The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-01-23

lowed this manenvre. by Withdrawing
their guns from aft, and running
them ont as speedily as they could ef
feet their object. on the threatened
bulwark' No sooner. however. Were
they about to fire them, than the boats
which We're splendidly handled and
steered, zig Jagged away, and the fire
of these heavy pieces was entirely lost.
This was repeated as they got nearer
and nearer. and ii had the double eff
feet of destroying the aim of the pi
rates, and of distracting their atten-
ton, so that they were uuable to guess
where the attack really would be made.
Now. Mr.. Crout," shouted Lieu
tenant Provost, standing mp IN the
stern sheets, separate, aad board"
'Ay, ay, sir,'
The master Immediately seized the
tiller head, turned his PROV straight
for the bows Of the polacca, drew his
cutlass, felt his pistols free in his belt
and in another couple of moments was
under the fore-rail of his enemy.
simultaneously. the boatswaln, Mr..
PascO, steered his boat 50 as to take
the enemy amidships; while Lieuten
ant Provost made dash for the star
board quarter, which was his appoint
ed place Of attack. Just at that mo
ment, however, a volley Of grape shot
caught Pasco's starboard oars, and
swept every blade of them away; his
boat slued round suddenly, and before
the boatswain could grapple the side
of the enemy, his Whsler was washed
sternwards. and he and Lieutenant
PrevOst's crew found themselves jam
med together on the starbOard quar-
ter, and in considerable confusion
Leaving them for the moment,-let Us
see how it Jared with Mr.. CroEt and
the crew of the cutter.
The bulwarks of the enemy were
unusually high, there was little or no
rigging III the fore part, (Which Mr..
Crout was aiming at) to aid the board
erS from the cutter, and the men We're
anticipating climb and spring on
board that might we'll appall q cat
were such a creature to attempt the
feat under circumstances like those
now going on.
But none of the cutters people did
anticipate what really happened, and
it was OF such a nature as might well
excuse them for hanging back, OF even
altogether discontinuing the attack
For just as Mr. Crout and his cox
swain, both Of whom had jumped for
ward the moment the cutter bumped
the polacca's side, had grappled the
lofty bulwark with boat hooks, a con
cealed gunport was flung open right
in their faces, a brass piece was run
forward from within, and there was
nothing before them but instant death
by being blown into pieces by the dis
charge of this terrible weapon,
Jump for II, Bill" shouted Mr..
Crout, springing into the port, lust
clear Of the muzzle.
The gun that instant was fired, and
Bill, who had by a miracle escaped
from the front Of the piece, was hurl
ed beyond and over his boat below.
into the water. How or hy what pro
yidential chance be got ont, he never
knew; but the next second Of time
found him back again inside the port,
and cutting and slashing at the half
dozen black visaged Brazilians, with
whom Mr.. Crout was tiercely engaged
and at the same time actively dealing
death aud wounds all around him as
his sharp cutlass swung and Glove and
cut. as though the strength of a doz
en- men We're in hts one arm. Right
aud left the pirates fell under the
fierce onslaught of these two glorious
sailors and, as they fought abreast,
forcing their way further and further
aboard at every step, the rest Of the
blue jackets and marines climbed up
from the cutter through the port
over the lofty bulwarks, up by the rig
ging and loose ropes-and a desperate
hand to-hand fight speedily flooded
the decks with blood.
Aft, the same deadly game was be
ing played, but without an episode of
a concealed gun suddenly opened in
the face of the attackers. though they
had special difficulties of their own to
contend with.
Lieutenant Provost was first on the
5laver's deck. Mr. Pasco was by his
side in a moment, and the pair made
such play with cutiass and pistol, GOV
cred by the mnsketry fire from the
Marines in their boats, that they had
soon cut a clear semi circle all around
them, and their men were able, in the
twinkle OF an eye, 10 Chamber mp after
them and obtained a firm footing OF
the blood-splashed deck
The pirates seemed absolutely tc
swarm around they roared and shout
ed, in their wild fury, to one another
for aid: they called on the saints tc
lend aid to their murderous cause
end their captain-a huge fellow Will
eyes like fire, and long, black beard
which seemed to shake with fury like
a lions name led attack after attach
on the mere handful of British sailor,
who had thus audaciously made then
way on board his vessel.
Nothing was to be heard but the
clashing of cold steel on cold steel the
swapping of pistols, the rattle Of mus
kerry, and the hoarse shrieks anC
dreadful cries of those who We're fall
ing under the furious attack and de
fence, The Englishmcn at this poin
becoming qnlte overmanned and mas
tered by numbers, were already beat
on, but they did not know it, Lieuten
ant Provost was knocked nearl,
senseless from a blow delivered will
the hammer end of an axe: the boat
swain, Mr.. Pasco. was on his knees
covered with streaming blood from
desperate sabre cut over the crown
of his head: most of the men were il
similar, if not worse plight, and al
4 seemed over. all chance of retrea
seemed gone. for the boats had beer
stove in by shot dropped III then
from the rigging. when Provost, by
blessed chance, recovered his consci
/ business, and with a great cay of baf
fled hope and desperate rage, charged