The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-12-01

come up close. Her deck was crowded.
About q hundred and fifty villainous looking
scoundrels were gathered there A hoarse
voice, in broken English, summoned them to
surrender.
''Fire!n cried the mate in voice of thun-
der
Two explosions followed. A wild shrek
arose among the Malays The cannon, load
ed with grape, had made fearful havoc
among the Malay crowd. Then followed a
discharge of the smaller arms. Soon after
the cannon, which had been loaded again
were once more fired with the same effect
panic seized the Malays. They stopped
rowing. The proa swung a little to one side,
and presented her entire length to the crew
of the Arethusa.
In the midst Of their panic they were not
idle. They fired into the ArethusS, but their
firing was wild, and but few shots took ef
feet AT last the proa, as it swung around,
struck against the Arethusa. Talbot was
prepared. Grapplingirons were flung
down. With shout to his men, he leaped
on board, and the gallant fellows swarmed
after him.
The odds were against them; but it is
always so when the Saxon fights with the
Asiatic. What matters it Race tells; and
these were not the men to falter before a
crowd Of Malays.
With Talbot at their head, they flung
themselves into the dense crowd. Well
armed with pistols and cutlasses, they first
discharged the former and then went to
work hewng their way forward
A compact body Of men, with a bold
skillful leader, they inspired terror by the
suddenness of their attack Having at the
outset gained q headway, they could not be
checked. The impetus with which they be-
gan bore them on. The Malays fell back.
The panic which the first cannon shot had
flung into the crew Of pirates had not subsid-
ed. There was a fierce resistance on the part
of some. but wild confusion among the most
Many leaped into the sea, and swan about
aimlessly.
One huge Malay tried in vain to rally his
followers. Several fought around him.
Brandishing an enormous axe. he struck
right and left, his face like the face of q
fend, and his eyes blazing with savage rage.
Through the midst of a struggling crowd
Talbot forced his way toward this man.
The Malay waited his approach, and then
with a yell swung his axe forward. Talbot
dexterously eyaded the descending weapon,
and before the Malay could raise it, grasped
it in his left while with his right hand he
struck the pirate a tremendous blow be-
tween the eyes with the butt OF pistol.
The Malay fell down to the deck stunned.
''On my ladsr' cried Talbot. "Sweep
the devils into the sea "
With u restless rush the men flung them
selves forward. The few Malays who were
resisting fell back disheartened Some
threw themselves at the feet of the sailors
and begged for life; others, in despair, leap
ed into the sea, choosing rather to drown
than be captured.
la about an hour from the beginning of
the fight the proa lay silent by the side of the
Arethusa. with thirty Malays as captives,
and among them their chief, the terrible pi-
rate Tomawa Talbot had captured this
with his own hand.
The captain had fought well in that fierce
contest, and had a wound on his hand from a
Malay creese to show. Travers had fought
by his side. and had cut on his left cheek,
of which he was inexpressibly proud. Six
of the seamen had been killed. ten wounded
but they had gained the victory, and captur-
ed the greatest pirate of the eastern seas
Where was Beresford9
Where
That was the question. The captain an d
Travers looked gloomily at one another.
The seamcn spoke darkly of pitching him
overheard. Talbot said not word. The
noise of the fight had now died out. They
were talking together on the quarterback
Suddenly Miss Travers came rushing up,
her face pale, her breathing quick and hur-
ried. She flung herself into her fathers arms
and overwhelmed him with caresses. Then
she looked around, and saw from the bloody
decks of the proa, and the wounded and
dead, how fierce had been the conflict.
But the pallor of her face was suddenly
overspread with u flush, and her eyes kindled
with fire.
THAT wretch!' she cried; '.that base
coward to skulk away and leave you to fight
for him -
''Where is he?" asked Trayer5
"In his room"
"In his room?"
Yes. told him to go up and fight, but
he swore he would stay with me to defend
me. | told him to defend me by going up
on deck and fighting He said he would on
ly lay down his life at my feet. | called him
q coward and reproaching him for letting
my aged father fight. At this time the noise
of the fight arose; he turned pale, and, NUT
tering few words, went into his room"
There was a long silence.
Giles the most internal coward that ever
lived y cried Travers at last $50 Internal a
coward that he isn't worth pitching over
board !"
Talbot said nothing. His face preserved
us usual eIuanlmlty. lie was one OF so lofty
Il soul that, since this man had proved 50
base, he sank beneath his resentment. His
eyes met those of Helen Travers. The glance
which they exchange spoke volumes. He
turned away and went off to his men.
'There goes the man who has saved us
all" cried 1ravers THE noblest fellow
that ever stepped !"
Helen's eyes glistened. AS they stood
there Beresford suddenly came up. He look
ed all around with a startled face. Then,
trying to affect an easy and launty Manner
he advanced towards Mr.. Travers and Hell
en-
"Why, there's been quite fight after all, y
said he. "These towards of Malays: I'm
internally sorry | wasn't able to have shy
at them; but the fact is, just as | went into
my room to get my pistols--revolvers, by the
way, lirst-rate ones. just as went in by
Jove!-I was seized by the epileptic attack
to which all the Bcresfords are subject and
Captain" said Travers, interrupting him,
''what do sailors generally do with skulkers
and sneaks?"
well, they generally duck EN-, keel-haur-
EN-, or something Of that sort" said the cap
tain. in a loud voice.
All the sailors were glaring wrathfully at
Beresford. They had overheard the captains
words.
excel haul him! ay, ay--thats it Keel
haul tho coward y, roaral a ccorn Of door,