The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-12-25


pleasure to behold.
Scarcely hud we passed the head be-
fore the land closed around us. The
shores of North inlet were as thickly
wooded as those of the southern an
chorage; but the space was longer and
narrower, and more like, what in truth
1t was. the estuary of river. Right be-
fore us, at the southern end, we saw
the wreck of ship in the last stages
of dilapidation. 1t had been great
vessel of three masts, but had lain so
long exposed to the injuries of tho
weather, that it was hung about With
great webs OF dripping sea-weed, and
ON the deck of it shore bushes had
taken root, and now Hourishcd thick
with flowers. 1t was n sad sight, but it
showed us that the anchorage was
calm.
''Now," said Hands, "look there;
there's 4 pet bit for to beach u ship in.
Fine fiat sand, nevera catspaw, trees all
around of it, and flowers a-blowing
like garding on that old ship"
and once bcached," inquired, "how
shall we get her off again?"
"Why, So" he replied; "you take
line ashore there on the other side ut
low water; take n turn about one q
them big pines; bring it buck, take u
turn round the capstan, and lie to for
the tide. Come high water, all hands
take pull upon the line, and Off she
comes as sweet as natur'. And now,
boy, you stand by. We're near the bit
now, and she's too much way on her.
Starboard little - so-stcady-star-
board - larboard a little - steady
steady!"
So. he issued his commands, which I
brcathlcssly obeyed; till, all of sud.
den, he cried: "Now, my hearty, lutf!"
And l put the helm hard up. and the
"llispaniola" swung round rapidly, and
ran stem on for the low-wooded shore.
Tho excitement of these last man.
euvers had somewhat interfered with
the watch had kept hitherto, sharply
enough. upon the cockswain. Even
then l was still so much interested,
waiting for the ship to touch, that !
had quito forgot the peril that hung
over my head, and stood craning owe,
the starboard bulwarks and watching
the ripples spreading wide before the
bows. l might have fallen without
struggle for my life, had not sudden
disquictudc seized upon me, and made
me turn my head. Perhaps had heard
creak. or seen his shadow moving
with the tnil of my eye; perhaps it was
an instinct like eats, but, sure
enough, when l looked round, there was
Hands, already halfway toward mo,
with the dirk In his right hand
We must both have cried out aloud
when our eyes met; but while mine
was the shrill cry of terror his was
roar of fury like IL charging bulls. At
the same instant he threw himself for
ward, and l lcapcd sideways toward tho
bows. AS | did so / left hold OF the
tlller, which sprung sharp to lceward;
ana think this saved my life, for it
struck Hands across the chest, and
stopped him, for the moment, dead
Before he could recover l was snfe
out Of the corner where he hnd trapped
me, with NIL the deck to dodge about.
just forward of the mninmust I
topped, drew npistol from my pocket,
drew IL cool aim, though he had already
turned and was once more coming d.
rcctly after me, and drew the trigger.
The hammer fell, but there followed
neither flash nor sound; the printing
was useless with scawater | cursed
myself for my neglect. Why had not
l, long before, reprinted and reloaded
my only weapon? Then | should not
have been, as now, II mere fleeing sheep
before this butcher.
Wounded as lie was, it was wonderful
how fast he could move, his grizzlcd
hair tulnbling over his face, and his
face itself as red rs n rcd ensign
with his haste and fury. l had no
tins 20 try my other pistol, nor, in
deed. much inclination, for was sure
1t was useless. One thing i saw rlnin-
ly; must not simply rctrcnt before
him, or he would speedily hold me
boxed in the bows, as II moment since
he had so nearly boxed me in the ern.
Once so caught, and nine or ten inches
of the blood-stained dirk would be
my last experience on this side of etrr-
nifty. l plnccd my pnlms against the
mninmnst. which was Of goodish big
ness, and waited, every nerve upon the
stretch.
Seeing that I meant to dodge, he also
paused, and n moment or two passed in
feints on his pnrt, and corresponding
movements upon mine. 1t was such u
game as | had often played at homo
about the rocks of Black Hill cove;
but never before, YOU may be sure,
with such u wildly beating heart as
now. Still, as / shy, it nvns a boys
game, and I thought I could hold my
own at it against IN elderly seaman
with wounded thigh Indeed, my
courage had begun to rise so high that
lalowed myself a few darting thoughts
OH what would be the end of the affair;
and while ]. saw certainly that could
spin it out for long, l saw no hope ct
any ultimate escape.
Well, while things stood thus, sud-
denly the "lIispanioln" struck, stug-
gered. ground for an instant in tho
sand. and then, swift as IL blow, can
tered over to the port side. till the deck
stood at an nrgle Of As degrees. and
about n puncheon Of water splnshed
into the scupper-holcs, and lay in d
pool between the deck and bulwarls.
We were both Of us ca psizcd in a Sec
ond, and both Of us rolled, almost to-.
gcther, into the scnppcrs, the dead red
cap, with his arms still spread out,