The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-05

none of that" he added, as he saw a
movement as II they would return to the
gunboat. You can take your choice;
either come to us or go to the bottom"
What could the surprised men dO2 They
started to obey when the men on the
gunboat, observing the changed condi-
tons, opened fire. At the word OF Gre
CORY the fire was returned, and all the
men started quickly for the boat. No OPP
portunity for reloading was given. In a
few moments the yankee sailors had
boarded the gunboat and a hand-to-hand
engagement followed. The British ma
rines were no match for their yankee
cousins In this kind of a struggle, and
soon the Black Snake and her eighteen
men were taken.
IF my carronade had been loaded, I'd
have blown you all to FINDERS said Capt.
Iandon, deeply chagrined at his capture.
That's all right" replied Lieut.. Gre
CORY, but I'm pretty well satisfied as
1t is
you'll never get us out Of this river"
said the captain. There are too many on
the lookout for such as you"
Wen try 1t, anyhow" said the lleuten-
ant, as the Black Snake was taken in
tow and the party started to make their
way up the river.
They had gone but a few miles when
they saw large British gunboat ap-
preaching. The prisoners shouted to-
gether, and the attention of the stranger
was at once secured.
Were in for it now" said the leuten-
ant. The course was Immediately chang
ed, and with the other boat in hot pur-
suit they started for some of the smaller
islands, hoping to be able to find some hid
ing places or to escape among the many
winding passages.
But the enemy steadily gained upon
them. Neare and nearer she came, and
soon the boom of a six-pound cannon
came threateningly near across the water.
Wen never do Il, lieutenant" said
Sailing Master Vaughan. our only
chance is to scuttle this boat and make off
with our prisoners and the small arms"
That's the very thing L had Just de-
clded to do" replied Gregory.
The prisoners were hurried into the gigs
and using both sails and oars, they start
ed on again. They watched the Black
Snake as she slowly settled into the
water, and then turned to follow the
movements Of their pursuers. Would
they stop and try to raise the gunboat,
or would they leave that and follow the
fugitives?
suing boats kept steadily on her way past
the sinking boat, evidently determined to
overtake the fleeing yankees.
"A stern chase and hard one" NUT
tered Dixon, as the men bent with new en-
ergy to the oars. Its a good thing the
winds with u.s."
But even the favoring wind could not
enable them to hold the distance be-
tween them and the gunboat. Steadily
the British craft gained, and soon her
shot rang out again; the men watched
the ball as it went skipping over the
"Puil. my lads, pullP' said the Iieuten-
ant, in a low voice, taking the place of
one Of the fainting men. THE sun is
low, and If we can hold on a little longer
we'll give them the slip yet"
THAT Grenadier Island ahead" said
Vaughan. IF we can make that we've
fighting chance. But they're gaining on
US" he added, as he glanced behind him.
TITS q British prison ship II We're
fol - Lieutenant
gone One more squirt. and let us see IL we
can't gain the shelter of Grenadier" and
the struggling men, cheerd by their
young officer, again bent to their task
BIistered and bleeding hands were not
needed. Their breath came hard and fast,
but still the determined men tugged at
the oars. Before them rose the shores of
the island, and in the dim light their pris-
oners could scarcely be seen.
"Try again, men," called out the lieu
tenant IF we can gain little now they
won't know which side of the island we
The darkness deepened rapidly. and the
desperate men under its friendly shelter
soon turned to the right of the island
rowing on TIL II seemed as II another
stroke could not be made, they ran the
three gigs into a little cove which Bill
Dixon indicated, and there rested on their
oars.
shore they had chosen, or take the other
side? Upon the decision of that question
all their hopes of escaping rested.
In silence they waited for signs of their
pursuers. The only sound that could be
heard were those made by the lappings
of the little waves upon the shore and the
wind as IT sighed among the trees The
trembling men, holding their guns in read
mess, every moment expected to see the
form Of the gunboat approaching through
the darkness.
At last, when an hour had passed, their
hopes revived; muffiing their oars they
slowly began TO row for the waters OF the