The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1895-10-18
NHEKRYN

when they came on board. I never saw
him before or since. but 1 shall not for
get his face while 1 live.
lie was short and stood very square
n sturdy Upon his feet; he had jet
black hair and eyebrows, and a swarthy
red color in his cheeks; his lips were
pushed forward, and his eyes very
fierce; he was like a man always on the
point of speaking angrily, and follow
ing with a blow. When we saw him
looking so bold and full Of force. we
guessed in a moment what he was there
for. He had volunteered, when all :he
regular pilots hung back. to take the
first ship down.
Il remember the captain called out,
Now. gentlemen, the Edgar leadsr and
we cheered. The dark man went to the
wheel, the master himself took the lead
and went forward; we weighed. and
stood right out for the entrance of the
Kings channel.
The two lieutenants who had to
stand in the chains and see 70 the heav-
ing of the lead began to dispute for
places; they were each claiming the
side, which vas the one cx-
posed to the enemy's fire. The captain
gave it in favor of Bradnoch, and he
went forward, laughing.
W. soon came within shot Of the
llrst Danish ship, and she began firing
single guns at us. was not tall enough
to see over the hammock %nettingS, so
L held on to them and pulled myself up
on my toes. The enemy were nearly all
hulks and batteries, and looked very
ugly.
Every time a gun went BOOM ]
felt a kind of warn shock, as if I had
been struck amidships, but my hands
were still cold and numbed. l longed
desperately to hear the sound of our
own guns. and felt quite angry thai we
went on without firing a shot.
Then I was going toward the fore
castle when I heard a sudden roar and
a crashing sound. 1t was the first
broadside from the Provestein, and a
good many shot struck the ship all at
once.
"Bradnock spun yer and fell dead in
a heap across the chains; the splinters
flew all round him, and several men
running up. I heard Wilson, the
starboard lieutenant, cry out. My
turnp in a sharp voice, and scramble
Oh to the deck and across into the 9TH
er's place.
Il felt horribly sick and dazed. and
hurried away hlindly, without any idea
where L was &9ing. 1 had got nearly
to the quarter deck when q man ran
into me, and I reeled violently off into
the captain himself, who had just come
down the ladder. 1 hadn't time to get
my breath to apologize; he picked me
up and clapped my car down on my
head.
We'll, young gentleman he said,
L thought you We're a round shot at the
least?'
Il was warmer for the tumble, and
his kind, jolly voice did me no end of
good. He sent me with d message to
the lower gun-deck, and 1 ran off feel
ing quite a man again.
"As I was on the way down a ire
mendous explosion seemed to rock the
and opened with the larboard broad
side. L felt suddenly mad with JOY.
my throat swelled, and the tears came
into my eyes. When 1 reached the low
er deck the guns were being run out
for the second time, and I stood still
to watch. The roar was awful, and the
smoke filled the whole place so that i
could scarcely see at first. The men
were cheering and working like demons
in the dim lantern light, but as only one
~broadside was in action a lot of them
had nothing to do except now and Their
to pick up the wounded and take their
places. Some of them might have been
safe enough behind the bits, but there
was only room there for a few, and no
one would take an advantage over the
rest.
1T was dreadful to see them standing
quietly there to be killed in cold bloc.
as it We're. Half a dozen dead and dy-
ing men were propped up against the
~starboard guns; some were being car
ried below to the surgeons.
Il couldn't bear the sight much long
er, so I slipped quickly down the other
side to speak to the captain of the deck.
Before l got to him q chain-Shot cut him
in two, n killed all the men at the
gun next him.
1.-The heat and smoke and the smell of
blood made me dizzy again, so 1 gave
my orders to- the second in command
and hurried back to the captain.
II found him telling the pilot that ne
might go below, but the man refused,
and stayed on deck, staring fiercely
through the smoke at the enemy. l saw
him still there when the firing ceased.
and he seemed actually sorry that the
was over. L wish 1 could give
you an idea of o his look worked
me; L could hardly take my eyes
off him: INC though I've really very
little to judge by, as you see. I feel sure
I've never met his equal for desperate
courage"
"What was his nane?" asked Camil-
la, who had been listening, breathless.
tombstone"
He was English. them" said the
No, he was half Scotch, half Span
ish; his full name was Herman John
stone, and he was said to be a we'll
smuggler."
Did you ever hear of him again."
Yes" replied Dick. 81 did. more than
once; for instance, I heard that he tried
kidnap ~Bonaparte, when he was at
Flushing, by running Town his barge
in a fast rowing boat" !
All said the colonel, with an IN
voluntary start, that is a very sin
gular story. But hat more. Capt. Est
court: what more of this heroic ruf-
lan?'
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