The Rivals of Acadia | Page 2

terror was extreme, on thus encountering an armed vessel of the French,
who had, on many occasions, shewn hostility to the colonists. The boat
instantly tacked, and crowding sail, as much as prudence would permit,
steered across the harbor towards Governor's Island. But it had
evidently become an object of interest or curiosity to the French; their
attention seemed wholly engrossed by it, and presently a boat was
lowered to the water, and an officer, with several of the crew sprang
into it, and rowed swiftly from the ship's side. They immediately gave
chase to the pleasure-boat, which was however considerably ahead, and
so ably managed, that she kept clear her distance; and with all the
muscular strength, and nautical skill of the enemy, he found it
impossible to gain upon her.
In the mean time, the alarm had spread, and spectators of every age,
and either sex, thronged the shore, to witness this singular pursuit. The
civil and military authorities prepared for defence, should it prove
necessary; a battery, which protected the harbor, was hastily manned,

and the militia drawn up, in rank and file, with a promptitude, not often
displayed by the heroes of a train-band company. For several years, no
foreign or internal enemy had disturbed the public repose, and the
fortifications on Castle Island gradually fell into decay; and, from
motives of economy, at this time not a single piece of artillery was
mounted, or a soldier stationed there. The enemy, of course, had
nothing to oppose his progress, should he choose to anchor in the
inmost waters of the bay.
Governor's Island, however, at that moment, became the centre of
anxiety, and every eye was fixed upon the boat, which rapidly neared
the shore. The governor, as was often his custom, had on that day
retired there, with his family; and, attended only by a few servants, his
person was extremely insecure, should the French meditate any sinister
design. In this emergency, three shallops were filled with armed men,
to sail for the protection of the chief magistrate, and ascertain the
intentions of the French. Young Stanhope was invested with the
command of this little force; and perhaps there was no man in the
colony, who would have conducted the enterprize with more boldness
and address. He had entered the English navy in boyhood; and, after
many years of faithful service, was rapidly acquiring rank and
distinction, when the unhappy dissensions of the times threw their
blighting influence on his prospects, and disappointed his well-founded
hopes of still higher advancement in his profession. His father, an
inflexible Puritan, fled to New-England from the persecution of a
church which he abhorred, and, with the malevolence of
narrow-minded bigotry, the heresy of the parent was punished, by
dismissing the son from that honorable station, which his valour had
attained. Deeply wounded in spirit, Arthur Stanhope retired from the
service of his country, but he carried with him, to a distant land, the
affection and esteem of his brother officers,--a solace, which
misfortune can never wrest from a noble and virtuous mind.
On the present occasion, Stanhope made his arrangements with
coolness and precision, and received from everyone, the most prompt
and zealous assistance. The alarm, which the appearance of the French
at first excited, had gradually subsided; but still there were so many

volunteers in the cause, that it was difficult to prevent the shallops from
being overloaded. Constables with their batons, and soldiers, with fixed
bayonets, guarded the place of embarkation, till, at a given signal, the
boats were loosed from their moorings, and glided gently over the
waves. A loud shout burst from the spectators, which was succeeded by
a stillness so profound, that, for several moments, the measured dash of
the oars was distinctly heard on shore. An equal silence prevailed on
board the shallops, which were rowed in exact unison, while the men,
who occupied them, sat erect and motionless as automatons, their
fire-arms glancing in the bright sun-shine, and their eyes occasionally
turning with defiance towards the supposed enemy.
Arthur Stanhope stood on the stern of the principal vessel, and beside
him Mr. Gibbons, a young man, who watched the progress of the
pleasure-boat with eager solicitude,--for it contained his mother and
sisters. It had then nearly reached the island; their pursuers, probably in
despair of overtaking them, had relaxed their efforts, and rested on their
oars, apparently undecided what course to follow.
"They are observing us," said Stanhope's companion, pointing to the
French, "and I doubt they will return to the protection of their ship, and
scarce leave us the liberty of disputing the way with them."
"They will consult their prudence, in doing so," replied Stanhope, "if
their intentions are indeed hostile, as we have supposed."
"If!" returned the other, "why else