The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-01-25

one, two, three, half a dozen blacl
forms. With the others l watche,
and waited, my pulse beating quicks Or
but my nerves, think, steady. Thel
there was shout and a rush. w,
heard the crack, crack of pistols o.
the two officers forward, and we saw
them retreating before the twent,
desperadoes, who, armed with knive.
stuck on sticks, marline-spikes, ane
hatchets, pressed onward with roal
like so many escaped devils. The
boatswain pushed me back IA l mad.
n movement with the captain.
''To your place, Sir" he said, "ane
remember the whistler" but l fired
my pistol once. for in the darkness
saw figure creeping under the shade
of the taffrail toward the helm. Per
haps 1t might be the leader, Boston
Tom; but could not see. fired, and
he dropped. A moment after heard
the whistle of the boatswain. In M
instant l let go the rope, and the boat
dropped swiftly in the water.
In all my life l shall never forget
that scene OH the deck which caught
az l sprang over the side and lower.
ed myself, hand over hand, into the
boat. The pistol shots were silent
now, and it seemed rs if, with Nigh.
ty stamping and mad shouting, there
were dozen figures fighting one
while the battle ragged over the agOn.
lied forms Of the dying and the dead
Like photograph the image was
| painted on my brain, and has remain.
there ever since. Sometimes still, af.
| ter all these years, I awaken at night
to hear the cries and oaths of the sail
ors, the crack of the captains pistols,
and to reproach myself for not having
done more to save the ship. But |
did my duty.
The young lady was crouched,
trembling, in the stern of the boat
l treasured her with word-there
was no time for more, for almost N
soon as reached the boat another
form came hand over hand down the
rope, and | sprang up, pistol in hand
to meet him. But it was the boat
swain; he had a knife, as he descend
ed, between his teeth, and he held
the rope for moment in his hand
Halfa dozen faces appeared in the dark
ness peering over the taffrail at him.
The night air was heavy with oaths,
shrieks and groans. "Villains, muir
derers, cut-throats - he cried; "you
shall be hanged, every mothers son.
| know your names; I've got your
record in my pocket" He severed
the rope with dextrous sweep of his
knife; instantly the great ship seem
half mile ahead of us, as she slipped
through the water before the strong
trade-wind. The boatswain shook
his fist at her, as if the men on board
could see and hear.
There goes the Lucy Derrick" lie
said; las sweet a clipper as ever sailed
the seas, lost through crew of mutt
neering, cut-throat villains. They
shall hang, everyone-that's settled
they shall all hang, if I hunt them
round the world"
"Where are the officers ?" / asked.
Drained, all of them-knocked ON
the head, and murdered. There, my
pretty-there, don't cry--don't t take on
so. Ifthe captains gone, he died in
defense of his ship-gone to heaven
the captain is, with his three officers.
In heaven this minute. They've no
call to be ashamed or afraid. Done
their duty like men. No call; else
what good expecting of man to do
his duty? And as for us, we've got a
tight little craft, in the track of the
clipper ships, or near 1t, with sup
ply of provisions and water, and plen-
ty of room on this broad ocean in case
bad weather comes on. Now, mister
what's your name, Sir?"
my name is Warneford."
Good, Sir. You'll allow me to
command this craft, if you please,
though my being bred to the trade
not a gentleman like you.'
"ies; but perhaps l am not a gem
tleman," l replied.
"Then you are brave man - cried
the girl. 81 watched you from the
boat. ! saw you shoot that man
creeping along the deck like a snake.
And | owe my life to you and Mr..
Croil. But, oh it seems poor and
selfish thing to thank God for our
lives, with all those good men muir
dered.'
Look" cried Ben-I shall call
him Ben for the future-''they'r re
bout ship, the lubbers. Who'll teach
them to navigate the vessel? Well,
they can't sail over us, that's one COM
fort"
1t was too dark for me to see more
than the shape of the ship herself,
standing out on black mass, with
black masts, and black sails, against
the sky; but Ben's practiced eye
discovered that they were endeavor-
ing to alter her course, for some rea-
son of their own.
We were tossing like cockle-shell
on the water; which was smooth, save
for a long, deep swell. We were all
three very silent; and presently l
heard noise.
"They are cruising in search Of u.s."
said Ben; ''see, they've reefed ALL
Well, it il too dark for them to see us
before daaybreak, and if they cruise
about till then. Mr.. Warneford,
you have your pistol"
There was but one chamber dis
charged in mine; Ben looked to his
own. 1--WE shall be able to speak =
boat, p" he said after while, "at far-off
quarters or close, and speak her we
will to pretty tune; but on such q
night as this they might as well look
for King FaraOh's chariot as for the
captains gig. Heart up, my pretty.
Well stand by you; and in the morn
ing we'll be off on another tack
Heart up!'
Then eurions thinv hannan>d-