The National tribune., 1896-10-01

on huge stone with her scarf in her hand
waving it at Alick, and her yellow hair float
ing behind her magnificent form. There
was a twitcning of the muscles of the hand
some sailors face as ne was giving directions
how to set the peculiar-shaped sail OF the
dory which we had taken possession of along
with her owner, the pilot, and with our cut
ter In tow. in Is minutes we had the pilot
on board and everything shipshape, our boat
at its davits and the stanch little dory
smashed to pieces against our huge sides.
The scene had changed when we once
more boarded our ship. The sun was shin
ing in fitful CLEANS, and the men who were
able to work were making every effort to
clean up the ship, the sheet anchor was up
and made all fast and one bower was hang
ing to the cat-head, and the other hove as
short as the pitching of the vessel would
from our anchorage.
simultaneously the lookouts at our top
gallant masiheads sang out:
"Sail, ho!D
"Where away ?n asked the Officer of the
Deck.
"Two points on our port bow"
"What does she look like?"
A man-of-war"
sail, no! sail, no! sail. hoi"
MAIN topgallant cross-trees therei"
"Aye, aye, sirl"
"What do YOU see, fellow % asked the
Officer of the Deck.
The whole sea to the north and by east
lis covered with vessels sailing in feet in
taut bovine. Ave! and here is couple
more of the d-n lime juicers showing
their noses from the east"
.aConfound tbem!n said the First Lieuten-
ant. Trapped, by Jupiter! Run up, Mr..
Davis; take This glass, and tell us what you
make out." pointing TO the mainmast rigging.
Up he went, and scarcely had he settled
himself in the maintop when his answer
came:
6 make out seven sail of the line, five
frIgstes and four corvettes"
What's their flag, MIR. Davis?"
:" No flag shown, but Enthusiastically Brit
isb."
"Come down, sir! Officer of the Deck,
have the orders passed to beat TO quarters"
and the roll of the drums was heard over the
ship in 20 seconds after the order.
Quartermaster, show them the gridiron.
Run up OLD Glory Well show 'em that q
Yankee frigate isn't afraid of their whole
feet By gadi Mr.. Wallace he spoke to q
gray-headed Sailipg-master, the sons of the
men of 1912 are as good men as their fathers.
Well fight 'em whilst plank stays under
our guns"
Its madness. Lieutenant"
Only two guns had crews, and the balance
fit for duty were scattered at the different
guns on the spar and gun decks. The bow
gun, q 200-pound PARROT, of which / was
No. 3-her complement of men to work being
26-bad four.
The Lieutenant took in the situation, but
l. 4 :,
guns crew, and the gallant marines of Hey
wood at their stations, and their tall young
Captain nonchalantly leaning against the
bridge ladder, seemingly not caring for the
odds. SO that he did his duty. He, with all
the modification that he felt must have
been proud 10 know that no man able To
stand 10 gun quailed at the desperate odds
and that the great Republic never could &c
down as long as men held their lives az
nothing, and. with no hope of winning, were
ready to die to save the flag of freemen from
all stain Of dishonor.
The Englishmen were all the time closing
in on us from north, east and south. They
saw our action in going to quarters, and
their flagship, the Agamemnon, was industri
GUS with their signals Ha! there she goes
as one after another broke ball Of bunting
at their main trucks and the signal fol
action was shown, whilst each vessel ran W
10 their mizzen truck the red flag of the
Briton, and all light yards were sent OF
deck.
1t was now eight bells, or eight o'clock
and for the first time that morning the Com
modore came on deck. If the old mar
knew that anything out of the ordinary wa,
happening, he did not show it, and wher
the Lieutenant pointed out the British feet
be looked at their armament and remarked
:" that it was very handsome thing in theil
Admiral to show us such courtesy" "Con
found his courtesy!" said the Lieutenant
Ahrough his teeth; "1 had the Hartfordi