The Van Buren press., 1894-08-11

hurled by the shock among the gran
ite masses on the hillock. The other
seamen had flung themselves out oi
the boat upon the elevation, and the
vessel now bottom up. was whirled
of among the breakers, which tossed
II IKE feather far above the rocks
and the rect, into the open sea beyond.
The coxswain would have lost his life
but for Wayne's quick decision.
The long, warp-rope having caught
In blight about the mans neck. he
was being drawn, choking and strang-
ling, from the base of the hillock
which he had clutched, when the boy
sprang into the shallow water and,
with blow Of his dagger, severed the
line, which otherwise would have
dragged the sailor into The breakers.
The lad must the next instant have
been swept on HIS feet by the wind
and The strong current. TO be carried
off into the white, roaring vortex be-
| yond, had not he contrived to grasp
the pole of the boat-hook, which was
held out to him by the bowsman.
Thus he drew himself back to the hill
ock, and now, with the rest of the
crew, one of them carrying the flag
staff and fresh water-keg, which had
fallen out Of the overturned boat
among the crevices of the rocks, he
assembled to the rugged platform above.
81 don't think we will have to stay
here long. boys" he remarked. Al
ready the gale abates, and If the vapor
clears, hope before q great while to
see the ship come up and heave to, off
there beyond the end Of the reef"
An hour later the tempest had passed
far OF to leeward. A thick mist, how
ever, had spread over the waters,
which were now being rufied by a
Hight breeze. Presently the mist
showed signs of clearing, but the coral
wall which rose back OF the platform
and was too steep to be climbed. him
dered the sailors from watching the
open ocean on It's other side, to see if
the ship was coming.
Suddenly one Of the men pointed to-
ward the distant headland where the
mist was lifting. A couple of proas,
crowded with their fierce, dusky crews,
had ems -ged to view round the eleva-
tion anu we're coming up Under their
broad, lateen sails, directly before the
breeze.
"The rascals have b swivel In the
bow of one of their vessels said
Wayne, "and some Of them carry
spears. in addition to the long, crooked
creeses and pistols in their sashes.
They must have had spies to watch us,
and doubtless they knew all about our
situation. Look to your pistols, men,
and see II they are in good order
The sailors found that their pistols,
sheathed in leather cases, had not suf-
fered from the water. AS they had not
been expected to fight, but had been
sent from the ship merely to re-
connoiter and then return 70 the ves-
sci, they had with them no cartridges
except those in their weapons As a
matter of precaution. however, in case
Of any sudden surprise, each man had
been ordered to buckle cutlass to his
belt before he left the sloop.
From behind the ridge Of sandstone
which bordered the edges of the rocky
platform, forming sort of low barri-
cade, the seamen watched the Malays'
vessel.
Swiftly on they came, skimming
over the sea with bows cutting the
water like sharks fms Forty dark
browed rascals stood in them, and
were now near enough to show the
glitter of their small black eyes. the
white shine Of their rows of teeth as
they savagely grinned, the variegated
colors of their low caps and the blue
and red sashes about the waists Of
their short loose trousers. In these
sashes were long polished iron-wood
sheaths, holding ivory-handled creeses,
besides which some o. the party car
ried pistols, while about twenty of the
dusky gang were armed with spears.
When the vessels were within about
twenty fathoms of the hillock, the
crews set up a fierce yell and then
opened fire upon the sailors with their
swivel. The shots having to be sent
upward, owing to the situation of the
rocky platform, which was about IF
teen feet above the water, they passed
over the top of the coral wall, SO that
none of the Triton's men were hit, but
the sandstone barricade was knocked
to pieces.
Wayne planted the flagstaff. with
the stars and stripes streaming out, in
a crevice of the rock and said to the
sailors: rrse.r.
+ Boys, we are outnumbered more
than three to one, but we will do our
best against those villains, who exult
because they have handful of man
give the word"
As the platform sloped little back
ward, its occupants, though their bar
ricade was broken, were not yet
touched by the shots that still came
from their foes For this reason, and
probably. also. because they feared
the Triton might be near enough for
the firing to be heard aboard OF her,
the Malays soon ceased to ply their
swivel and to discharge their pistols
On they came, leaning forward in
their, vessels. prepared TO leap upon
the hillock and rush upon their few
opponents with their spears and
creesea
When the head proa was within
twenty yards Of the elevation, Wayne
gave the order to his men to fire. The
sailors took good aim, and sent a
-attling volley at the dusky crew.
Every shot would have told but for q
roll Of the vessel as the gang crouched.
Only three were hit, and these were
but slightly wounded. The rascals
gave derisive yell. The man-of-
v.. J-sax~- <ho;r ouxloe~ns ouI