Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-25

uCA PCOpiO OOulu Do hten working ike MAD
men in the rigging. She made no attempt
to pass her antagonist, but headed up thu
estuary. The captain rubbed his hands
She's making for shoal water, Mr.
| Wharton. and we shall have to cut her out
sir. She's footy little brig, but should
have thought a fore-andafter would have
been more handy"
ut was a mutiny, sir"
"Ah, indeedp'
"Yes, sir, heard of it in Manilla-a bad
business, sir. Captain and two mates muir
dered This Hudson, or Hairy Hudson, as
they call him, led the mutiny.y He's a
Londoner, sir, but as cruel villain as ever
walked"
His next walk will be to Execution
dock, Mr.. Wharton. She seemed heavily
manned. l wish could take 20 topmen
out of her, but they would be enough to
corrupt the crew of the ark, Mr.. Wharton" !"
Both officers were looking through their
glasses at the brig. Suddenly the lieuten-
ant showed his teeth in grin, while the
captain flushed to deeper red.
That's Hairy Hudson on the after rail,
SIR"
1.-THE low, impertinent blackguard. He'll
r'ay some other antics before we are done
with him. Could you reach him with the
long Is, Mr.. Smeaton"
Another cable length will do it, SIR"
The brig yawed as they spoke, and as she
came round squirt of smoke whitfield out
from her quarter. 1t was q pure piece of
bravado, for the gun could scarcely carry
half way. Then with a jaunty swing the
little ship came into wind again and shot
round fresh curve of the winding chan
nel
"The waters shoaling rapidly sir" re-
ported the second lieutenant.
There's six fathoms by the chart"
-Four by the lead, SIR"
when we clear this point, we shall see
how we lie. Hal thought as much. Lay
her to, Mr.. Wharton. Now we have got
her at our mercy"
The frigate was quite out of sight of the
sea now at the head of this riverlike estu-
AIRY. AS she came round the curve the two
shores were seen to converge at a point
about mile distant. In the angle, as near
shore as she could get, the brig was lying
with her broadside toward her pursuer and
a wisp of black cloth streaming from her
mizzen. The lean lieutenant, who had re-
appeared upon deck with a cutlass strapped
70 his side and two pistols rammed into his
belt, peered curiously at the ensign.
''Is it the jolly Roger, siri" he asked.
But the captain was furious HE may
hang where his breeches are hanging before
have done with him." said he. What
boats will you want, Mr.. Wharton"
1--WE should do it with the launch and
the jolly boat"
Take four and make clean job of it.
Pipe away the crews at once, and I'll work
her in and help you with the long eight
eens"
With a rattle of ropes and creaking of
blocks, the four boats splashed into the
water Their crews clustered thickly into
them, barefooted sailors, stolid marines,
laughing middies and in the sheets of each
the senior officers with their stern school
master faces. The captain, his elbows on
The pinnacle, still watched the distant brig.
Her crew were tricing up the boarding net
ting, dragging round the starboard guns,
knocking new portfolios for them and max
ing every preparation for desperate re-
sistance. In the thick of it all huge man,
bearded to the eyes, with a red nightcap
upon his head, was straining and STOPPING
and hauling. The captain watched him
with sour smile, and then swapping up
his glass he turned upon his heel For an
instant he stood staring
Call back the boatsp' he cried in his
thin, creakiag voice. "Clear away for action
therel Cast loose those main deck guns.
Brace back the yards, Mr.. Smeaton, and
stand by to go about when she has weigh
enough"
Round the curve of the estuary was com.
ing huge vessel. Her great yellow bow
spirit and white winged figurehead were
jutting out from the cluster Of palm trees,
while high above them lowered three inn
mense masts with the tricolor flag floating
from the mizzen. Round she
came, the deep blue water creaming under
her forefoot until her long, curving black
side, her line of shining copper sheath and
of snow white hammocks above and the
thick cluster of men who peered over her
bulwarks were all in full view. Her lower
yards were slung, her ports triced up and
her guns run out all ready for action. Ly-
ing behind one Of the promontories OF the
island the lookout men Of the Gloire upon
the shore had seen the cul-de-sac into which
the British frigate had headed, so that Cap
tain de Milon had served the Leda as Cap
tain johnson had the Slapping Sal.
But.the splendid discipline of the British
service was at its best in such crisis. The
boats flew back, their crews clustered
aboard, they were swung up at the davits
and the fall ropes made fast. Hammocks
were brought up aud slowed, bulkheads
sent down, ports and magazines opened,
the fires put out in the galley and the
drums beat to quarters. Swarms OF men
set the headsails and brought the frigate
round, while the gun crews threw on
their Jackets and shirts, frightened their
belts and ran out their Is Founders, peer
ing through the open portfolios at the state
ly Frenchman. The wind was very light
Hardly a ripple showed itself upon the
clear, blue water. but the sails blew gently
out as the breeze came over the wooded
banks. The Frenchman had gone about
also, and both ships were now heading
slowly for the sea under fore and aft can
vas, the Gloire 100 yards in advance. She
Iuifed up to cross the Leda's bows, but the
British ship came round also. and the two
ippled slowly on In such a silence that the
ringiDg of the ramrods as the French ma
lines drove home their charges changed
quite loudly upon the ear.
Not much sea room, Mr.. Wharton, re-
marked the captain.
II have fought actions In less, sir"
I'VE must keep our distance and trust 10
,ur gunnery. She is very heavily manned,
nd II she gets alongside we might find
in trouble"
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