Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-11
CHAPTER x.

plain on the sea, with colors flying, muske- teers in her tops, and her bulwarks black with the heads of her men, A big frigate she was, of the graceful shape which the British were all too slow to copy in their dockyards; and the Gallic cocks in her hem coops might we'll have swelled their throats with derisive screams when they beheld the English sparrow sailing down to grapple with the hawk.
 The first shot fired came from the frigate, when she was still out of reach of the Cleo patras guns. Cuthbert saw the glance of yellow flame and the smot1er of white smoke; the ball whirled up little pillar of froth out of the sea close alongside, and then came the report, dulling it's sting against the winds teeth
 My lads," exclaimed Sir Peter Grahame standing at the quarterback capstan with his hat in his hand, ''yonder ship is the Guerriere. None of the enemy's ships has done more 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 us" A cheer like a broadside was given; the helm put over the loftier sails furled and the Cleopatra drove on toward her enemy.
 The Cleopatras flying jibboom pointed due amdships of the Guerriere then by length of 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 lo the brig, twisting on her keel like yacht put her nose at the revolving Frenchman and blaze! blaze! went her two bow chasers, and down came the flag of the republic, along with the gaff and sputter of canvas shreds. A minute later the ves- gels lay broadside on to one another, as close as two houses on opposite sides of a street; and simultaneously from both of them leapt out a line of flame, with 8 roar as of a 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 a sight for Cuthbert to remember was the deck of the English brig. Calm as statue l and as steady Sir Peter Grahame stood some fathons forward of the wheel with powerful voice and slight gesture of the arm giving bis orders. You would have said that he had eyes all over his body-eyes for the helms | man at the back of him and the yards and | sails above him; for the grimy seamen l sweating at the guns and for every toss of the arm of the gold-laced French commander | shrieking, after the manner of his nation, 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 | pounders could make no fight with the enemy's heavy artillery, and there was small chance of prize money and the glory of a | gazetting 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 Q 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- tion. The second discharge was murderous volley; for 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 at the foot of the mainmast, unnoticed by officers and crew-in the furious excite ment and spendid horrors of the scene for getting self-eager to help. but in his igno- rance not knowing what to be at, when a cannon ball struck seaman in the back, and threw him forward with heavy smash, where he lay dead as dust, with his face a mask of blood.
 This was the first man killed; but scarcely was he down when gunner leaped from the breech he was batting and tumbled backward, moaning shockingly.
 "Help me carry him below!" sang out a voice; and, with sick heart and damp fore , head, Cuthbert buckled to the worst bit ot work sea fight gives.
 He had returned on deck for the twentieth , time, and was at his former post, ready to dc
 what should be wanted, when the foretop. mast fell, with it's heap of sail and rigging, , and the brig shot round; and in few min , utes the Guerriere poured in the first of hel two deadly broadsides. He,heard the grape
 screech past him, and beheld the carnage o1
 it; and then he saw Transom, with his hand f to his ear, rush forward and call upon tht : men to clear away yhe wreck, and "bear { 2 hand, or the brig would be taken" And all the while the Frenchman was sneak
 ing round to bring her port broadside tx 3 bear and her small-arms men and topme1 ] were discharging volleys of musketry at thu @ small band of Englishmen on the brig's fore
 castle. Then, before the staysail could b @ hoisted, the Guerriere poured her second tre
 mendous storm of flame and thunder ant
 iron into the devoted brig.
 Cuthbert saw the captain fall, and spran, f. aft. He placed his arm under the dyin, :. mans head to raise him.
 "Too late-I am bleeding inwardly!" b
 rasped "Tell Lieutenant Transom to strike > drag my body abaft the skylight-they ar e too many for us-my poor men!"
 Then came Transom rushing aft with de