Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-08-12


 Jennlngtree point, ported her helm and noated in all her pride ef white canvas and radiant metal and fathom and q half of shining bunting at her masthead into Erith reach.
 Just as she came abreast of Labor's Retreat gun was fired. The white powder smoke clouded the tailor,s lawn. The thunder of the ordnance smote the ear or Joe Westlake, wko. dilating his nostr1ls and directing his eyes at Slo- per's ylllas bawled out. Peter that's meant for us, my heart Down helluml siaeken away fore and aft Pipe all hands for actionp'
 A second gun roared upon the lawn that sloped from the tailor's house. and almost as loud was the shout that Vest lake delivered to all hands to look alive and bring the guns to bear. The Tom Bowling was thrown into the wind and brought to stand abreast of Labor's Retreat. Plum took turn with the helm and went to help at the guns, and Ill a few minutes the three of 8 crew. with Westlake continuously bawling out orders to bear a hand and load agaln, were actively engaged in firing blank at the enemy on the lawn.
 1t might have been that MT. Sloper and his friends were little tipsy. It might have been that they were irri- tated by their feu de joie being interrupt ed and complicated, so to speak, by the cutters artillery. It is certain that they continued to load and discharge their guns as fast as they could sponge them out, while from the river the cut ter maintained rapid fire at Labor's Retreat. In all evil moment, temper getting the better of Slopers judgment, he loaded one Of his pieces with stones, and the gun was so well aimed that on Joe Westlake looking aloft he beheld his beautiful flag of fathom and half in holes.
 For some moments the old man-of wars man stood staring up at his wound ed flag, idle with wrath and astonish- ment. He then in a voice of thunder shouted: Plum -- Robbins - Tuck! Dye see what that there fired little tail or's been and done? Why, junk me, if he ha'n't shot our color through Boys load with ball. Dye hear? suffocate me, but he shall have it back. Quick. my hearts, and go for him'
 With ocean alacrity some round shot were got up, gun was fired point blank at Labor's Retreat and down came a chimney stack, amid the cheers of the crew of the Tom Bowling.
 tha1t ,raa,.o1 ,I.l ror tsox,o. with our boat. lads, and board 'eml Tommy, stay you here and let go the anchor" and i'll very few minutes Plum and Robbins were pulling Joe Westlake ashore
 Sloper and his party saw them com ing and manfully stood their ground. The three seamen, securing the boat, forced their way on to the lawn and marched up to the tailor and his friends.
 What do you mean by firing at my cutter?" roared old Joe.
 What do you mean by knocking down my chimneys?" cried the tailor, who was exceedingly pale.
 Who began it?' bawled Joe. ..Who fired first? Who's bin and made holes in that there flag of mine! Why, that's the flag of British sailor, you little withered thimble, you, and durn you, if you don't make me instantly 6 humble apology and stump up with the cost of what you've injured, I'll skin you" And he threw himself into very men, acing posture
 At this point one of the tailor's friends slunk off
 My chimney stack is worth more than your twopenny flag" shrieked Slo- per, maddened even into some tempora- ry emotion of courage by the insults of the old man -of-war's man.
 Say that again, will you?" said Joe. 'Just sheer at that there flag again. will you?"
 The tailor was idiotic enough to re- peat the affront on which, and as though perfect understanding as to what was to be done subsisted among the three sailors, old Joe. Plum and Robins fell upon Sloper, and lifting him up in their arms ran with him to the boat, into which they flung him, paying not the least heed whatever to his cries for help and for mercy, ana instantly headed fer the cutter, leaving the tailor's friends white as milk and speeches. with alarm near the cannon upon the lawn.
 When the boat reached the cutter, Plum jumped aboard and received little Sloper from the hands of old Joe, mak- ing no more of the burden than had the tailor been parcel, say, of coat and waistcoat or pair of trousers. Old Joe then actively got over the rail. He lift ed the little main hatch, and MT. Sloper was dropped into the space below, where the darkness WAS so great that he could not sec and where there was nothing to sit upon but Thames ballast.
 ''In boat Up anchor, and away with us,' said Joe Westlake.
 The breeze was fresh, the cutter was always an excellent sailer, and ill very short space of time she was running
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