The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-05-09
THE NIGHT ATTACK.

States corvette Flrefy, commanded by
the eccentric Percival Mad Jack, as the
seamen called him), was lying of
Bushni, in the Persian gulf, together
with a small fl 4et-saillng schooner which
acted as tenuer to the corvette.
The schooner had been captured in the
Mozamb que Channel where she haC
been engaged in the slave trade; but
now, under the pennanC and stars and
STR pes, mad been transferred into the
embryo man-of-war, with the second
lieutenant, Edward jenkins, in com
mand.
A native syrang had brought informa.
tion of a small English trader having
been captured by Duglah, and carried
into a well-known Arabian piratica
stronghold, known as I'll Katuf, at W hich
point Lhe European crew had been mur,
dered, attended with the most reYolting
cruelLies.
The deep gray eyes of Mad Jack
flashed ominousiy as he listened in 81
lence to the recital of blood, and the
small rattan which he invariably car.
manders hands worked neryously from
side to side.
sAre you a pilot" demanded the
commander, in his usual short, abrupt
manner.
Eyes, sahib," responded the native,
with a salaam.
"Can you take this vessel TO Ell Ka-
tufw
"Yes, sahib1'
"Enoush. Get under weigh, Mr.. Boil
ton," (addressing the first lieutenant J.
'and make the tenders gnal to folio W
in our waKe."
In less than fifteen minutes the cor
vette was clothed in broad folds OF
snow-Whlte canvas, which caught the
tavoring breeze as the vessel moved
rapidly out OF The harbor, with her tiny
cOnsort gliding smoothly along but a
short distance astern.
Tue polished battery Of the Firefy re-
fiected back the glowing rays of the
sun; the deck was white as snow, not
a loosely belay ed rope was to be dIscUv.
cred, and such thing as an Irish PEN
nanG was unknown in Mad jacks COM
mand.
Everything connected with the vessel,
from the glued trucks TO the cable tier,
was in complete order, for which the
commander was in part indebted to hi s
able executive and the corps OF officers
under his command.
The two vessels were soon in the vi
cinity OF El katuf; the lookouts we're
doubled; sLrlcC orders issued to the T.
ticer OF the watch, and every prepara
tion made 10 give any suspicious craft "a
warm greeting at the shortest notice.
IL was d beautiful night even for the
tropics, and one tnat is only seen in OFi.
entail CHIMES. A fresh breeze from the
southwark was driving the Firef1y along
at the rate OF seven knots an hour, ex-
tremely refreshing to all hands alter the
languOr inspired by the heat OF the day.
The moon, which had been lingering be-
hind some clouds, suddenly broke Iorth,
linging the waters Ot the gulf with a
food Of tremulous, dancing light.
"Sail hOP shouted the lookout.
"Where aWayW demanded the off Ger
of the deck.
"RighV ahead, SIR" was the reply, and
the next instant all hands were reused
out from their hammoeks, in obedience
10 the orders of Mad Jack for gall hands
to make SAIL"
The syrang had been observing the
stranger attentlVely through the glass,
and as he shut up the Instrument he
briefly stated that the native craft
ahead was the pirate the Fire1y was
looking af.er.
The buglah was well in shore, in which
direction sne was heading under all the
canvass she could make use of.
The powerful light of the moon
brought out in bod relief the white
tower OF El Katuf, which cleaned in Lhe
distance Win ghOsLly air.
The D0W-ehasers were brought into
requisitloE, the Flrefy waved slightly.
W Nile shot alter sDoL was pitcned after
the flying craft. but, spite the ulmos
efforts of the man-ol-Wa,'s men, the ma
i've craft ran i'll safety under the guns
Of the Arab battery, while amuff1 ID ye!l
OF triumph and 'derlsion reacued the
Lingling ears OF the sailors.
Mad Jack vented his spleen by draw
ing his rattan smartly athWart the stern
bearings Of a quartermasLer who was in
The act OF stopping to clear the signal
halliards rove of at the mizZen. lhe
astonished seaman leaped couyulsiyely
10 his feet, while the irate commander
gave the officer Of the deck instructions
10 lay of and on until day light, when he
was to he called.
With the first blush of dawn, Mad
Jack sent in word that the murderers
who had captured the English trader
must be given up. The answer was a
volley of musketry, and without further
ado, "a brisk cannonade was opened upon
the tort.
The battery was soon silenced; the
buglah appeared deserted, and Mad
Jack ordered all the boats Of the COR
vette called away, placel MIR. Ratlln In
charge, with orders to board and dest troy
the bugiah.
Away started the launch, two cutters,
gig and plnnace, each boat vieing with
It's mate In the exciting race, while Lne
corvette and tender covered the board
ing party with a wel-drected fire.
The guns of the Arabs had been
manned again, but their practice was
poor. The SOLID shot ana projectiles
plowed up the wafer around The boats
IN all directions, but no damage was
done.
The wild cheer of the seamen was
heard aboard, as they gained Une side OF
the native craft, and with their cutlasses
between their teeth, the sailors swarmed
over the rail, despite the black, lowering
cuuntenances OF the followers of the
faithful, wno offered a momentary re-
sistanCe.
The heather were between two fires,
the Boarders having divided into two d :
visions, one taking care OF the bow, the
other Of the stern, with orders to NEE
amidships.
The consequence was the buglah was
Ind MI al