The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-13

DbibOt POANNu hNi hNtAh t'AiN
hoated in all her pride of white canvas
and radiant metal and fathom and
half of shining bunting at her masthead
into Firth reach.
Just as she came abreast of Labor's
Retreat gun was fired. The white
powder smoke clouded the tailor's lawn.
The thunder of TIE ordnance smote the
ear Of Joe Westlake, who, dilating his
nostrils a.ld directing his eyes AT Slo-
per's villa, bawled out: peter, that's
meant for us, my heart Down helluml
Slackcn away fore and aft Pipe all
hands for actionr'
A second gun reared upon the lawn
that sloped from the tailor's house, and
almost as loud was the shout that West
lake delivered to all hands to look alive
and bring the guns to bear. The Tom
Bowling was thrown into the wind and
brought to stand abreast Of Labor's
Retreat. Plum took a turn with the
helm and went to help at the guns, and
in few minutes the three of crew,
with Westlake continuously bawling
out orders to bear % hand and load
again, were actively engaged in firing
blank at the enemy on the lawn.
1t might have been that Mr.. Sloper
and his friends were little tipsy. 1t
might have been that they were irri-
tated by their feu de joie being interrupt
ed and complicated, so to speak, by
the cutters artillery. 1t is certain that
they continued to load and discharge
their guns as fast as they could sponge
them out, while from the river the cut
ter maintained a rapid fire at Labors
Retreat. In an evil moment, temper
getting the better of Sloper's Judgment,
he loaded one Of his pieces with stones,
and the gun was so well aimed that On
Joe Westlake looking aloft he beheld his
beautiful flag of a fathom and half in
holes.
For some moments the old man-of
wars man stood staring up at his wound
ed flag, idle with wrath and astonish-
ment. He then in voice of thunder
shouted: "Pluln - Robbins - Tuck!
Dye see what that there fired little tail
or's been and done? Why, junk me, if
he ha'n't shot our color through! Boys,
load with ball. Dye hear? Suffocate
me, but he shall have it back. Quick,
my hearts, and go for himp'
With ocean alacrity some round shot
were got up, Il gun was fired point
blank at Labor's Retreat and down
came chimney stack, amid the cheers
of the crew Of the Tom Bowling.
Now, then" roared old Joe, "over
with our boat, lads. ard board em
Tommy, stay you here and let go the
anchor" and in very few minutes
Plum and Robbins were pulling Joe
, Westlalce ashore.
Slopcr and his party saw them conf
ing and manfully stood their ground.
The three seamen, securing the beat,
forced their way on to the lawn and
marched up to the tailor and his friends
"What do you mean by firing at MY
cutter?" roared old Joe.
"What do you mean by knocking
down my chi,aneys?' cried the tailor,
who was exceedingly pale.
"Who began it?' bawled Joe. "Who
fired first? Who's bin and made holes III
that there flag of mine! Why, that's
the flag Ct a British sailor, you little
withered thimblc, you, and durn you, if
you don't make me instantly a humble
apology and stump up with the cost of
what you've injured, I'll skin you'll"
And he throw himself into a very men,
acing posture
At this point one of the tailor's
friends skunk off.
my chimney stack is worth more
than your twopenny flag" shrieked Slo-
per, maddened even into some Temporal
~ emotion Of courage by the insults of
the old man-of wars man.
"Say that again, will you?" said Joe.
"Just sneer at that there flag again,
will your"
The tailor was idiotic enough to re-
peat the affront, ON which, and as
though perfect understanding as to
what was to be done subsisted among
the three sailors, old Joe, Plum and
Robins fell upon Sloper, and lifting
him up in their arms ran with him &c
the boat, into which they flung him,
paying not the least heed whatever tc
his cries for help and for mercy, and
instantly headed for the cutter, leaving
the tailor's friends white as milk and
speechless with alarm near the cannon
upon the lawn.
When the boat reached the cutter,
Plum jumped aboard and received little
Sloper from the hands of old Joe, max.
ing no more of the burden than had the
tailor been a parcel, say, of a coat and
waistcoat or pair Of trousers. Old Joe
then actively got over the rail. He lift.
ed the little main hatch, and Mr.. Sloper
was dropped into the space below, where
the darkness was SO great that he could
not see, and where there was nothing
to sit upon but Thames ballast
"In boatl Up anchor, and away with
us, said Joe Westlake.
The breeze was fresh, the cutter was
always an excellent sailer, and in very
short space Of time she was running
down Long reach with Firth and its ad.
/ jacent shores cut of sight past the round
Of land where hartford creek is to hG