Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-04-22

OF them, while still hidden from the
Dutch by t he huge black pyramid Of
Sugar-lOaf Point, had lowered several
large boats filed with armed men,
which instantly shot away round the
great rocky bluff of "the Barn. as
fast as eight oars apiece could carry
them.
Away they went past headland
after headiand, while every eye was
fixed upon the rocky shore, as II seek
something which was not easily to be
found.
At length, just when they rounded
the bold, craggy p%rOmontOry Of King
and Queen point. a dull boom reached
their ears, followed instantly by the
thunder Of a sustained cannonade.
At that familiar sound the sailors
clenched their teeth savagely, as they
looked up at the tremendous preci-
pices that seemed to shut them out
from all hope of taking part In the
battle.
Cant we get up anywherc?"
gr0wled the Captain of the frigate,
who was In the foremost boat. ''We're
disgraced forever ii they do the job
without u.s."
"With your honor's leave" broke
In a stalwart young topman, touching
his thick brown forelock, ~ think l
could get up that rock yonder, and
fasten a rope for the rest to climb
by."*
"What! up there?" cried the cap.
tain, glancing doubtfullv from the
young sailors bright, fearless face to
the tremendous height above. Swell,
my lad, If you can do it, I'll give you
nifty g~uineas"
''It's for the honor OF the flag, not
for the money, sir" answered the
seaman, springing from the boat to
the lowest ledge of the terrible rock.
Up, up, up, ever higher he clam
bered, with the rising wind flinging
his loose hair to and fro, and the
startled sea-birds whirling around
him with hoarse screams of mingled
fear and rage. To the watching eyes
far below, the tiny points Of rock to
which he chung were quite invisible,
and he seemed to be hanging in mid
.ir, like q fly on the side OF a wall.
And now he was two-thirds of the
Say up the precipice; and now he was
within a few yards Of the top; and
o his hand almost touched the
highest ledge, when suddenly his feet
were seen to slide from under him,
and IN a moment he was swinging i'm
the empty air, grasping q projecting
crag with the strength OF despera-
ton.
"IIold fast, Toni" yelled his COM
rades, as they saw him.
Tom did hold fast, and the strong
hands that had detied the full fury OF
an Atlantic gale to loosen them from
the slippery rigging did him good SER
vice once MORE. He regained his
footing. and the indrawn breath OF
the anxious gaZers below sounded like
a hiss in the grim silence as they
watched the final effort that brought
him safely to the top .
The rope vas soon fixed, and the
last man had scarcely mounted when
the daring band were hurrying across
the ridgy interior OF the island t0wari
the spot whence the cannonade still
doomed upon the evening air. And
there it was at last, as they crowned
the farthest ridge, the tall masts
standing up through billowy smoke,
and the batteries marked out amid
the gathering darkness by the rashes
Ut their own cannon. A deadly vOlley
Of English musketry cracked along
the clin, and several of the Dutch
were see to fall, while dlsmay and
confusion spread fast among the Vi
vivors. Thus caught between two
fires, with the British ships thunder.
ing upon them from below, and the
British marksmen shooting them
down from above the defenders had
no chance; and at length brave old
Van Gebhardt, with q look of bitter
grief on his iron face, slowly hauled
down the Dutch flag in token OF sur
render.
..Mynheer," said he to the English
Captain, as the latter came marching
into the fort at the head of his men,
s'my followers nave done all that men
could do; but yours have done more"
..And IL we had not done more, we
could never have beaten the gallant
Dutchmen," answered the Captain,
taking OF his battered cooked hat
with q polite bow.
Thus it was that the English re-
gained st. Helena, over which the
British flag flies to this day. MOI has
the brave fellow who led that daring
attack been forgotten; for when ]
visited the island, ! found that the
rrag which he scaled land a very grim.
hooking crag it is) still goes by the
name Of "Holdfast Tom. St
Nicholas.