The Portland daily press., 1872-11-16

off sound Of voices. A few more minutes,
and we heard the creaking OF masts and cord
age Then the dim outlines of sails were |
visible through the mist, over a low neck of |
land two hundred yards up the river. And
at last, rounding the point, a large schooner
came in view, shadowy and ghost-like in the
dim light.
''Never mind your muskets. men," said
Forester, as he saw them lingering and cock
ing their arms. "Have your cutlasses ready,
and she moment we touch her side, jump on
board. Murray, you will engage on the star
board side, and l on the port"
The SLAYER was nearly abreast OF us now,
the sound of voices on board had ceased.
Noiseess as phantom ship, the current pore
hel swiftly towards the sea. -.
NOW men, are you ready -
"All ready, SIR"
sThen give way" he shouted, "and hur-
rah for the old Planet!,
The twelve oars of the two boats dropped
| into ti,e water at the word. One good cheer,
and in few minutes we were alongside.
| ..An easy victory this,'' l thought, as the
bow-oar struck his boat-hook in the main
chains, and held on without opposition.
| Much was l mistaken. On jumping up,
sword in hand, on the sohooner's gunwale,
Moore and my boats crew following, we
found all progress barred by boarding net
ting, which, triced up to the yard arms, in
terposed between us and the deck While
struggling with this unexpected obstacle,
cheer rose from the slaver's decks. and the
scene was lit up by the flashes of a dozen
muskets. The sudden glare disclosed the
forms OF our opponents, who, until then, had
been concealed behind the bulwarks, and
showed Forester and his men on the other
side of the ship slashiug away at the netting
which went quite round the vessel-with
their cutlasses.
The discharge did some evil work; two of
our poor fellows fell heavily back into the
boat. Only Moore and two men stood by
my side. 1 could see no chance of cutting
our way through this horrid network before
the enemy would be ready with another vol
ley. which would about finish u.s. Already
the rafting of ramrods showed they were re-
loading, so l called out
Shack into your boat, and bring up your
muskets.'
They sprung down, leaving me alone, hold
ing on by the rigging, and gradually cutting
hole through the netting.
At this moment, happening to look forward,
| made out the figure of man who had
stealthily crept over the side, and. axe in
hand, was in the very act of lifting it in order
to cut off the head of the boatchook. If he
succeeded, and the boat, with its crew, were
cast adrift, we were ruined. l drew out my
pistol, yet unused, fired, and-missed! The
white splinters flew from a spot close by the
| fellows head, could see the faint gli,nmer
of light on the axe as he started. Then the
weapon was raised again, but ere it could
descend, a boarding pike thrown iavelin-wise
| by Moore, hurled past and buried itself in the
poor wretch's side. With a shrek which for
the time silenced all other sounds, he loosened
his hold, clutched valnly at the vessels side
as he fell, and was swall owed up in the depths
of the muddy waters.
The cry and appalling fate of this miserable
being for the moment unnerved his COM
rades There was pause. Before they
could recover themselves to give a second
voley, the three men were again by nv side
and firing right in their faces, Forrester's
party also blazing away at the same time.
The group on the dock seemed to waver-
only shot or two was returned.
And now at length by cutting and tearing
| had made tolerable hole through the
boarding netting. We forced our way
through and leaped on the quarterback just
as cheer from the opposite side told us our
friends had done the same. As my feet
touched the deck saw facingme a tall fell
low with his musket dubbed, the butt-cnd
lifted up and about to fall on my head. Had
| it thus fallen, my career in Her Maiesty's
navy had then and there ended, and this
story had never been told. But had time
to jump on one side, and the weapon grazed
my shoulder harmless. Before it could be
raised again my sword was through the mans
arm. Disengaging it, looked round
Our opponents were crying "Misericorde''
Throwing down their arms and running for
ward to conceal themselves. One figure only
was to be seen, standing by the tiller-evi-
IDENTIFY the captain. Forester, giving me a
warm grasp by the hand, walked aft, say
ing
The answer was a pistol shot. My poor
friend stopped short, staggered, and would
have fallen but | caught him in time and
laid him gently pown on the deck, supporting
his head iu my arms. Moore, fine stalwart
six-foot Devonshre man, ran aft and with
one blow ofhis fist knocked the slave cap
tain down.
''What shall do with him, sir Shall 1
pitch him overheard %
mo; no" replied. clash his hands and
feet securely, and leave him there. Then
take the helm and look after the schooner,
for her sails are all aback."
Forester now claimed my first care. The
coxswain of his boat, who-like all his boats
crew-was devoted to him, helped me, and
together we searched for the wound. which I
much feared would be mortal. To our relief
found the pistol ball had struck only the
upper part of the leg, but still the blood was
yelling out profusely. With a handkerchief
twisted tightly round the limb, we managed
at length to stop the bleeding. Then having
made him as comfortable as we could, and |
covered him up with blanket coat / was
able to take in the position of affairs.
felt rather proud of my first command, |
on looking round, and observing what fine |
prize she was. There was long brass gun
amidships, and why it was not fired as we |
came alongslde-our attack being evidently |
expected-it was difficult to say However.
there was little time for reflection or enjoy |
ment OF the sweets OF command; it was neces-
sary to act at once. The vessel was certainly |
SO lar won but what was won had to be kept. |
The question was 'Would the beaten crew, |
when they discovered our weakness, remain
quiet, without attempting a rescue r' l call /
ed our men together to ascertain how many |
were fit for action, and found that seven, be- |
sides myself were all right; Forester and |
five Others being quite disabled. Well, eight
British sailors ought to be sufficient to keen a
Threats though they were, there could not be
more than twenty left, for several were lying
on the decks dead or wounded
Moore now proved himself an invaluable
first lieutenant
beg your pardon, SIR" he called out from
the helm, won't you anchor, ano then we
shall have nothing else to do hut secure the
A capital suggestion. Looking over the
side found that in the ten or fifteen minutes
which had elapsed since we began the attack.
the current and the land-wind together had
carried the schooner, with our two boats
towing along side, well clear of the mouth of
the river outside Sharks Point. The next
thing was to see if the anchor was clear. ali
ready for letting go. l ran forward glanced !.
over the bows; yes, there it was with black
congo mud clinging to it, just in the same
state as when hove up an hour or two ago.
gave the order; and in another five minutes
we were quietly at anchor, sails clewed up.
and Moore at liberty to leave the helm and
Join me.
So far so good. But the pressing danger
yet remained, We were longing to release
the unhappy slaves below, but coald do moth
ing while the defeated crew, out-numberine
US three to one, were unsecured. The youne
moon was fast sinking below the horizon: if
was not yet midnight; there were six or seven
hours OF darkness still TO be cot through. nor
could the return Of the Planet be hoped for
before next morning at the earliest.
had come aft when busy in anchorine the
prize, but now having carefully reloaded INV.
pistol, hurried again to the bows. Moore and
our six men following. Wewere only lust in
time. Two men, musket in hand, had al
ready made their NAV on daclx ar1 H. III |