- description
- # THEY LOOK IN AT CARRICKFERGUS
## Overview
This subsection, titled "THEY LOOK IN AT CARRICKFERGUS," is a textual component extracted from the file [israel_potter.txt](arke:01KG89J1DKC9HHJRKY25JZBEXW). It spans lines 4312 to 4370 of the source text and is part of the larger [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection.
## Context
The subsection is contained within [CHAPTER XVI. THEY LOOK IN AT CARRICKFERGUS, AND DESCEND ON WHITEHAVEN.](arke:01KG8AJJ2BDJ8N0FXM1C21XVSG). It is followed by the subsection [AND DESCEND ON WHITEHAVEN](arke:01KG8AK7MY0ZMRSHPGXZGA55RZ), indicating a sequential narrative flow within the chapter. This content was extracted on January 30, 2026, by an automated structure extraction process.
## Contents
The text describes an incident where Paul (presumably John Paul Jones, as the novel *Israel Potter* by Herman Melville fictionalizes his life) and his crew approach Carrickfergus on the Irish coast. They seize a fishing boat to gather intelligence, learning about the British ship-of-war *Drake* anchored nearby. Paul plans a secret night attack on the *Drake*, intending to crash into its bow to expose its decks to musketry. However, his plans are thwarted by high winds and a sudden snowstorm, forcing him to abandon the immediate assault. Despite anchoring briefly within speaking distance of the enemy ship and reconnoitering, Paul manages to withdraw without arousing suspicion. The narrative highlights Paul's audacious daring combined with prudence, portraying him as an extraordinary warrior. The subsection concludes with the *Ranger* (Paul's ship) positioned midway across the channel at daybreak, with England, Scotland, and Ireland simultaneously in sight.
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- THEY LOOK IN AT CARRICKFERGUS
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- 4370
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- Next day, off Carrickfergus, on the Irish coast, a fishing boat,
allured by the Quaker-like look of the incognito craft, came off in
full confidence. Her men were seized, their vessel sunk. From them Paul
learned that the large ship at anchor in the road, was the ship-of-war
Drake, of twenty guns. Upon this he steered away, resolving to return
secretly, and attack her that night.
“Surely, Captain Paul,” said Israel to his commander, as about sunset
they backed and stood in again for the land “surely, sir, you are not
going right in among them this way? Why not wait till she comes out?”
“Because, Yellow-hair, my boy, I am engaged to marry her to-night. The
bride’s friends won’t like the match; and so, this very night, the
bride must be carried away. She has a nice tapering waist, hasn’t she,
through the glass? Ah! I will clasp her to my heart.”
He steered straight in like a friend; under easy sail, lounging towards
the Drake, with anchor ready to drop, and grapnels to hug. But the wind
was high; the anchor was not dropped at the ordered time. The ranger
came to a stand three biscuits’ toss off the unmisgiving enemy’s
quarter, like a peaceful merchantman from the Canadas, laden with
harmless lumber.
“I shan’t marry her just yet,” whispered Paul, seeing his plans for the
time frustrated. Gazing in audacious tranquillity upon the decks of the
enemy, and amicably answering her hail, with complete self-possession,
he commanded the cable to be slipped, and then, as if he had
accidentally parted his anchor, turned his prow on the seaward tack,
meaning to return again immediately with the same prospect of advantage
possessed at first—his plan being to crash suddenly athwart the Drake’s
bow, so as to have all her decks exposed point-blank to his musketry.
But once more the winds interposed. It came on with a storm of snow; he
was obliged to give up his project.
Thus, without any warlike appearance, and giving no alarm, Paul, like
an invisible ghost, glided by night close to land, actually came to
anchor, for an instant, within speaking-distance of an English
ship-of-war; and yet came, anchored, answered hail, reconnoitered,
debated, decided, and retired, without exciting the least suspicion.
His purpose was chain-shot destruction. So easily may the deadliest
foe—so he be but dexterous—slide, undreamed of, into human harbors or
hearts. And not awakened conscience, but mere prudence, restrain such,
if they vanish again without doing harm. At daybreak no soul in
Carrickfergus knew that the devil, in a Scotch bonnet, had passed close
that way over night.
Seldom has regicidal daring been more strangely coupled with
octogenarian prudence, than in many of the predatory enterprises of
Paul. It is this combination of apparent incompatibilities which ranks
him among extraordinary warriors.
Ere daylight, the storm of the night blew over. The sun saw the Ranger
lying midway over channel at the head of the Irish Sea; England,
Scotland, and Ireland, with all their lofty cliffs, being as
simultaneously as plainly in sight beyond the grass-green waters, as
the City Hall, St. Paul’s, and the Astor House, from the triangular
Park in New York. The three kingdoms lay covered with snow, far as the
eye could reach.
- title
- THEY LOOK IN AT CARRICKFERGUS