The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-04-28

size, and above them lowered the top
gallant-sails, royals and sky sails; on
every stay was a stay-sail, even to the
main-skysail-stay, and when running
before the wind she carried studding
sails from her royals down. Such was
the AriePs canvas, and we were prepared
to show a clean pair of heels to any craft
that might be disposed to make any
inquiries. | had crew of fifteen men
stout, able fellows, who were afraid of
nothing. | allowed them to amuse them
selves in any way they fancied all that
| required of them was to keep the
Ariel in order, and make and take in
sail when necessary.
After we had beat to the northward
of Singapore it was all plain sailing.
Being now fairly in the China Sea we
had the wind nearly aft, and crowding
on every stitch of canvas | made the
Ariel fly along like humming bird.
We were now rapidly nearing the
coast of China, and | thought it best to
prepare against any attacks that might
be made. The pistols were loaded, cut
lasses placed ready ut hand and boarding
MEETINGS got up between the rigging,
which could be slowed along the rail
when not in use.
We sighted the Ladrone Islands, which
are but short distance from the Macao,
and Ralph and myself were congrat-
ulating ourselves that our trip would
soon be over without meeting a single
obstacle. But alas we reckoned with
out our host, for at that instant the man
at the lookout reported two boats in
sight, and, turning my glass IN the dl-
rection pointed out, | saw two OF the
long, sharp mandarin boats approach
ing Among those islands the breeze
was light, and there was no opportunity
to escape. We had got to fight 1t
| would never do to let those fellows take
us Ralph and | talked the matter over,
and decided to fight them as long as we
could. The boats We're approaching
rapidly, their long oars fairly making
them leap from the water. Loading up
the long thirty-two, ! trained it upon
them, and, as the ball went skipping
past them, they lay on their oars and
| held a consultation.
In the mean while the men were all
armed, and ready to defend the Ariel to
the last gasp. had again loaded up
| Long Tom, this time with musket-b balls,
also the broadside guns, and awaited
! the attack. 1t was not long before they
were reinforced by another boat, each
one crammed full Of men, and with
| long, steady strokes they pulled toward
us. We were now hopelessly becalmed,
and our position was desperate. ! was
certain, if we fell into the hands of the
wretches, that they would torture us to
death by inches, and | had no more
computations about shooting China
man than ] would Il mad-dog. Many a
sailors body have | seen floating down
! the river, while lying at anchor in
Shanghai, murdered by the rascally
! Chinese boatmen for the sake Of gaining
a few coppers.
did not allow them to engage us at
close quarters without speaking few
words of remonstrance through the me-
dunn Of Long Tom, and with so much
! effect that one boat was sunk, several
! killed, and the survivors swan to the
other boats, and were taken in by their
comrades.
The other two boats now advanced
rapidly to the attack, and pulled direct
" to the bow, where we could not bring
a gun to bear upon them. One boat
made for the starboard, the other for
the port bow, and, jumping into our
head gear, they tried to force an en-
trance into our boarding MEETINGS, but
we quickly picked them off with our
rifles and pistols, and the long, deadly
thrust Of the boarding-pikes kept them
at bay.
With their sharp knives they en-
deavOred to cut the MEETINGS, but before
one Of them could get a second cut,
they were tumbled back, wounded, dy-
ing and bleeding, into their boats.
For moment there was a lull in the
conflict, and then, with fierce rush,
they cut and hacked hole through
the MEETINGS, although a dozen fell in
the attempt. My men fought well, and
kept their ground, and the battle ragged
fercely around the bows and topgallant
forecastle of the Ariel With board
ing-pike in my hand, skilliully kept
the Cinnamon at bay. Already had
slain three with my own hand, but they
pressed u hard, and fought like tigers.
My men were getting tired, and the
, Cinnamon in overpowering numbers
were clustering on the forecastle. Al
ltuNiO Ntlt III iiiNl D'lllS iOibCt pttIh
inch by inch, and the yelling iends
f were following up their advantage, with
the mandarin officers in the advance
= cheering on the party.
: In an instant more we would be over
| powered, and food for the sharks, when
brilliant idea flashed through my
| bi ain. Rushing into the galley seizeo
a burning brand from the cooks stove
and in IA voice of thunder, that was
, heard far above the din and roar of bat
, tie, shouted:
, Fall back, Ariels retreat to the
3 quarter deck ~
. All hands heard it and obeyed, anC
. as the Cinnamon were running aft il
pursuit. let drive the contents of Lon!
Tom among them. The gun wa
, crammed to the muzzlc with muske
{ balls, and it was fired almost into thei
E very faces. The carnage was terrible
their leader had fallen, and they hud
died together wavering, and undecided
. what to do
Drawing my cutlass, shouted for m.