Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-10-19

turc. The captain OF the American
privateer siRnalled to tie ship cut no
response was obtained. Through his
powerful sea glass he surveyed the
decks, but he could see no signs of
human beings
''She must be q SLAYER" the CAP
tain remarked.
"And the crew have gone ashore to
get niggers" added the mate
| Eyes. that must be it. Well, that
nag seals her doom. She's our prize.
| When her men come back we'll re.
ceive them Prepare the decks for
action"
The Captains order was obeyed, and
every seaman stood ready for action.
The privateer's PROV was swung
around. and in few minutes she
glided alongside of the black slayer
Grappling-irons were thrown out i'm.
mediately, and the two vessels were
locked together.
! Inc crew OF the Stranger clambered
upon her decks and surveyed the
field of action. No one came for
ward to meet them, and it seemed as
II the ship was completely deserted.
when the crew we're nearly all on
board, a commotiOn suddenly startled
them. The matches were removed,
and horde OF black Africans issued
from the cabins Of the ship like an
army OF rats Their mum bers seemed
countless, and their wild yelis made
the seamen shudder.
! The savaRes were armed to the
teeth with spears. clubs, and stone
axes, but they had no firearms.
Brandishing their weapons over their
heads they rushed upon the democrat
lied whites, and threatened to ex-
tinguish them completely.
But few orders from the Yankee
Captain brought the men into COM
pact mass They retreated behind
the forward cabin, where they could
get prc lection from the flying missiles.
A murderous explosion OF carbines
and pistols broke forth and checked
the advancing hordes of blacks. The
seamen were accustomed to sudden
changes, and like the trained veterans
that they were they loaded and fired
as rapidly as possible. The slaughter
was terrific, and for every savage that
was killed two more seemed to issue
from the hold in the ship to take his
place. The fighting became general
and continued for some time. The
savages had overestimated their
strength, and the battle soon de-
cimated their numbers SO terribly
that the Others lost courage. The
sailors closed in upon them and grad.
ually forced them into the sea. The
black heads moved through the
water towards the shore, where they
were met by countless others of their
tribe.
The battle on the SLAYER, however,
was only preliminary to the days
work. The shore was now crowded
with savages, and small canoes and
crafts were floating around on every
side. The entrance to the cove was
a narrow one. and this was blocked
up by RATS, which extended from one
point OF land to the other, and black
human beings swarmed on them like
ants on sandhill.
'This is fearful trap" muttered
the Yankee captain as he took his
bearings, land we'll be lucky to es.
cape"
The sailors felt their hearts sink as
they tried to count the mvriads of
enemies The woods literally seemed
TO be open.
1--WE must get on the open sea-"
observed the captain again, twisting
his long mOustache nervouslv. but
how?"
He glanced around at the hopeless
situation, and then asked. Of the
master.of-arms: "How much am
munlition have we left?"
Jay. ay, sir, any quantity. Tons
OF it, SIR" replied that worthy.
''Then stow away dozen kegs in
the SLAYER, and be quick about it,"
The powder was quickly transferred
from one vessel to the other The !
grappling irons were cast off the /
SLAYER, and tow line fastened to her |,
bow. The Stranger then spread her
sails. and started toward the entrance
Of the cove.
This was signal for the savages
to set up terrific howl, and to con-
gregate around the obstructing RATS. |
uC Ct1AOCs duu bOdUS were I'LL
pushed toward the scene of impend-
in1 conflict and everything promised
to contribute towards magnificent !
battle between the trained marines |
and the half-naked savages Of Africa.
The Stranger hauled the heavy SLAYER
behind, slowly at first, but when it |
was caught in the current setting to-
wards the sea it moved along more |
easily.
The savages shouted and howled,
and waved their implements over
their heads as if to brighten back the
two monster boats The heavy RATS
had been lashed together 80 that
solid bridge was formed connecting
one point Of land with the other, and
no sailing craft could crash through
the blockade without severely injur- !
ing herself
Nearer and nearer approached the
two boats, and then when close