The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-07-07

we were already TOO near Tor safety
Not an instant was to be lost.
Hold water, ALL" / shouted. "Bacl
starboard, hard Pull your port oars"
and round the light boat came back in
an instant. "Give way, all |" and back
we went again in the direction we had |
come.
Up rose column of white smoke |
bang and whiz came shower of grape
over our heads, luckily.
"Give way strong, boys; we will
soon be out of range !"
Bang came number two; this time
not so harmlessly, for ] felt the splin-
ters fly about my ears, and the stroke
oarsman dropped his oar and fell for
ward in the boat.
"Take that oar, Knox," and caught
the tiller from his hand. "Don't give
them time to load again, boy. A few
strokes, and we are out of range. Spring
to itn
The next shot was wide of us, and in
few moments we were under cover of
slight projection of land, and for the
present safe; but our dilemma was
none the less awkward, for how should
we get out of the bay? There was the
rub!
In variety of counsel is wisdom, 50 /
called upon the surgeon for any suggcs-
tions. lie was busily engaged bandag-
ing up our wounded mans shoulder as
hn Ln. ,,p,,II Il Il, 30,
that was worth listening to.
CHANGING At Knox, / saw he was anx-
ious to speak.
"Woll, Knox, what do you think of
this?" | said.
Why, Captain, it'll never do to stay
here much longer, for these warmint
will be having a boat down from Corpus
artcr us. Now, if | might be so bold,
I'd advise as we pulls up here into the
bay, and then coast down along Padre
Island till we gets somewhere abreast
of the ship, and then walk across land
and signal the old barlley, if the Rebs
don't pick Us up while we are crossing"
Excellent, Knox; only instead of
|
island, suppose we land here, and haul
the boat over into the bay? think we
are strong enough for that; are we
not ?"
"Ycs, indeed, sir. Wc'll snake her
acrOS', never fcar!"
So we bcached the boat, and by great
eXcrtion hauled her across the narrow
spit of land into the bay.
BY this time night was upon us, and
there was no moon, which, however,
we did not regret, as we were glad to
have our movements hidden from the
enemy. Launching our boat on the
other side, and cmbarking again, we
started up the bay, keeping an anxious
lookout for pursucrs all the time.
We had pulled Il couple of miles,
perhaps, when heard suspicious noise
abcam.
"IIist! Knox, do you hear that
What do you make of ?"
"WeIl, Captain, l am sorry to say it's
very like the creall of Il forc-and-alter'-
gar! am afraid the Johnnies are ar
ter Us hot foot ~
Creak, crcall, came the noise again
this time with great distnctncss.
"Thcre she is, sir!h said Knox, who
had been pecring out over the gunwalc
"but stash my lights if she don't loom
out of water like Dutch galliot! She',
standing to the southland, sir, or | am
greatly mistaken -
In an instant l comprehendcd the
situation, and Il hope Of escape flashed
across my mind. This was the schooner
| had seen from the lighthouse working
down the bay, her deck loaded with
cotton. She was, doubtless, about to at.
tempt to run out this night.
"Oars, mcn!" and us they lay on
their oars, and the boat lost her head,
way, explained my plan.
: ave will board this schooner, boys
but no shots, mind; if they resist, usC
) your cutlaSscs. There must be no firing
to alarm our friends mt the Point, or oul
: plan will be defeated. If we succeed II
; this, and ! feel sure We shall, you vii
| all have good share of prizc-moncy
if we fail, we shall be no worse Off thar
we now are. Knox, see the oars muf
fled.
This accomplished, we pulled out to-
ward the approaching schooner, and So
quietly, that we were within couple
: of boats s'-lengths ere we were discover
ed.
: "Boat ahoy what boat is that ?" they
hailed.
"Givc way, boys!" l shouted ant
: we were alongside and scrambling ovcl
the cottOn-balcs before the schooner:
2 crew were aroused. There was little OF
} no resistance, and we speedily had thu
= crew secured below, and were quietly il
possession of our prize.
. "Now, surgeon," said l, "strip thes,
e fellows, and let Knox and four others o
r our men rig themselves in butternut
+ 1t is best to he prepared for emergencies
Just take Il look below, will you, anC
, see if you can find me decently-clcar
2 coat and trowsers, while | question on
Q sulky friend, the eX-commandcr Of thi
craft"
+ \ lank, unWholcsome-lo0lling spoci
! men of the very worst type of Texan
>, was this master Of the schooner, and hi
| snake-like eyes glstened as | addresscC
him.
!, "Looll here, sir, | shall need some o
i Nnnr ossi istnppn i'm ,rpttinn tbis \-nSsn