Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-06-13

| all disguise, the two canoes then
dashed for the schooner. In an in
slant the repeater was at the
captains shoulder, the crank
worked rapidly twice. and two
natives in the starboard boat fell
MORALLY wounded. AS he again
sighted, the sharp reports of the six
shooters rang out, and responsive yells
assured him that Ben and Bill Graves
were shooting to good effect Partly
sheltered behind the low rail of the
schooner, Webster quickly sent four
more of the pirates to their last ac-
count This deadly fusilade material
ly checked the advance of the canoes
toward the schooner. and dropping
down behind their low gunwales the
natives reloaded their muskets and
again poured a volley into the
schooner. A sharp, singing sensa-
ton in the shoulder told the captain
that he was hit, while an exclamation
behind him of Boys, I'm done for. !"
followed by heavy fall on the deck,
told him that one of his brave COM
rades was incapaciGated for further
duty. Dropping on the deck. he
looked hurriedly around. Poor
Graves. stretched at the foot of the
mainmast. was gasping out his last
breath. mortally wounded.
Crouched behind the rail, however.
his dying shipmate's weapon in his left
hand, his own six-shoOter in his right,
Ben still kept the other canoe at dis
lance. Grasping his Winchester.
Webster now crept rapidly forward on
his hands and knees behind the rail.
and suddenly appearing in the fore
rigging. surprised the occupants of the
starboard canoe by several well-di-
rected shots before a dozen muskets
pointed in his direction compelled him
to drop upon the deck for a second
time. It was at this moment that Ben,
having thrown himself on the deck to
reload. was supposed by the natives on
his side to have been killed. With q
yell of triumph, now feeling certain of
their prey. they urged the canoe for
ward, and in another moment were
alongside the schooner. At this junct-
ure matters looked very black for the
Americans. Webster had his hands
full with the other canoe, and
in order to keep that off was compelled
to expose himself necessarily to a har-
assing fire. Ben had not yet succeeded
in reloading. and it looked as if the
Indians on his side would succeed in
gaining a foothold on the deck. Once
there, the sailors would stand no
chance for life.
At this important crisis assistance
arrived from a wholly unexpected
direction. A stalwart savage was al
ready in the main chains. and the canoe
alongside the little vessel, when Hon
Pee. rushing from the galley with an
immense copper of boiling water. pre-
cipitated its scalding contents into the
middle of the canoe. A gigantic saw
age alone succeeded in climbing on to
the rail. To him Captain Webster
now directed his attention, when
he became conscious that he
was himself covered by the
weapon of native in the fur
Their canoe. It was critical
moment. The piece of the native on
the rail was directed at Ben, the barrel
of whose pistol seemed in some way to
be damned. Disregarding his own
safety. Webster drew a bead at the
man on the rail. and-missed him It
had the effect. however, of discomfort
ing the fellows aim, for his bullet, in
its turn, whistled harmlessly by Ben's
head. Clubbing his now empty Win
chester. Captain Webster was about to
rush upon the native, when deafen-
ing report was heard behind him.
Looking back. he was in time to see
the native boy, falling backward down
the compaion way, sent there by the
recoil of his musket. The native
on the rail staggered and fell
forward. a gaping wound in his
breast telling plainly that the harm
less charge of powder with which the
boy had been intrusted had been sup
plemented by something of a more
deadly nature. This repulse afforded
both Ben and the captain chance to
reload. AS he rose from the deck,
however, to pour in another volley,
Webster felt puff of air on his cheek,
and, glancing aloft, perceived by the
bellying canvas that the schooner was
again gathering steerage way. Turn
ing seaward, he swept the hori-
zon with an anxious glance, where a
wall of white water seemed to be rush
ing landward. In a few moments a
white squall. so common in those lati-
tudes, would be upon them. The ma
tives saw it, ALSO and dishearSened by
the resistance they had met with,
turned to fee. Webster's heart beat
high with a feeling of uncomfortable
exultation, as. bending to the influence
Of the freshening wind, the schooner
tore through the water.
'She's got steerage-way on her,
Ben." he shouted. Lower away the
peak bit. and let the topsail down on
the cap. Well give those fellows
something they won't forget"
Rushing aft, he threw the wheel
hard over aud brought the schooner's
head to the wind. Right in her track,
confused and helpless, were huddied
the frightened occupants of one
canoe, half-buried in the foam
of the waves, now dashed in
to resistless fury. Erect at