Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-07


the consciousness that to such attacks
rs these they had no means Of replying
had n paralyzing effect. Captain Grant
hurried ON deck.
What do you think Of our chances:"
he asked.
VERY badly indeed. But I think
can save the p If you will Let me. +"
Captain Grant stared aid locked ut
the young man with an evident aston.
ishmont.
your he cried. "And how:''
''That you shall sec, hope. but you
must order the men TO obey my orders
exactly, and then. think, we can man.
age to circumvent these devils"
This was readily agreed to- In truth.
Captain Grans was at his wits end. He
regarded the ship and cargo rs good rs
lost and had little hope Of anybody on
board. not excepting himself. escaping
with life.
1t was perfectly certain that the proa
would eventually outsail them. do what
they might. and what means had n
score or so Of men with only a dozen
rifles for preventing 600 or 800 Ialays
from pouring up the ships sides direct
ly the rroa came fairly alongside?
They might even nicely calculate
about how long u would take 20 bring
their enemy close up. and then he
might thoroughly rake the vessel with
his guns. Everybody except the Poulters
knew all this well. and consequently
everybody seemed exceedingly down
hearted except winscombe. who now
stripped of his coat and waistcoat and
appeared full Of animation. Captain
Grant. who began TO think this young
man had really head on his shoulders.
determined to carry out all his plans
Thoroughly. and rs he had none cf his
own and was secretly in utter despair
and desperation gt the strait to which
they had been reduced he fel. a sort Of
zeal in helping winscombc as mnch rs
pos.isle. alihcagh he could not IS vet
sce what possible good oonld come of
his preparations. These were simple
eacugh 1T nrs.. iio directed : spar 20
lie rugged out ut the extremity Of their
spankor boom 50 ~ 10 swing round by
hauling on n rope AID project about 20
feet beyond the ships buiwark. lie
then rove a roya through 4 block ~ the
extremity and arranged 10 81 that ii.osc
who held the ether ond from the deck,
by letting ga. could let IL run out q; tho
end so as - Gfop plump when weight
cd.
These arrangements. being very clov-
erly superintendgd by Winscombe, did
not take long. lie now came down from
the spankcr boom, where he had been
scrainbling aboat the supplementary
spar quite like a monkey. a. some Of the
men said. and desired them to hoist an
empty barrel up on the poop Ia the
bottom Of this lac placed a LAYER Of gun
powder about 4 quarter Of an inch
thick. and. h..yin; covered this in with
still brown paper. he poured IN . guam.
tity OF tar. and then puf Ia fresh lay
eT Of RunpOwdcr IL a brown lsapcr pack.
age, = sort Of big cartridge. and 30 a..
uIti. finally he poured In tar "a; the top
y chain was secured round the barrel.
and 10 was hooked On TO the end uf a
rope rove through tho blcrls at the end
Of the spar secured 90 the span,sof boom.
Captain Grant FrirDcd iic thought b.
saw what Winsoombe was after. Lui he
could not exactly see how &c ant e.
bring this highly explosive aud oombus-
tiblc contrivaBce 90 hear apon the prua.
WirscUmbe did net keep ham long Ia
ioGt;. lio Grsi had the barrel gently
hauled up GEd ;lon g gently let down.
10 sec tl..t the apJ=ra;us worked easily.
and then gave his G:.al directions. The
kistna was in lower her flag aud short.
en- sail, but 60 place all tic dispnsahlc
men ready to spread every stitch iii.
roctly he gave the signal. The man a;
the helm was TO steer 90 - 20 insure the
proa coming M On their quarter. and.
as the vessel approached, the Epankor.
with its long supplementary loom, was
to be swung out 80 as TO lie right over
the pTca. the barrel being already haul
cd close up at the extreme, VIXEN Wins.
combe Icy full length upon the spar.
His business was 60 Get the tar on tho
surface III blaze. aid tEen, those DO.
low letting go the rope, the barrel
woald fall right on the dec; Of the proa.
Even while explaining this the pirate
began TO yaw ard recommended firing.
aiming at their rigging. and presently
sending a shot right through their fore.
sail. lyon see his tactics" said Wins.
combe. He could hull u. but he il
afraid of losing his plumber and won,
sink us just at present The sooner We
get him alongside the better. We shall
know Cur fate in full five minutes then. 81
So saying. he swarmed up the spankcl
and lighted q small torch he had con.
trived ana with which he meant TO fire
the top Of the tar in the barrel.
II was terrible moment Any In.
slant a ball might hit his aerial mins
and blow him 10 atoms with his own
petard. and then there was the critical
moment to come when he and his sus.
pended magazine would BE- exposed "a
the sm:l! gyms Of the Malsys But bc
thought of none Of these things. Move,
had he seemed SO gay and light hearted
during the whole voyage Is now, when
he lay oat on the spar with his coniriv.
ance beneath him, few feet down, wait.
ing for the one instant OF time which
must deliver or destroy them all.
His orders were obsyod imfiicifiv