Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-12-15

| SatueIcu ticles "a HOstISe VOICE. III
broken English, summoned them to
surrender.
''Fire !" cried the mate in voice of
thunder.
Two explosions followed. A wild
shrek arose among the Malays. The
cannon, loaded with grape, had made
fearful havoc among the Malay crowd.
Then followed discharge of smaller
arms. Soon after the cannon, which
had been loaded again, were once more
fired with the same effect. Apanic
seized the Malays. They stopped row.
ing. The proa swung 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 Arethu.a,
but their firing was wild, and but few
shots took effect. At last the proa, as
it swung around, struck against the
Arethusa. Talbot was prepared. Crap
pling-irons were flung down. With a
| 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 I; 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 word hewin- their way
\ forward.
\ compact body Of men, with 4 bold
\ skiIlful leader, they inspired terror by
the suddcncss OF their attack. Having
at the outset gained 4 headway. they
| could not be checked. The impetus
I with which they began bore them on.
/ The Malavs fell back. The panic
/ which the first cannon shot had ilung
/ into the crew Of pirates had not subsid-
ell. There was a fierce resistance on
n the part of some. but Wild confusion
among the most Many lcaped into the
water and swan about aimiessly.
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 i iiend. and his eyes
blazing with savage rage.
Through The midst ot struggling
crowd Talbot forced his way toward
this man. The Malay waited his ap-
proach, and then with yell swung his
axe forward. Talbot dexterously cvad-
Ell the descending weapon. and before
the Malay could raise ii. 4rasped it in
his left, while with his right hand he
struck tie pirate q Tremendous blow
between the eyes with the butt Of
pistol TIE MALAY fell down to the
deck stunned.
On my lads " cried Talbot. Sweep
the devils into the sea =
With restless rush the men flung
\ themselves forward The few Malays
who were resisting fell Back dishcart-
encd. Some threw themselves at the
feet Of the sailors and begged for life
others, in dispair, leaped into the sea,
choosing rather to drown than be
captured.
In about an hour from the beginning
OF the tight the proa lay silent by the
side of the ArethuSu. with thirty Ma
lays as cap,ivcs, and among them their
chief, the terrible pirate Tomawa. Tai
bot had captured him with his own
hand.
The captain had fought well in that
fierce contest. and had Il wonnd on his
hand from Malay creese to show.
1ravers had fought by his side, and
had cut Oh his left cheek, OF which
he wa, ineXprcssibly proud. SIX OF
the seamen had been killed, ten wound
ed; but they hal gained the victory,
and capturcl the greatest pirate OF the
eastern seas.
Where was Beresford:
Where!
That WAS the question. The captain
aud Travers looked gloomily at one
another The seamen spoke darhly
Of pitching him overheard. T,.bot
said not word. The noise OF the
fight had not died out. They were
talking together on the quarterback.
Suddenly Miss Travers came rushing
up, her face pale, her breathing quick
and hurried 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 sud-
derly overspread with flush, and her
eyes kindled with fire.
That wretch she cried; ''that base
coward to skuIk away and leave you
to fight for him.
Where is he:" asked Travers.
In his room
In his ROOM"
Yes. told HIM to 90 up and fight
but he swore he would stav with me to
defend me- | told him to defend Inc
by going up on deck and fighting. He
said he would only lay down his lite at
my feet. | called him coward, and
reproached him for letting my aged
father fight. At this time the noise of
the fight arose; he turned pale. and,
muttering few words, went into his
room.
There was long silence.
Hes the most Internal coward that
ever lived !" cried Travers at last. so
internal coward that he isn't worth
pitching overheard y
Talbot said nothing. His face pre-
served its usual equanimity. He was
one of so lofty soul that, since this
man had proved so base, he sank be-
meath his resentment His eyes met
those of Helen Travers. The glance
A;A ahanneh smoke volumes