their measures with deliberation.

After a brief space, they departed unnoticed and unsuspected, leaving the little skiff, with its burden of death and destruction, firmly attached beneath the frigate.

They soon reached the shore, and took the stations assigned them with their companions. The machinery was so adjusted, that it would strike in the space of half an hour, and communicate the fatal spark to the powder.

[To be continued.]

The Musical Snuff-box at Church.

A gentleman had a musical snuff-box which played two favorite airs, called “Drops of brandy,” and “The glasses sparkle on the board.” He went out of town, one Sunday, to dine with a friend, taking his box in his pocket.

He went with the family to the church, and the service was about half through, when, putting his hand in his pocket, he accidentally touched the spring of the box, when it immediately struck up, “Drops of brandy,” most merrily.

Every eye and every ear was directed to the spot, to the great dismay and confusion of the gentleman, who endeavored to stop the box. His endeavors, however, only made the difficulty worse, for the tune immediately changed, and, “The glasses sparkle on the board,” was heard distinctly in all parts of the church, the congregation with difficulty restraining their mirth.

Finding it impossible to stop the music, the unfortunate gentleman started up and hurried out of the church, the box persisting in playing all the time that he marched along the aisle. I believe the unlucky box was never taken to church again.

[Illustration]

John Hancock.

I suppose all my readers have seen the Declaration of our Independence, with the signatures attached. John Hancock was the president of the convention that drew up that famous instrument, and was the first who signed it. Every one must have remarked the bold, strong, decided hand in which his name is written. That was a good way to do a great action――to do it firmly, and in such a manner as to show that there was no timidity of heart, no trembling of the hand, no wavering of purpose.

It is a good thing for all young Americans to read the lives and study the characters of the great men of our country; and it is my purpose frequently to place the biographies of such individuals in the pages of Merry’s Museum. I shall now give a brief sketch of John Hancock.

He was born at Braintree, in Massachusetts, in 1737, and inherited a large fortune from his uncle. He was educated at Cambridge college, and was elected a member of the assembly in 1766, and soon distinguished himself by a talent for business, and a zealous opposition to the oppressive acts of the British. In 1774, he was president of the provincial congress, and the year after was elected a member of the general congress, which met at Philadelphia. He was chosen president of that body, and in that capacity signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

His health declining the next year, he left that appointment; but he was elected, in 1788, the first governor of Massachusetts under the new constitution. He held that office for four years. In three years after, he was again elected governor, in which station he remained till his death, which took place in 1793, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.

Governor Hancock possessed talents that always adorned the several exalted stations to which he was elevated. He was one of the first and most conspicuous actors in the great drama of the Revolution, and gained, by his zealous devotion to his country, a rank among the most distinguished of her benefactors. In private life he was characterized by affability, urbanity, and distinguished liberality to the poor.

Jumping Rabbit’s Story.