Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-27

'tComing to himself, sir but not yet able
to move" answered Elton. He was Diach
in the face when we released him."
GLOW many of you are left "
'sOnly four of us, excepting you and the
cap'n.';
''You had better take the light from YOU
rigging, Suggested Denny. ''There is little
danger of our falling foul of another ship
in these waters, and it will be well to put
it out of the power of Buncle and his gang
to board u.s.
1 This suggestion was adopted.
| ssLet us hope that no chance will throw
us into their power,n said Denny, as care
lessly as if no peril had ever assailed him:
''For my part, L don't care to be lowed
alongside by one leg againP'
ssWe1i stand in toward the harbor," said
| Capt. Morrison, who was now quite him.
| self again, with the exception of severe
headache. 'Doubtless our runaways have
made the island in safety. They would
not mind taking the risk of landing in
the darkness in such boat as they had"
81 see nothing Of any ship in port, re-
marked Capt. Morrison to our hero, as they
paced the deck together.
''No, sir. There certainly is none-at
least within the range of our vision"
'We shall have to be very careful about
our movements" said the commander.
The schooner had advanced several miles
into the Passage, when Capt. Morrison be-
cine convinced that the dwelling which had
been destroyed the previous evening, as re-
lated, was no other than that of the mis-
sionary.
'It may have been burned by accident,
sir" suggested Denny, with keen glances
through glass at the distant ruins.
sit may, indeed assented the comman-
der, ''but | fear to the contrary. | don't
like the looks of things. The tawny rascals
are not acting as usual. There is some
thing wrong with them. | shall not ven
ture landing-unless ship-of-war, or at
least stout trader, should arrive here
within twenty-four hours. In fact, I'll 90
about Immediately, and give them wide
berth until further light is thrown upon
them"
He had just given the order to go about,
when cry of startled surprise arose from
nearly every soul on the vessel.
''Looki7 cried Denny, pointing toward
one of the outlying islands which define the
northern limits of the Passage. "Yonder
is the long-boat."
This was indeed the case.
E'She is pushing out to intercept uSt'
cried Capt. Morrison.
Sand all the rascals are in herr' declared
Mr.. Skill. 'This is awkward"
''The villains!' exclaimed Captain Nor
rison, sternly. ''They have not found the
natives quite so pleasant to deal with as
they imagined, and now they wish to come
back to the schooner
''You will not let them come aboard,
sir?n demanded Mr.. Skill.
''No, sir. After what they have done,
they would not hesitate moment to kill
US all and take possession of the schooner.
That's probably the very course they intend
to take. 1t only remains for us to fight
Them" muttered Capt. Morrison. ave
may as well be getting our tools together"
The preparations for defence were scarce
ly completed when the iong-boat was with
in hailing distance, continuing to advance
rapidly.
''Sheer off there, you villainsr' called
Capt. Morrison. as he raised a musket
menacingly. "You can't come back to the
schooner"
1--WE must come bacbr' shouted Buncle,
in return. "There's no living with the ma
IlhCS' llcg We iIocil ttpOll bllS llllSSlOlldIl6S
and strangers, killing every one of them.
We have had terrible battle withthem-''
''Sheer off there, say" interrupted Capt.
Morrison, raising his musket. ''You can't
come aboard of the schooner"
ave can and we willr' cried Buncle,
with logged resolution that sufficiently
evidenced the desperation of his circum-
stances. "If you are wise, Cap'n Morrison,
You'll let us come aboard and excuse what
has happened. We are sOrry for our con-
duct of last evening; it all came of our hav-
ing had too much liquor. We wish to re-
turn to duty"
Il can put no trust in YOU" interrupted
Capt. Morrison. ''Once for all, you shall
not come near u.s.
Obstruction" exclaimed Buncle. rs lie
caught sight of Denny. 'The youngster
isn't dead, after all"
Then he called to Capt. Morrison.
at is useless for you to warn us OFF,
Capn. We are certainly coming aboard,
even if we have to fight YOU
And with this the long-boat resumed its
swift advance upon the schooner.
''And let me say just one word more"
added Buncle. 1--WE are two to your one,
and every shot that is fired upon us we
shall take horrible revenge"