Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-08-06
A Fair
Blockade Breaker !
BY T. c. DELEoN.

way low, mlssy!-Row, bossy, rowi'
Another volley came, some bullets
kissing very near, as Evan bent to his
oar and cried. cheerily:
Pull, Petel LIS run or hang, nowl"
But the light boat, as though in relief
from imposed sloth, shot through the
darkness like a rrcer, under the desper-
ate pull of four strong arms.
Behind on the nearest ship were sour
rying feet, mixed oathG and orders, the
boatswain's whistle piping the boats
crew, as the davits creaked, lowering
the launch.
Onward the quarry sped, faster and
faster, not one word spoken by the trio,
until the splash of fallen oars, then
their regular beat, told that the pursuit
was up. Then Evan asked, through set
teeth:
"How far to shore, Peter"
"Less'n halfmile, bossy."
"Can we beat them imp"
"No, bossy; not eff tn water'd hold"
This as calmly Us the negro had asked
for a "chaw;" but he added: "Dey's
eight oars nd oberhaul our two"
Can you shoot, Peter" There was a
breezy ring in the boys question, but
the answer came:
Eyes, bossy; but rs not gwine ter.
Pete's gwine ter lam de missy a-runnin'
dis timer
But you say they'll catch us?"
All this through desperate pulling,
pursuing oar-beats sounding clearer,
clearer still.
"Ef de water'd hold. Eff we keeps
crar de humps, we strikes de flats, an,
dem can't foller, sholyl"
Straight on after them came the heavy
ships boat, guided by their oars. And
now another bengola flashed up in her,
not reaching the quarry, but showing
the pursuer plainly. Eight sailors bent
strongly to their oars, a knot of sailors
standing aft, their rifles at ready" an
officer in the bow holding aloft the
glazing torch.
How far off is that boat2" Miss Clay
asked, calmly, sitting in the hay. "a
hundred yards?"
Hundred and fifty" Evan answered.
Pull away, Peter
Bout three hun'erd, bossy," the
black corrected, "'lowin' fur de water
distunce. But she's a gainin', an fass,
too!'
for very life, swept pursuer and pur-
sued, sweat dripping from Evans every
pore, while the trained black seemed
cool and fresh as If there were no strain
upon him.
And the Yankee crew gained with
every pull!
Suddenlya soft jar,-another, harder;
and the black gave great sweep, cry
ing:
"Backl Lift, bossyl Ouicki Yves
dun streck dem flats" he added, as the
boats head swung to his pull and she
| glided ON again. "Pull slower, bossy.
| De Jumps is dan'jus." And he bent low
over tho water, striving to scan the
shore-line behind him.
But the pause had brought the pur-
suit dangerously near, the glare of a
fresh bengola showing her prey well
within its CLEAN. Raising the torch
high above his head, the officer pointed
to the slower moving craft; and with
his order rang out dozen shots, bullets
cutting the water all around, ere the
red flash ran along the muzzles.
"Catch my oar, quicl1!' Evan cried
but it was Carolyn Clay's hand-ever
quicker than Pete's-that grasped it, as
the boy slipped out his long revolver
steadying the barrel on his left arm and
aiming just above the torch. Before it,
report rang out, the bengal-ight
whirled In air, falling fast into the
water. But, as it fell, they saw the
officers arm drop, as he staggered bacl
among the rowers.
Then all was blaclzer than before, fol
awhile; and then came family in thu
low east pale, grayish haze that wa