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

/
scorpion dwells ON the coral islands,
those strange sails are often pirates, and
az times the cyclone careers across its
waters, and many a gallant ship and
many brave sailor lie beneath its
waves.
/ Ii 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
cessantlyon the surface of the water,
while any wind there was came in sud-
den gusts and wild, and had hardly come
till il was gone again.
The Vengeance was in chase, and
every eve 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 fly over the waters.
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 a council of war was
held, at which Harry was the youngest
officer. Jooma, the dark-skinned
Arab interpreter, was talking rs he
entered.
al tell you what, sar, - he was saying
excitediy, You wrong! Dat ship not
90 furder south; she cross the bar TO.
night, land slaves 20 barracOon. and
then clear ship for the inspection OF
British oficersin And Jooma bowed
low. in mock ceremony to mis- audience.
"Well, after all, captain" said the
navigating lieutenant, al think old
Jooma is right. He talks like a book,
and we are right or the RangOona bar
even now"
> "Then, by heavens" cried the cap
: tain, ''where she goes my boat can fol
low"
"Hurrah TO that, sar," said Jooma.
"But, mind" continued the captain,
sold friend rs you are, JoOma, II hang
YOU If you've deceived u.s."
"Jooma live a long tirle yet, sar, v
! said the Arab
II was midnight when the Vengeance
> ceased to steam, and cast anchor out
side the RangOona Hiyer in five fathOms
water Midnight, and intensely dark.
, Five boats were called away, yet i
seemed like madness 10 attempt 10 cross
: that dreaded bar tonight, where the
rollers ran mountains high, and broke
in foam on every side ssWhateyer a
! man dares he can do" was the motto
of Captain Cameron, Of III. Nj. :. Ven
geance. JOoma'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 quaveriug
F, shrek of an Arab sentry. The boats
: are among the breakers. .Iooma's light,
like "A guiding-star. IS on ahead
seen, nov hidden. with the rise and fal
, Of the boat Heavens, how those
4 mighty waves tumble and roar, and
like giant monsters Of the deep, tos'
I their foaming names all around them
Only in the wake Of Jooma's boa
y there is no broken water. Vel h,
knows the passage.
: The last boat TO pas is Harry's. III
n is halfway through, when swiftly M
:. behind comes q great curling wave
; Harry sees the danger.
u " Lie on your oars, mem" he shouts
G "steady," the laS. word IS drowned II
;. the roar Of breaking water. The boa
e is caught like a cork and hurled swift
{, er than arrow from Indians bow ful
: flfty yards ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AM
r into smooth water-safe, but filled q
!, the very g1nwale with water
" As silent as ghosts glided the boat
?, up the river. Suddenly "A voice scenes
e to come from the clouds
d "Boat ahoy, stand of or I'll put
u shot in YOU"
II Oar she is, sar, captain :" erie
1t JoOma eNpltingly.
y Now, my lads" cried Captain Cam
cron, "yOu heard the threat That's on
II prize We've only got To take her. MI
d Lawson, sheer of a few yards with you
boat, and keep the blue lights burning.
80 A broad glare Of CHASTITY light was III
N almost instant reply.
Tumble up, mem" shouted the car
m tain.
"a 4" Hurrahi"
What spirit there is in an Englis
b, cheer,eye from soldier-throats. But, ah
z you should hear il as il comes from IN
DR. lungs Of our Grave blue Jackets, whe
- eager for the FRAY, when every pulse
ID bounding, and the foe is there befor
them.
" It surely was not men they fOugi
with on the deck Of that slave-shiI
~ Half-naked they were, dusk y-skinneC
n and slippery. with long hair and vii
~ tyes-men who fought with brandishe
ct spear and brOadsword. They were th
nr northern fighting Arabs, half pirates
We half slavers. How fercely they Tough
~ how bitterly they died, and how terri
- bic was the fight that ragged under tf
IN blue uncertain light For fully half a
a hetr. with clash and sbout and cry an