The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-04-01

you cannot caIcQ moment b steep.
Capt. Alton was almost worn out, it il
truo. Constitutions of iron can not stand
everything, and the days and nights OF
unremitting toll and anxiety had almosi
subdued even his dauntless spirit. HI
cast grateful look at the descrter Of the
Xenophon and said:
Il must not sleep now."
"Why not2 You need rest"
Not until the man of war has beer
boarded and captured, and Ola Gatrell
rescued. My greatest fear now IS that
the Xenophon will weigh anchor and SET
aail for ngland. carrying Ola with her,
There is no danger Of that before morn.
ing," said the deserter. The truth is
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 On army
between the land forces and the sea, and
the Xenophon will hardly set sail until
she is assured there is no hope for her
land troo g. She has no fear Of being
attacked, for the Xenophon can to-day
almost defy the whole American navy.
Your argument is good, MIR. Burnett,
unless the troops should succeed in COM
ing to the beach and getting aboard"
sThey will hardly attempt that In the
daylight.
mo. 1t 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, 60 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 q cot, leaving orders to
his sentry to be called at the first demon
stration made by the enemy.
His ewes 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 off,
and continued his beat up and down be-
fore the tent door.
Griffith slept the deep, heavy sleep OF
exhaustion. There came no dreams to
him-ail was blank. He was aroused al
last. d,
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 vlvidly tc
his mind, he started up to sitting posi-
ton.
SYN, - =, ;&o1 ha onbad
The sun has set, the voice OF the de.
serter of the Xenophon answered.
What, can it be possible?" he asked,
starting to his feet and gazing about him
in astonishment.
1T is."
I thought had not slept minute:
you have slept four or five hours.
Then We have not a moment to lose'
Have you been resting?"
YES"
is everything ready''
About.
How are the men?"
Some are little nervous and anxious,
but in the main they are calm and deter.
mined. Think We can rely upon them.
And the boats?"
They will be pushed cut as soon as il
Is dark"
.Rave you given any attention to the
cutlasses?"
4Yes, they are rude instruments, but
will do. Any of them in the hand of 9
strong man would cleave q skull.
think We will be equal to the emergency,
should we effect surprise"
But what do you think Of the night?'
1T promises we'll for our enterprise.
A fog is rising, and if we can make it to
the ship unobserved, we will effect q
complete surprise. But We must bear IN
mind that We have veterans to deal with.
Those men have repelled boarders be.
fore, and We will have to fight when We
get aboard the ship
Il think our citizens understand the
condition We are in. We will have to
fight, which means death or victory to US.
The man who leaps upon that deck must
conquer or die"
They found the men moving nervouslJ
and cautiously about from placeto place:
speaking in whispers, and some of them
hardly daring to speak at ell. Theil
hearts seemed to almost stand still, anc
they realized that the great crisis Would
soon come.
"Eaye you heard from Captain Ga
trell?" Griffith asked Of Mr.. Burnett.
Yes; the woman who is his nurse wal
here not long since, and says he rests 9
little easier. but that the end is drawing
nigh"
The fog rose upon the face of the va.
ters, and by the time night had fairly SCI
in it was so dense that one could scarcel!
see any distance into it.
1Shipmate, said Henry Dawes to Mr.
Burnett, there's goin' to be some DANCE
O. cittin' lost FROM each other.
7 have jest been thinking of that.
said Burnett" and I believe we will be able
to remedy the matter. >.
How are we goin' to find the ship IN
this dense fog?"
I'VE will arraugethat.
As soon as it was fairly dark Capt. Al
ton mustered the boarding party inside
the works and delivered short address
to them, in which he urged upon them the
necessity of courage and determination.
He suggested that each man take two pls-
tolls, if there were enough to 90 around,
and a cutlass. They might take guns
also, pnt they would doubtless nnd them
cumbersome to use in climbing up the
vessels side, though some of them might
strap them on their backs.
The first thing to be done was to get
the boats launched. and as it was now
dark enough to accomplish this unseen,
he thought it would be we'll enough to
begin at once dragging them around to
the bay.
About two hundred strong men set to
work at once, and the boats were dragged
down the creek out into the bav.
In an hour all were launched.
The men were mustered upon the beach
and standing in close columns, awaiting
orders.
We'll, Griff, what ye want ter Go now3"
ocked ono of the yillarers