The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-08-18

Il
scorpion dwells ON the coral islands,
those strange sails are often pirates. and
at times the cyclone careers across its
waters, and many gallant ship and
many brave sailor lie beneath its
waves.
In was the rainy season. Instead Of
the bright blue sky usual in those lati-
tudes, the sky was overcast and of lead
en- hue. the forked lightning played in
cessantly ON the surface of the water,
while any wind there was came in sud-
den gusts and wild, and had hardly come
til it was gone again.
The Vengeance was in chase, and
every eye on board was strained watch
ing the great three master, still a long
way ahead of them, for, although the
Vengeance gained upon her in the lull,
with every squall the strange ship
seemed positively to ily over the waters.
4 When, after short twilight, night
fell, dark and lowering, the Vengeance
was still long way astern, and the
chase seemed al but lost. Down in the
captains cabin Il. council of war was
held, at which Harry was the youngest
officer. .JOoma, the dark-skinned
Arab interpreter, was talking rs he
entered.
Il tell YOU what, sar, he was saying
excitedly, lyon wrong, Dat ship not
go furder south; she cross the bar to-
night, land slaves 10 barracoon, and
then clear ship for the inspection OF
British oflicerslr And Jooma bowed
low. in mock ceremony to his audience.
.'Well, after all, captain" said the
navigating lieutenant, IL think old
Jooma is right. He talks like book,
and we are right Off the Rangoona bar
even now.m
"Then, by heavens,r cried the cap
tain, 'where she goes my boat can fol-
low
"Iurrah to that, sar," said Jooma.
ssBut, mind continued the captain,
"old friend as you are, Jooma, III hang
you If you've deceived us"
''Jooma live 4 long tire yet, sar,"
said the Arab.
Ii was midnight when the Vengeance
ceased 10 steam, and east anchor out
side the Rangoona Hiver in five fathoms
water. Midnight, and intensely dark.
Five boats were called away, vet il
seemed like madness 10 attempt To cross
rollers ran mountains high. and broke
in foam on every side Whatever a
man dares he can do" was the motto
of Captain Cameron, Of II. NJ. :. Ven
( geanee. .Iooma's boat went first, the
rest following in Indian file, and all
that even Jooma had 10 Guide him was
the constant tum-tumming in the Indian
village and the occasional quavering
shrek of an Arab sentry. The boats
are among the breakers. Jooma's light,
like a guiding-star. is on ahead-now
seen, now hidden. with the rise and fall
of the boat. Heavens, how those
mighty waves tumble and roar, and,
like giant monsters of the deep, toss
their foaming names all around them,
Only in the wake of Jooma's boat
there is no broken water. Vel he
knows the passage.
The last boat to pass is Harry's. He
is halfway through, when swiftly up
behind comes a great curling wave.
Harry sees the danger.
Lie on your oars, mem" he shouts
" steady" the las. word is drowned in
the roar Of breaking water. The boat
is caught like a cork and hurled swift
er than arrow from Indians bow full
fifty yards horeward-shoreward and
into smooth water-safe, but filled 90
the very gGnwale with water
As silent as ghosts glidcd the boats
up the river. Suddenly voice seemed
TO come from the clouds:
"Boat ahoy, stand off or III put a
shot in youl"
"Dar she is, sar, captainl" cried
Jooma exultingly.
Now, my lads" cried Captain Cam
cron, a. Won heard the threat. That's our
prize We've only got TO take her. Mr..
Lawson, sheer off few yards with your
boat, and keep the blue lights burning"
A broad glare Of CHASTITY light was the
almost instant reply.
"Tumble up, mem" shouted the cap
tain.
"Hurrahln
What spirit there is in an English
cheer, even from soldier-throats. But, ah,
you should hear il as il comes from the
lungs of our Grave blue-jackets, when
eager for the fray, when every pulse is
bounding, and the foe is there before
them.
IL surely was not men they fought
with on the deck of that slave-ship.
Half-naked they were, dusky-skinned,
and slippery. with long hair and wild
syes-men who fought with brandished
spear and broadsword. They were the
northern fighting Arabs, half pirates,
half slayers. How fiercely they fought,
how bitterly they died, and how terri
bic was the fight that ragged under the
blue uncertain light For fully half an
hour, with clash and shout and cry and
moan, the battle continued, then all
was still save the groans Of the wounded.
Harry had fought as only young En-
glishmen can and always do fight, and
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