The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-07-22
FORCED APART
By W. CLARK RUSSELL.
author of the "Wreck of the Grosrenor'
- "a Sailors Sweetheart" Etc.
CHAPTER <
THE ACTION.


A.. ten of the forenoon the Frenchman lay
plain on the seq, with colors flying, muske-
taers in her tons, end her bulwarks black
with the heads Of her men A Dig iIisate
she was, of the graceful shape "nlcn lne
British were all too slow to copy ln eneir
backwards; and the Gallo COCKS In ne1 nen-
coops might well have swelled shelr throats
with derisive screams when they behelo tne
English sparrow sailing down 10 grappie
with the hawk.
?. The first shot fired came from the frigate,
when sha was still out of reach Of the Cleo
patra's guns. Cuthbert saw the glance OF
yellow !la,ne and the smother Of white smoke;
the bal whried up a little pillar OF froth out
Of the sea close alongside, and then came the
report. lulling lis sting against the WINDS
teeth
sMy lads exclaimed Sir Peter Grahame,
standing at the quarterback capstan Win
his hat in his hand, 'yonder ship IS the
Guerrero. None Of the enemy's ships has
done moro damage to our peaceful merchant
men than she. She is big nut to crack,
but our heels are shod with British iron, and
we'll grind the kernel out Of her yet Hold
on all till you get your orders, then make one
man of yourselves. Now God be with usl"
A cheer like broadside was given; the
helm put over, the loftier sells furled and
the CLEOPATRA drove on toward her enemy.
The Cleopatra's flying jibboom pointed
due amidshpS Of the Guerrero; then by length
of q spoke was the wheel put over, round
swept the Guerriere's helm, that she might
rake the Cleopatra as she passed under her
stern. But 10, the brig, twisting on her keel
like a Yacht, put her nose ut the revolving
Frenchman and blaze! blaze!. went her two
bow chasers, and down came the flag of the
republic, along with the gaff and a sputtsr
Of canvas shreds. A minute later the YES
sells lay broadside on to one another, as close
as two houses on opposite sides OF a street;
and simultaneously from both OF them leape
out line Of flame, with roar as OF noun
tain rent in twain by an earthquake and the
smashing and splintering OF woodwork,
while all between was smoke.
Now had the action begun In earnest, and
sight for Cuthbert to remember was the
deck of the English brig Calm as statue
and as steady Sir Peter Grahame stood some
fathoms forward of the wheel with powerful
voice and slight gesture Of the arm giving his
orders. You would have said that he had
eyes oil over his body-eyes for the helms
man at the back of him and the yards and
sails above him; for the griry seamen
sweating at the guns and for every toss OF
the arm Of the gold-laced French commander
shrieking, after the manner OF his naton,
from the raised after-deck Of his ship.
Now the English captain began to see that
he should be overmatched if he did not lay
the Frenchman on board; for his eighteen
Founders could make no fight with the
enemy's heavy artillery, and there was small
chance Of prize money and the glory of
eazetting unless-the boarding pike and cut
lass came into play. But as he gave the
order to man the weather braces to sheer the
brig alongside, his foretop mast was carried
away, and all his head sail with it As a
running man, shot in the leg, falls cripple
and slues around in helpless state, so the
Cleopatra, deprived of her forward canvas,
rounded up into the winds eye, whereupon
the Frenchman sailed clean round her,
drenching her with both broadsides in rota-
ton The second discharge was murderous
yolIey; for q ball smashed the wheel and
killed the men at it, and bullet hit Sir
Peter Grahame under the arm, and he fell,
mortally wounded.
At the beginning Of the fight Cuthbert had
stood ut tho foot Of the mainmast. unnoticed
by officers and crew-in the furious excite
ment and spendid horrors Of the scene for
getting sele-eager to help. but in his lSno-
rance not knowing what to be at, when
cannon ball struck seaman in the back, and
threw him forward with heavy smash,
where he lay dead as dust, with his face q
mask Of blood.
This was the first man killed; but scarcely
was he down when gunner leaped from the
breech he was patting and tumbled backward,
moaning shockingly.
aHelp me carry him below!" sang out
voice; and, with sick heart and damp fore
head. Cuthbert buckled to the worst bit Of
work a sea fight gives.
He had returned on deck for the twentieth
time, and was at lis former post, ready to do
what should be wanted, when the foretop-
mast fell, with its heap of sail and rigging,
and the brig shot round; and in few min
utes the Guerriere poured in the first Of her
two deadly broadsides. He heard the grape
screech past him, and beheld the carnage of
it; and then he saw Transom, with his hand
to his ear, rush forward and call upon the
men to clear away the wreck, and "bear a
hand, or the brig would be taken"
And all the while the Frenchman was sneak
ing round to bring her port broadside to
bear and her smau-arms men and topmen
were discharging volleys of musketry at the
small band of Englishmen Oh the briggs fore
castle. Then, before the staysai could be
hoisted, the Guerriere poured her second tre-
mendous storm of fame and thunder and
iron into the devoted brig
Cuthbert saw the captain fall, and sprang
aft. He placed his arm under the dying
mans head to raise him.
"Too late-I am bleeding inwardly!" he
gasped. "Ten Lieutenant Transom to strike
drag my body abaft the skylight-they arc
too many for us--my poor men"
Then came Transom rushing aft with de-
spair in his face for he had seen that tho
wheel was gone and their case was hopeless.
Beholding the dead body Of Sir Peter, he
started back, gazed deSpairingly around him,
and buried his face in his hands.
"The captains last words to ne wore that
/ should tell you to strike" exclaimed Cuth-
bert.
Uycs VOC " croaned Transom 1T must be