Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-01-17
TEE MYSTERIOUS GUNNER
An Exciting Story of the War
of 1872
az JOHN r. n1UsICK.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE BOARDING PARTY.

the village became quiet and the sun rose
over the fort, which appeared to have
taken a sound nights sleep.
Now away with you to bed. said Mr..
Burnett to the blacksmiths. You have
worked faithfully all night long, and you
need rest. You will be called upon to do
some more hard work before the mOrrOw's
sun rises. Those who have slept soundly
all night viii work to-day"
The work Of the carpenters in handling
the instruments was not finished until
near noon, and then they retired to sleep.
The grinders were changed and all day
long every grindstOne in the town was
rolling polishing off the bright blades
and sharpening the formidable instru-
ments.
They will be dimmed before many
hours, the deserter OF the XenOphOn re-
marked. There was a melancholy ca
dence in the tone of his voice, as he said
this which touched Capt. Alton. Grit
nth, although he was accustomed to war
scenes, shuddered with unaccountable
feeling as he heard the remark, and real
izing in what way the polished blades
would be dimmed.
"Now, Capt Alton, we have seen the
smiths and the carpenters all snugly
quartered for the day, and as we are likely
to have rough weather before many hours,
suppose you turn in yourself, and see if
you cannot catch q moments sleep"
Capt. Alton was almost worn out, it is
true. Constitutions of iron can not stand
everything, and the days and nights Of
unremitting toll and anxiety had almost
subdued even his dauntless spirit He
cast a grateful look at the deserter of the
XenOphOn and said:
4 must not sleep now.
why not? You need rest"
Not until the man of war has been
boarded and captured, and Ola Gatrell
rescued. My greatest fear now is that
the XenOphOn viii weigh anchor and set
sail for England, carrying Ola with her.
There is no danger of that before morn
ing said the deserter. The truth is L
think you so completely whipped those
fellows and drove them out from the
beach that they will not dare return soon.
They imagine that we have quite an army
between the land forces and the sea, and
the XenophOn viii hardly set sail until
she is assured there is no hope for her
land troO s. She has no fear of being
attacked, for the XenophOn can to-day
almost defy the whole American navy"
Your argument is good, Mr.. Burnett,
unless the troops should succeed in COM
ing to the beach and getting aboard
They will hardly attempt that in the
daylight.
No. If the Americans have left Balti-
more they are in pursuit of the army of
General Ross, and will not think of COM
ing this way. But, Captain, go now, re-
tire to your bed, and try to sleep"
Mr.. Burnett, do you not need rest
yourself?"
Il shall lie down somewhere and snatch
a few moments sleep. My shipmate,
Henry Dawes, turned in early last night,
and slept at the rate of nine knots an
hour until daylight. He is fresh this
morning and ready to take the watch
Come. let US turn in and sleep.
Capt. Alton went to his quarters and
threw himself on a cot, leaving orders to
h nc IN ba eol az at frGt
stration made by the enemy.
His eyes were so heavy that despite
himself he could not keep them open.
The day was very warm; the flies buz-
zing about the door lit on the nose of the
sentry who spitefully struck them OF,
and continued his beat up and down be-
fore the tent door.
Griffith slept the deep, heavy sleep OF
exhaustion. There came no dreams tC
him-all was blank. He was aroused al
last.
Some one was shaking him by the
shoulder. Whoever it was seemed in nc
special hurry, and allowed him to take
his time to awake.
He awoke, rubbed his eyes, and then,
as the past and present came wildly tt
his mind, he started up to sitting posi-
ton.
what is it?" he asked.
1The sun has set, the voice of the de
serter of the HenOphOn answered.
What, can it be pOssible?" he asked
starting to his feet and gazing about hin
in astonishment.
1T is"
Il thought had not slept a minute.
you have slept four or five hours"
Then we have not a moment to lose
Have you been resting?"
yes.
els everything ready2"
About"
How are the nen?"
Some are n little nervous and anxious
but in the main they are calm and deter
mined. 1 think we can rely upon them.
And the boats?"
-They viii be pushed out as soon as
Have you given any attention to tn
cutlasses?"
eyes. they are rude instruments, bu
will do Any of them in the hand Of
strong man would cleave a skull.
think we viii be equal to the emergency
should we effect a surprise.
But what do you think Of the night?
1T promises well for our enterprise
\ A fog is rising, and if we can make it tt
the ship unObserved, We viii effect
complete surprise. But we must bear il
mind that we have veterans to deal with
Those men have repealed boarders be
fore, and we Will have to fight when W
get aboard the ship.
II think our citizens understand tn
condition we are in. We will have Il
fight, which means death or victory to US
The man who leaps upon that deck mus
conquer or die"
They found the men moving nervousl
and cautiously about from place to place
speaking in whispers, and some of theI
hardly daring to speak at all Thei
hearts seemed to almost stand still, an
they realized that the great crisis wOuI
soon come.
Have you heard from Captain Ga
trell?" Griffith asked Of Mr.. Burnett.
Eyes; the woman who is his nurse wa
here not long since, and says he rests
little easier, but that the end is DRAWN
nigh"