The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-02

blEotmtuk ITOHn ieE nibNch. Aho iehh aSiou-
tenant, who had reappeared upon deck with n
cutlass strapped to his side and two pistols
In his belt peered curiously at the ensign.
rs IL the Jolly Roger. sir 2" he asked.
But the Captain was furious. He may hang
whore HE breechos are hanging before have
done with him." said he. What boats will
you want, Mr.. wharton2"
we should do It with tho launch and the
jolly boat"
Take four and mako clean jjob OF 4. Pine
and help YOU with the long iss.'' WA
=, With q rattle Of ropes and the creaking OF
fsh' sS s sSss Ihas into The
fSoted sailors sstold marines iSSughhng mid
officers with their stern schoolmaster faces.
s SatsSod ths dsSn. Srs the Her sFe%
round the starBoard guns. Enockins new port t
holes for them, and making every preparation
ali Q huge man. bearded to the eyes. with red
nghtcap upon his head was straining and and
@ WIZ sm and hG
his glass. he turned upon his heel. For an in
slant no stood staring.
Cast loose those main deck guns. Brace back
about when she has way enough"
Sb hHse Vessel Her great JGoS and
above, them lowered three IMMENSE. masts
the mizsen. found she V came the 'di deep blue
water Dreaming under her fore foot until her
snd
above. and the thick clusters Of mon who peer
her pors tried
Up, and her guns run out all ready for action.
of the o Of The
ehore had seen the cul- de-sao into which the
British frigate had headed. SO that Capt. Do
Milon he'd served the Leda as Capt johnson
But the splendid discipline, OF the, British
boats dew back their rs crews custered sboard
they were swung up at the davits. and the fall
ropes made fast. Hanmocks were brought
galley. and the drums beat to quarters;
the irigate round. while the gun crews threw
S shs daensss and sher
through the open e 'n portholes at The stateiy
siSDisn shovel s itss r. sisa ri Siss
The 0fse s had H gone about An
slowly both or nDs sea Under hsna
canvas. the Gloire 100 yards in advance. She
hsh uS sD rSud ss HI" Rs
rippied slowly on in such a silence that the
ringing Of the ramrods as the French marines
NtoNo ehoiA ShoAsoo oheoa feAs9 AoeAiS
Not much sea room. Mr.. Wharton" re-
have fought actions ir less, sir"
We must keep our distance and trust to our
e gun She Il very heavily manned and Il
!. i see the shakoe Of soldiers aboard OF her."
Unique; Now We have her Hard a port and
LET her have it as cross her stern" ~,
seen the surface ripple. which told Of passing
breeze. He had used it to dart across behind
the big Frenchman and to rake her with every
had to come back into the wind to keep out Of
shoal water. The manGuyre brought her on
trim little frigate seemed to heel right over
under the crashing broadside which burst from
to- se Ree aea
royals. and she strove to cross the Gloire's bows
and rake her again. The French Captain, how
two rods side, BY side within easy pistol shot,
pouring broadsides into each other in muir
In that heavy tropical slr. with so faint .
the whs the %
enemy save tho throbs Of fire in the darkness.
and the guns were sponged and trained and
lines. were pouring IN their voIley;. but neither
ss sSpa Sarf
At fSSs
ana the left. But above the 'r roar Of the
cannon came tho sharper sound Of the piping
hsavy fs0a
ER sp and sSn.on M ss *
H. GoGxss hs and sa ss Ike o
have We lost. Mr. %hartonl 'uuoeH """'
:. Our maintopssil yard and our Raff. sir"
Gone overheard. sir"
They'll think we've struck. Lash q. boats
Gregg Ye isG sII !aard."
. A round shot dashed the pinnacle to pieces
mo%ens ths sm SGay rose and The English CAP
ss MS 4he Tsda
was q shattered wreck, Her deck was strewed
Ess no and Of her
to her bresch and pointed straight up to the
"stsnd By to repel boarders" yelled tho
= Gutlasses cutlassesw roared Wharton,
Hold your yolley till they touch" cried the
bursting through the smoke, Thick clusters
the mainmast OF the Leda. swapping short of |
a few feet above the deck spun into the air. |
and crashed down upon the port guns: killing
action. An instant later the two ships scraped |
together and the starboard bower anchor, OF |
the Gloire caught the mizzen chains OF the |
Leda upon the port side. With yell the swarm
Of boarders steadled hemselves for spring. |
But their feet we're never to reach that blood |
stained deck From somewhere there came 2
another. The English marines and seamon. |
waiting with cutlaas and musket behind the |
silent guns. saw with engagement the dark |
masses thinning and shredding away At tho |
same time the port broadside Of the French
nan burst into roar.
e What the devil are they firing atT
Get the guns clear" painted the lieuten-
mt We'll do them yet boys p
Tho wreckage was torn and hacked and
,plintered until first one gun and then an
'ther roared into, action again. The French
mans anchor had been cut away and the Leda
iad worked herself free from that fatal hug
'hrouds OF the Gloire. and q hundred English
nen were shouting them selves hoarse.
They no running"
And It was true. The Frenchman had ceased
o FIRE. and was intent only upon clapping on