The Delaware farmer., 1883-09-07

four. 1t was longer and heavier tina
any Of the enemy's guns, and, althoug
the distance was two miles, Lieutenan
Gale had strong hopes of being able t
make his mark somewhere about tn
bulky Englishman.
'But you won't hit him at the frs
trial." said Captain Brown, the com
mander.
''No, don't expect to" replied the
lieutenant 81 guess about the third
fire I'll plump a shot into him. The
first may go over and the second under,
but the third'll fetch him l'
Mr. Gale was no boaster, and seldom
undertook more than he could perform.
The privateer was going very steadily,
with but little rise and fall of the deck,
so that the occasion was favorable, but
still, even big seventy-four-pounder at a
distance of two miles could be no very
encouraging mark for a single cannon
ball.
In those days, the big guns were not
fired as now, by means of percussion
caps; but man stood by with a slow
match and clapped it upon the priming
at the word.
Mr.. Gale took unusual pains in sight
ing the long forty-two. Once or twice
he was upon the very point of giving
the order to let drive, but hesitated and
sighted again, the man with the match
all the while standing with arm out
stretched and the bright coal glowing. |
Now little higher, and again a little
lower; was brought the muzzle of the
huge cannon, as the lieutenant squinted
along the iron, till the lookers-on be-
came impatient for the flash and roar.
so, never mind the first shot, said
5he captain; ''youIl have to try a good
many times before you hit the fellow p
81 knowit, said Mr.. Gale, still squint-
ng intently and never looking up; "but
want to come as near as-ah, there a
title lower I want to come as near as
Fire p (
Down came the burning match, and
ne whole vessel shook at the roar of the
'rty-twO. For a moment the smoke
as blinding-and what a smell of burnt
Owder there was about the deck
"Isaw gray streak, said the captain;
and mighty straight one, too but I {
dn't see where it ended, for the smoke 8
as in my way" Ii
IF the ball had struck the water" ii
id one of the officers, 1--WE should have b
en- it skip, 1 think. had a glimpse n
something between us and the enemy. m
t don't know what became Of it.. is
Every one looked anxiously toward
2 seventy-four; and in a minute or two HI
ne operations were observed on nj
ard Of her which made the excitement ii
ense. -
Hello" exclaimed Captain Brown dC
hat does that mean? They have nc
7ered their head-yards and are hauling
their foresail Ny soul they must rio
re got that shot through their fore ie,
st! They're afraid the mast will go bu
7, and are getting in all their head CO.
S as fast as possible Look at the COZ
Ids going up the forerigging And an,
re they start their fore-topsail sheets an
I'll see the yard alive with men in n ivo
ute I" Gao
y the time the sails were clewed up. Sb,
Sc who were to furl them were living her
on the yards in long dark rows. I
h that numerous crew there was a to I
lltaneOus handling of foresail. top the
topgallantsail, and royal-as. in and
|, would have been the case with al tain
upon the ship had necessity amc
ired it to be taken off; and even she him
ID have had large force to spare. seve
1t just as the sails had been hand turr
'ly slowed under the gaskets, the LEV,
S began to wayer. Faster and faster tbei
'lined to leeward, then, suddenly. as that
weather rigging itself had given Port
=, down it went with all its hamper. dow
en- short off by the deck Tt was sbor
ling spectacle. Lowermast. top RI
topgallantmast, royalmast, yards, bia,
and all, plunged splashing into the s sbt
: ther
ere was most lively scrambling To
g the wrecked spars and rigging hoist
, the numerous fellows who had in $
alol1 were seen like so many en- right
rats; but, as was afterward ascer- have
i the casualties were fewer than enga
have been expected only three The
being lost, although four OF five ior il
were somewhat injured. pline