Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-12

The commander was thunderstruck.
he stood motionless. He never could
have believed that with his own sight
he should witness in that year and in
those waters the spectacle he beheld.
Not above ~ miles on the bow lay
two vessels, broadsiding each other with
small guns. One was black bark with
heavy black tops and large topsails. She
had color at her mizzen gafY, was
painted black, with line of reddish
metal that famed wet as she lightly
rolled like something sun touched, clear
ly a man-ofwar. The other was a smart
brig, showing no colors. black. too, with
raking masts and very sharp bows.
They were maneuvering with spirit
when the old Wellesley swarmed ont of
the fog, the brig trying to get to wind
ward of the bark, and the bark slowly
swinging her sails into light and shadow
as she braced her yards to defeat her
opponents efforts.
my glass, Hardyr" cried the com.
mander. and leveling those substantial
tubes Of brass at the two vessels he
gazed thirstily.
The flag floating languidly at the
bark's peak was Mexican. The brig had
the appearance of Yankee. The heart
Of Boldock beat with a pulse of fever
when the great telescope brought one or
the other Of the vessels close to him.
Red fire gushed from their sides. satin
white clouds Of white powder smoke
drifted betwixt their masts and shone
upon the sea like fragments of the fog
that stately in bulk and pace was pass
ing away into the blue heaven of the
northern horizon. All the Jacks of the
brig had got scent of the show, and the
forecastle was filled. In fact, what with
her own complement, and Matthews
people, the little brig forward was load
ed with 10 men. Thus crowded and all
hands showing she was doubtless eyed
with anxiety by the contending vessels
as something dangerous coming to the
assistance Of one or the other of them.
Boldock stood ON till he could see the
flash OF the water as the black balls
skinned the surface. Mr.. Matthews
came on deck and was presently follow
ed by Miss Mansel.
what is it?" cried the young lady.
"a fight between Mexican man Of
war and smuggler, no doubt Yam
kee, but I can't swear, answered Boil
dock.
Undoubtedly Yankee, SIR" said
Matthews, looking through the glass
-Four guns Of side," he went on
with some spirit animating his usually
slow manner and casting o little red
upon his yellow face, land the Mex
lean has five and two large swivels on
her quarters, and she seems to be full
of men,"
'"Those two vessels" said the COM
mander, must have been hammering
at each other when the fog thickened
down and hid them. It has only Just
lifted, and it can't be supposed that
both vessels could have been instantly
prepared for action. The brig is we'll
handled. Lookl Ha, haP'
AS he spoke and laughed, crash down
came the mizzen topmast of the bark,
and with it her colors, rushing like q
stream Of light with the fall of the gaff.
well aimedl" reared the command
er. clapping his hands, Go it. little
un! hate those Spaniards. When an
army Of Spaniards ran away, they left
the field of battle covered with guitars.
That was two centuries ago. See how
cleverly the brig tufts upon the bows Of
the bark to rake her with her popguns. +"
The don's seizing his flag in the
mizzen rigging" said Mr.. Hardy, with
his eye at the glass.
With the naked sight it was easv to
see little figure ascend a short height
| OF rigging and make fast a Gag. II
blew out more like a distress signal than
the arrogant earnest of triumph it was
intended to be. The vessels were about
three-quarters Of q mile off, and Boil.
dock halted his brig with her topsails to
the mast to view that little picture Of
passionate warfare. Little it was and
beautiful, and memorable as midocear
sea fight, because of the toylike looks
the distance and the mighty breast or
which they were contending gave the
| combatants.
The vessels continued to fire at eacf
other some time without any visible re
suit. Their sails swelled, their gloss
| eiucS uidZcu, tHcy mdneUNcIeu IOuuC
and round each other, trimming Their
canvas with gallant dexterity as they
shifted their helm for the new strategy
Their guns somewhat becalmed the ali
OF the waters about them, and the re
Elected light in their canvas was dashed
with the red flashes of their sporting
artillery. The bark's broadsides were
clearly very wildly aimed. The briggs,
on the other hand, were repeatedly seer
to take effect. The white chips few on,
Of the bark's black side. A good deal
Of cut rigging hung loose about her,
like the pulled hair Of q woman in :
back alley scrimmaSe. Presently dowu
fell her main topsail with a rush to the
cap. with such tug at the topgallan,
sheets that the lighter yard and sail
above came down with it.
"Hurrahr' shouted the commander
clapping his hands as though he was al
theater, some whiskered faces OH the
forecastle looking aft at him and grin,
ming with all their might at his demon.
strative enjoyment ''Topsail halyard.
shot away! What's he going to do now
Il la 4,