The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-02

encls the senior officers with their stern
sch, .olmaster faces. The captain, his ell
bows on the pinnacle. still watched The
distant brig. Her crew we're tricing up
stas6oard guns. knocking new portfolios
for Them. and making every preparation
for = desperate resistance. In the thick Of
il AL . huge man. bearded to the eyes,
vita q red night cap upon his head, was
strJining and STOPPING and hauling. The
cay,saln watched him with . sour smile
and then. swapping up his glass, he turned
up.n his heel. For an instant he stood
staring.
's,sil hack the boaisv no cried in his
thia, creaking voice. "Ciear away for &C.
tioii there! Cast loose those main-deck
guys. Brace back the yards. Mr. Smeaton,
ans stand By to 90 about when she has
weigh enough"
Hound the curve Of the estuary was COM
ms huge vessel. Her great yellow bow
sprst and white-winged fgurehead were
jutsing out from the cluster Of palm trees.
whsls high above them lowered three i'm.
mease mas;s with the tricoior flag floating
suaerbly from the mirzen. Rouad she
carae, tho deep blue water crsaming under
hes fore foot, until her long, curving black
side. her line Of shining copper beneath
ans of snow-white hammocks above, and
th.a thick clusters Of men who peerei over
her bulwarks. were all in full view. Her
ioTer yards were sung. her ports triced up
AMI her guns run out all ready for action.
Lying behind one of the promontories Of
this island tho lookout men Of the Gioirs
ur,,n the shore had seen the cu..de-sao
into which the British frigate was headed,
SO. that Can't. de Miion had served the
Leia rs Capt. Johnson had the Shaping
Sas.
sut the splendid discipline Of the Brit
ish service Was at its best In such q
csssis. The boats flew back, their crews
clustered aboard. they were swung up at
th.s davits. and the fal-ropes made fast.
Hsmmocks were brought up and slowed.
bu kheads sent down. ports and maya
xiyses opened. the fires put out in the gall
leg and the drums beat to quarters.
Swsrms of men set the head sails and
braugh, the !rigate round. while the gun
crsws threw Oft their jackets and shirts.
frightened their belts. and ran out their Is
ponnders. peering through the open port
hoes at the stately Frenchman. Tho
wend Vas very light Hardly . ripple
showed itself upon the clear blue water.
brs the sails blew gently out as the breeze
cane rthc wooded banks. The French
| man had Como about Also and both ships
| were now heading slowly for the
| sex under tore-an-sfs canvas, the
Gipirc 100 yards In advance.
| bN. the British ship came round also
asst the tao implied slowly on in such a
silence that the ringing Of the ramrods
a. the French marines drove home
,hrir charges changed quite loudly upon
| TIE ear.
| mot much sea room, Mr.. Wharton"
| remarked the captain.
Il have tough, actions IN less. sir"
We taust keep our distance and trust
| 10. our gunuery. She il very heavily
| manned. and If she 60, alongside ws
icht ind ourselves in trouble.
| 81 see the shakoes OF soldiers aboard Of
| Martinique New we have her! Hard
| sort, and let her have il as we cross her
ss-rn."
| she keen eve Of the little commander
| had seen the surface ripple. which told Of
. easing breeze. lie had used i, 10 dar,
| ACROSS behind the big Frenchmsn aud 10
( RAJ Der with every gun a. she passed.
| Bsi once PAS; her the Le,ia had 70 come
betck into the wind io keep out OF shoal
] water. The mAneuyer brought her on 10
| ts.e s,afooard aide o: the Frenchman and
tles trim little fgsga;c seemed 10 heel RICH,
over under the crashing b:oacsidc which
| burst from the gaping poYsa moment
/ later her tormen were swsrming alots TO
| Sci her tcrsAsss and royals aud che ssrove
Ca cross the Glcraes bows and rake her
| again. The French captain, however
/ e*eagAt the frisaies head round and the
t&c rode side by side within easy pistol
s':,t. pouring hroaasiaes iato each other
/ ir.one OF those Dgroeroas duets, which.
| ca.Ila they xii he recorded, would Motto
1 oa.F charts with blood
IN that heavy tropical air. ~ish 50 faint
| . are<re. The smoke formed . thick bank
! yceand the t~o vessels, 9goga which the top
mssts only rro,Fuied. Neither could see
| anything % rs enemy save the ,hroA. Of
| nGe IN the darkness. and the guns were
-
will OF vayor. Tn sae poop and The fore
/ castle she marines, In swo little red lines
ws.se pouring IA their volless. ha: neither
they nor the eesnaaa sRnae-s could see
waAi effect their nEtng ~as having. Nor
inseess could they tell hos far they were
Suffering themselves. for standing 1T qua
o,se could aus aaxsly see that upon the
riga; and tne .ess. Bat aaove the roar Of
the cannon came the Sharper sound os the
piaing shot. the crashing OF rsveu pianks
ana the occasional heavy saud - spar or